Application Guide
How to Apply for Global Head of Payroll
at Via Transporation
🏢 About Via Transporation
Via Transportation is revolutionizing global transit systems by partnering with cities, transit agencies, and school districts to deploy on-demand, efficient, and sustainable mobility solutions. As a fast-growing tech company with a mission to make public transit more accessible and equitable, Via offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of technology and social impact. Joining Via means contributing to a culture of innovation, agility, and global reach.
About This Role
As Global Head of Payroll, you will own the end-to-end payroll strategy for Via's worldwide operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and scalability across multiple countries. This role is critical to enabling Via's rapid growth by building robust payroll systems and processes that support thousands of employees. You'll lead a team of payroll professionals, drive technology transformations (including Workday Payroll), and directly impact employee experience and financial integrity.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with a stand-up with your global payroll team to review upcoming deadlines and resolve any urgent issues. You'll then dive into a strategic project, such as evaluating a new payroll vendor for a country expansion or analyzing compliance reports. Afternoon meetings could include a cross-functional sync with HR and Finance on headcount planning, followed by a one-on-one coaching session with a regional payroll manager. You'll wrap up by reviewing system integration test results for an upcoming Workday upgrade.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Via Transporation Is Looking For
- A seasoned payroll leader with 10+ years of experience, including at least 5 years managing multinational payroll operations across diverse countries and regulatory environments.
- A strategic thinker who has successfully implemented scalable payroll processes, governance frameworks, and system transformations (preferably with Workday Payroll) in a high-growth tech company.
- A hands-on manager who can coach and develop a distributed team while also diving into details to resolve complex tax, compliance, or integration issues.
- A data-driven problem-solver with strong financial controls acumen and a deep understanding of payroll taxes, reporting, and global compliance requirements.
📝 Tips for Applying to Via Transporation
Tailor your resume to highlight specific examples of leading global payroll transformations, especially involving Workday Payroll or similar platforms, and quantify the scale (e.g., number of countries, employees, entities).
In your cover letter, explicitly connect your experience to Via's mission of transforming transport systems—show how your payroll expertise supports operational efficiency and scalability.
Research Via's recent expansions and partnerships (e.g., new city contracts or school district programs) and mention how your payroll leadership can support growth into new geographies.
Emphasize your experience with remote-first or distributed teams, as this role is remote and will manage payroll across time zones.
Prepare a brief portfolio or case study of a past payroll system implementation or process overhaul you led, including challenges, solutions, and results.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your proven track record of leading global payroll operations in a fast-paced, tech-driven environment, with specific examples of scaling payroll for rapid headcount growth.', "Your experience with payroll technology strategy, particularly Workday Payroll, integrations, and automation, and how you've driven efficiency and accuracy.", 'Your ability to build and mentor a high-performing, distributed payroll team, fostering collaboration across regions and functions.', "Your commitment to compliance and controls, and how you've mitigated risks in complex multinational payroll environments."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read Via's latest blog posts and press releases to understand their recent growth, new partnerships, and technology innovations (e.g., Via for Schools, Via for Paratransit).
- → Review Via's careers page and employee reviews on Glassdoor to understand their culture, values, and remote work expectations.
- → Familiarize yourself with Via's global footprint—which countries they operate in, and any recent expansions that might require new payroll setups.
- → Understand Via's tech stack, especially their use of Workday for HR and payroll, and any recent announcements about system updates or integrations.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application that doesn't reference Via's specific mission or global payroll challenges—tailor every part to the company.
- Overlooking the remote and distributed nature of the role; failing to demonstrate experience managing teams across time zones and cultures.
- Ignoring the importance of technology strategy; don't just list payroll processing skills—show how you've driven automation, integrations, and system improvements.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Via Transporation!