Senior Manager, Payroll & Benefits

The North America Payroll Benefits Senior Manager is responsible for leading payroll, benefits, and related total rewards operations across the United States and Canada. This role ensures payroll accuracy, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and an exceptional employee experience while supporting Simon-Kucher's continued growth. The position partners closely with HR, Finance, Legal, Operations, vendors, and firm leadership to develop scalable processes, strengthen controls, manage risk, and drive strategic improvements across payroll, benefits, and employee rewards programs. This position can be in one of Simon-Kucher’s Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, New York, or San Francisco office locations. Requires a minimum of two days in the office each week. What makes us special: Become part of a unique entrepreneurial team. Think independently, use your initiative, and take some risks. Entrepreneurship is a powerful force that drives the growth not only of our firm but our clients and people. Unlock the power of opportunity. Advance your career in a thriving company with a startup feel. We invest in your professional development every step of the way. Work in a values-driven culture. At Simon-Kucher, our vision is to become the world's leading growth specialist. Our values guide the way we do business and communicate our distinctiveness. They sum up what we stand for, influence our culture, and drive how and why we do things. Invest in your future. All US and Canadian employees enjoy 401(k) RRSP benefits with company matching. Prioritize your health and well-being. No matter where you live, we offer a competitive suite of health benefits to help keep you and your loved ones safe. Enjoy balance and flexible working. Be empowered to do your best work – whether it’s from home or in the office. How you will create an impact : Use your leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills to oversee payroll, benefits, and total rewards across the US and Canada while supporting LATAM operations. Apply your expertise in compliance, financial management, vendor relations, and process improvement to drive operational efficiency and enhance the employee experience. Payroll Leadership Compliance Lead all payroll operations for US and Canada employees, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant payroll processing. Oversee payroll administration, reconciliations, audits, tax compliance, garnishments, and payroll-related reporting. Establish and maintain best-in-class payroll controls, governance processes, and operational procedures. Manage payroll vendors and support ongoing payroll technology enhancements and process improvements. Benefits Total Rewards Administration Lead the administration of all US and Canada benefit programs, including health and welfare plans, retirement programs, and leave-related benefits. Partner with brokers and vendors to deliver competitive and cost-effective benefit offerings. Oversee annual open enrollment planning, communications, system updates, and employee education. Provide guidance to employees regarding benefit eligibility, enrollment, and program utilization. Provide guidance and support for LATAM benefits. Strategic Benefits Total Rewards Leadership Support the development of North America benefits and total rewards strategies. Conduct market benchmarking and analysis to inform program design and competitiveness. Lead vendor selection processes, contract negotiations, and RFP activities. Develop recommendations related to wellness initiatives, leave programs, executive benefits, and employee value proposition enhancements. Financial Management Analytics Manage payroll and benefits budgets, forecasting, and financial reporting. Support headcount planning, labor cost analysis, accrual calculations, and executive reporting. Develop dashboards, metrics, and analytics to support business and leadership decision-making. Global Mobility International Support Oversee cross-border payroll considerations, global mobility coordination, and international assignment payroll impacts. Provide payroll and benefits oversight for LATAM operations in partnership with regional stakeholders. Team Leadership Lead, coach, and develop the Senior Payroll Benefits Coordinator. Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, customer service, and operational excellence. Serve as the primary escalation point for complex payroll and benefits matters. Your Profile: Bachelor's degree required. 7+ years of progressive experience managing payroll and benefits administration across a multi-state US environment and Canada 2+ years of people leadership experience. Demonstrated success managing payroll, benefits, and related compliance activities within a partnership and/or equity ownership environment. Deep knowledge of payroll administration, including gross-to-net payroll processing, payroll taxation, payroll accounting, reconciliations, and internal controls. Strong understanding and practical application of federal, state, provincial, and local employment regulations, including FLSA, wage and hour laws, ERISA, FMLA, payroll tax requirements, and employee benefit regulations. Experience developing and implementing payroll and benefits policies, processes, controls, and compliance frameworks in a complex, growing organization. Proven ability to influence senior leaders, manage competing priorities, and drive organizational change in a fast-paced environment. Strong business acumen with the ability to align payroll, benefits, and total rewards programs with broader business objectives. Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to interpret complex data, identify trends, and make recommendations based on business and financial metrics. Excellent consulting, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build credibility and influence across all levels of the organization, including executive leadership. Demonstrated experience working within matrixed and global organizations, partnering effectively across HR, Finance, Legal, Operations, and external vendors. Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. Ability to operate both strategically and tactically, balancing day-to-day operational excellence with long-term process improvement and organizational growth initiatives. CPP certification preferred Total compensation for this role includes a base salary, performance bonus, eligibility for annual merit-based increases, and a comprehensive benefits package. The base salary range for this position is between $165,000 to $175,000 per year for US roles. Specific compensation within these ranges will depend on factors such as experience, skills, and location. Salary ranges are reviewed periodically to ensure alignment with market conditions. Benefits for eligible employees include paid time off, 13 paid holidays, medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan. About Simon-Kucher Simon-Kucher is a global consultancy with more than 2,200 employees in 30+ countries. Our sole focus is on unlocking better growth that drives measurable revenue and profit for our clients. As a trusted commercial advisor, we combine deep consulting expertise, growth specialization, and technology to scale impact. We optimize every lever of commercial strategy – product, pricing, innovation, marketing, sales, and digital – based on deep insights into what customers value and are willing to pay for. With over 40 years of experience in monetization, we are regarded as the world’s leading commercial growth and pricing specialist. Simon-Kucher is an Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran or military status, or any other legally protected status. We believe in building a culture that embraces belonging, creating an environment in which our people feel valued, are able to be themselves and feel their contribution matters. If we get that right, great things will happen; people will grow faster, innovate, feel valued, and create better outcomes for everyone – our people, our clients and, of course, our business. Simon-Kucher North America Talent Acquisition Team RecruitingNorthAmerica@simon-kucher.com simon-kucher.com/careers