Lead Payroll Analyst

776317

HubSpot transforms how organizations market and sell — and we’ve also redefined how people work and live through our unique approach to company culture. Headquartered in Cambridge, MA, with employees across the globe, we’re building a company where people can do their best work and grow their careers.

We’re looking for a NAM Payroll Lead Analyst (Level 6) to join our global payroll team. This senior individual contributor will be a subject-matter expert and key partner for our North America (US and Canada) and select LATAM payroll operations. You’ll own complex payroll processes, drive automation and process improvements, and serve as a trusted advisor to partners across Finance and People Operations. This role requires deep technical payroll expertise, a data-driven mindset, and the ability to lead through influence in a fast-paced, highly collaborative, and remote-friendly environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a lead analyst and primary backup for accurate, timely payroll processing across US states, Canadian provinces, and LATAM countries in scope.
• Own and review a broad range of payroll items, including base pay, bonuses, equity, benefits, and tax deductions, ensuring accurate configuration and end-to-end processing in Workday.
• Monitor and work ServiceNow (SNOW) tickets, ensuring timely, high-quality resolution and a strong employee experience.

• Review and approve on-cycle and off-cycle payrolls, validating results against expected outcomes and internal controls (including SOX).
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and provincial laws and labor regulations, as well as HubSpot’s internal policies and control framework.
• Lead or support periodic, quarterly, and annual payroll audits, proactively identifying issues and recommending corrective actions.
• Support quarter-end and year-end processes in Workday, including tax reconciliations and the accuracy of forms such as W-2s, T4s, and RL-1s.

• Act as a key point of contact for employee payroll-related questions, providing clear, empathetic, and timely support.
• Partner closely with People Operations, Finance, Equity, and other stakeholders to troubleshoot complex payroll issues and drive root-cause resolution.
• Manage and develop strong working relationships with external payroll service providers and vendors, escalating and resolving issues as needed.
• Support payroll-related onboarding, training, and process education for new hires and internal stakeholders.

• Identify, prioritize, and implement opportunities to streamline and standardize payroll processes, with a focus on scalability and risk reduction.
• Lead or contribute to system enhancements, configurations, and testing related to Workday and Workday Releases that impact payroll.
• Drive automation and self-service initiatives aligned to our NAM Payroll Roadmap, using data and metrics to measure impact.
• Ensure data integrity and reconciliation across payroll systems and upstream/downstream integrations, leveraging reporting and analytics to proactively surface trends and issues.

• Back up for end-to-end processing, reconciliation, and reporting for stock-related payroll events (e.g., RSU, ISO, and NQ transactions for the US).
• Lead complex and sensitive payroll projects (e.g., regulatory changes, M&A integrations, system rollouts, or new country/state implementations) with minimal oversight.
• Provide thought partnership on international payroll regulations and tax considerations for Canada and LATAM, staying current on evolving requirements.
• Model a strong sense of ownership, accountability, and judgment; mentor and coach peers informally by sharing best practices, documentation, and expertise.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in payroll and/or accounting, with significant exposure to US and Canadian payroll; LATAM experience strongly preferred; FPC or CPP preferred.
• Workday payroll experience is required, including hands-on processing, configuration familiarity, and participation in release testing or system changes.
• Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, tax, and compliance requirements across US states and Canadian provinces; experience with SOX-controlled environments is a plus.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and comfort working with data, reconciliations, and reporting across multiple systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence — owning projects end-to-end, driving process efficiencies, and aligning cross-functional stakeholders without direct people management authority.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy, with a track record of identifying, investigating, and resolving discrepancies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a dedication to providing exceptional customer service to employees and partners.
• Proven experience identifying and implementing process improvements, automation, or self-service capabilities in a payroll environment.
• Openness to leveraging AI and automation to streamline repetitive tasks and drive high-impact results. 
• Self-starter who can operate independently and collaboratively in a remote, fast-paced, and global environment.

Leadership and Mentorship

We recognize that leadership shows up in many forms. In this Level 6 role, you’ll:

• Act as a senior subject-matter expert for NAM payroll topics.
• Informally mentor peers by sharing knowledge, reviewing work, and contributing to documentation and training.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve quality, controls, and the employee experience, even without direct reports.

AI-First & Systems Focus

• Leverage Workday and AI-driven tools to automate payroll processes, reduce manual effort, and improve accuracy
• Identify opportunities to use automation and AI to streamline calculations, validations, and reporting
• Use payroll data to provide insights and improve decision-making across Finance and HR
• Continuously evaluate and improve systems, integrations, and data flows across payroll, HRIS, and finance tools