Chief Operating Officer (COO) REF-J01-458

Job Description

Qualifications / Skills

Minimum Requirements for Candidates

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, Finance, Operations, Technology, or a related field (required)
• 10+ years of progressive experience in operations, strategy, or executive leadership, with at least 5 years in a C-suite or senior leadership role.
• Experience in the multi-country Payroll Outsourcing or SaaS (required).
• Demonstrated success in scaling SaaS-based businesses and managing global payroll operations.
• Proven experience in leading high-performance teams, managing cross-functional departments, and driving business growth.
• Strong background in strategic planning, operational execution, financial management, and risk mitigation.
• Deep understanding of SaaS business models, HR and Payroll technologies, and automation-driven service delivery.
• Strong knowledge of global payroll compliance, HR regulations, and multi-country payroll operations.
• Experience with ERP, HCM, Payroll, and FinTech integrations.
• Proficiency in data-driven decision-making, business intelligence (BI) tools, and performance optimization metrics.
• Proven leadership, people management, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong ability to motivate, coach, and develop high-performing teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Strategic mindset with a track record of executing business transformation and process automation.
• Excellent negotiation and vendor management capabilities.
• Experience in budget planning, P&L management, cost optimization, and financial forecasting.
• Ability to identify and implement operational efficiencies and automation strategies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience in representing companies at industry events, speaking engagements, and media appearances.

Expectations for Ideal Candidates

• Master’s degree (MBA) in Business Administration, Strategy, or Operations Management (preferred).
• Sound judgment and aptitude in decision-making and problem-solving
• Decision-making & problem-solving: Ability to make data-driven decisions and resolve complex operational challenges.
• Customer-centric mindset: Strong commitment to enhancing customer experience and driving retention.
• Leadership skills, with steadfast resolve and personal integrity.
• Crisis management & resilience: Ability to handle high-pressure situations, mitigate risks, and ensure business continuity.
• Excellent mentoring, coaching, leadership, and people management skills.
• Adaptability & agility: Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-growing SaaS environment.
• Extensive experience in optimizing operational processes and implementing performance metrics to drive efficiency and productivity.
• Understanding of advanced business planning and regulatory issues.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the CEO to define the company vision, operational strategy, and organizational structure.
• Develop and implement an operational strategy to accelerate growth, revenue, and competitive advantage.
• Translate the company’s strategic goals into actionable plans, ensuring company-wide goal setting, performance management, and annual operating planning.
• Oversee the daily operations of BAU and Implementation teams, ensuring efficiency, innovation, and customer satisfaction.
• Lead and manage the Operations Leadership Team, ensuring recruitment, performance monitoring, and coaching align with company goals.
• Oversee digital transformation initiatives, ensuring the integration of AI, automation, and machine learning into payroll and SaaS operations.
• Work closely with the Product & Development teams to drive continuous product improvement and innovation.
• Ensure seamless SaaS platform scalability to support rapid client growth and geographic expansion.
• Identify and deploy emerging technologies that improve service delivery, compliance, and security.
• Develop scalable operational models that support global payroll and SaaS expansion into new markets.
• Standardize operational workflows and compliance structures across multiple geographies.
• Collaborate with regional teams to ensure local market adaptation, regulatory compliance, and customer support.
• Establish and oversee robust compliance frameworks, ensuring adherence to GDPR, SOC 2, ISO 27001, and other regulatory standards.
• Drive cybersecurity best practices, ensuring secure handling of sensitive payroll and financial data.
• Implement business continuity and disaster recovery plans to ensure resilience against operational disruptions.
• Establish strategic alliances with key channel partners, HR, ERP, and HCM technology providers to enhance SaaS offerings.
• Lead the development of a high-performing, customer-focused culture across all operational teams.
• Implement training programs focused on payroll compliance, SaaS technology, and operational excellence.
• Utilize predictive analytics to enhance forecasting and decision-making. Establish real-time dashboards for monitoring key operational KPIs and customer success metrics.
• Represent Mercans at global HR, payroll, and SaaS industry events.
• Develop and manage operational budgets, ensuring cost-effectiveness and resource optimization.
• Monitor and optimize operational expenses while ensuring business scalability and profitability.

Required Documents

• Updated CV: Resume