Organizations everywhere struggle under the crushing costs and complexities of “solutions” that promise to simplify their lives. To create a better experience for their customers and employees. To help them grow. Software is a choice that can make or break a business. Create better or worse experiences. Propel or throttle growth. Business software has become a blocker instead of ways to get work done.

There’s another option. Freshworks. With a fresh vision for how the world works.

At Freshworks, we build uncomplicated service software that delivers exceptional customer and employee experiences. Our enterprise-grade solutions are powerful, yet easy to use, and quick to deliver results. Our people-first approach to AI eliminates friction, making employees more effective and organizations more productive. Over 72,000 companies, including Bridgestone, New Balance, Nucor, S&P Global, and Sony Music, trust Freshworks’ customer experience (CX) and employee experience (EX) software to fuel customer loyalty and service efficiency. And, over 4,500 Freshworks employees make this possible, all around the world.

Fresh vision. Real impact. Come build it with us.

We are seeking a highly experienced Director – Global Payroll, Accounts Payable & T&E Operations to lead and scale our global payment and expense operations from India, supporting a US-listed, SOX-compliant multinational environment.

This role will have direct responsibility for global Payroll, Accounts Payable, and T&E teams, with end-to-end ownership of operations, controls, systems, and continuous improvement. The position requires deep operational expertise, strong people leadership, and the ability to partner closely with global stakeholders across Finance, HR, IT, and the business.

The ideal candidate brings 20+ years of experience, with significant exposure to global payroll operations, complex multi-country environments, and strong leadership in SOX, internal controls, and audit readiness. 

Key Responsibilities

Global Operations Ownership

• Lead Global Payroll Operations across regions including India, US, Europe, Australia, and Singapore, working with vendors such as CloudPay, ADP, Allsec, and other regional providers.
   
• Own Global Accounts Payable and Global T&E operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant processing.
   
• Manage teams directly responsible for Payroll, AP, and T&E operations.
   
• Establish and continuously refine best-practice operational processes that balance compliance, efficiency, scalability, and experience for employees, vendors, and business teams.
   

SOX, Internal Controls & Compliance

• Design, implement, and maintain robust SOX-compliant internal controls across Payroll, AP, and T&E.
   
• Apply a control-by-design mindset, embedding controls within systems and workflows.
   
• Own and maintain high-quality SOX documentation, including:
   
  • Process narratives
     
  • Risk & Control Matrices (RCMs)
     
  • Control descriptions
     
  • Evidence standards and audit artifacts
     
• Proactively identify control gaps and drive remediation and enhancement initiatives.
   
• Continuously evolve controls in line with system changes, business growth, and regulatory expectations.
   
• Serve as a key partner to Internal Audit, External Audit, and SOX teams, ensuring strong audit outcomes.
   

Process Excellence, Standardization & Automation

• Drive global standardization and optimization of Payroll, AP, and T&E processes.
   
• Lead automation and transformation initiatives to improve:
   
  • Accuracy and compliance
     
  • Cycle times
     
  • Scalability
     
  • Employee and vendor experience
     
• Partner with Finance Systems and IT teams on system implementations, integrations, enhancements, and upgrades.
   
• Ensure effective use and continuous improvement of systems including NetSuite, Zip, Navan, Workday, and payroll platforms.
   

Cross-Functional & Stakeholder Partnership

• Partner closely with FP&A, GL, SOX, Treasury, HR, Rewards, Equity, Legal, IT, and business teams globally.
   
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior finance leadership and US-based stakeholders.
   
• Provide insights on operational risks, controls, and improvement opportunities.
   

People Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing Payroll, AP, and T&E teams.
   
• Build strong succession pipelines and leadership depth.
   
• Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
   
• Retain and develop existing strong talent while scaling for future growth.
   

Systems & Tools

• ERP: NetSuite
   
• Payroll Platforms: CloudPay, ADP, Allsec, and other regional payroll vendors
   
• Expense & AP Tools: Navan, Zip
   
• HR Systems: Workday
   
• Strong experience working with integrated finance and HR systems
   

• 20+ years of experience in Global Payroll, Accounts Payable, and/or T&E operations.
   
• Strong experience operating from India while supporting global stakeholders.
   
• Prior experience in a US-based multinational, SOX-compliant public company.
   
• Deep hands-on experience with multi-country payroll operations, especially India, US, Europe, Australia, and Singapore.
   
• Proven leadership of large, multi-layered global teams.
   
• Extensive experience in SOX compliance, internal controls design, testing, and remediation.
   
• Demonstrated success in driving process transformation with a control-first mindset.
   
• Excellent communication, executive presence, and stakeholder management skills.
   

Key Competencies

• Operational rigor and attention to detail
   
• Strong risk and control mindset
   
• Ability to balance compliance, efficiency, and user experience
   
• Strategic thinking with hands-on execution
   

Strong people leadership and coaching capability
 

At Freshworks, we have fostered an environment that enables everyone to find their true potential, purpose, and passion, welcoming colleagues of all backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and ethnicities. We are committed to providing equal opportunity and believe that diversity in the workplace creates a more vibrant, richer environment that boosts the goals of our employees, communities, and business. Fresh vision. Real impact. Come build it with us.