Director, Payroll

Overview

The organization is seeking a Director of Payroll to oversee end-to-end payroll operations. This leadership role ensures payroll is processed accurately, timely, and in compliance with applicable requirements. The Director serves as a key bridge between Payroll Managers and the Vice President of Payroll, translating payroll strategy into operational execution while driving continuous improvement, compliance, and service excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee U.S. payroll operations to ensure accurate and timely processing of all payrolls.
• Direct and support Payroll Managers in day-to-day payroll processing, audits, and issue resolution.
• Establish, maintain, and enhance payroll operational controls, procedures, and standard documentation.
• Partner with the Vice President of Payroll to execute payroll strategy, optimize systems, and improve processes.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local payroll laws and regulations, including wage and hour rules, garnishments, and reporting requirements.
• Oversee payroll tax processes in coordination with Payroll Managers, ensuring accurate reconciliations, timely filings, and year-end activities (W-2s and related reporting).
• Review payroll results, exception reports, and reconciliations to identify trends, mitigate risk, and resolve discrepancies.
• Provide leadership for off-cycle payrolls, special compensation, incentives, and retroactive pay adjustments.
• Collaborate with HR, Accounting, Finance, and third-party vendors to ensure data integrity, system alignment, and service quality.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex payroll issues, audits, and employee or leadership inquiries.
• Support HRIS and payroll system implementations, upgrades, and integrations, including testing and change management.
• Monitor service delivery and performance metrics to ensure payroll service level expectations are met.
• Stay current on payroll legislation and regulatory changes and advise leadership on potential impacts.
• Own wage and hour compliance across all payrolls, ensuring accurate application of federal, state, and local wage laws, overtime rules, pay practices, and recordkeeping requirements.
• Lead payroll tax compliance oversight, including review and validation of tax calculations, filings, reconciliations, amendments, and year-end reporting to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
• Serve as the primary payroll lead for internal audits, external audits, and regulatory reviews, ensuring audit readiness, prompt issue resolution, and sustained control effectiveness.
• Establish and enforce robust internal controls and monitoring mechanisms to prevent, detect, and remediate payroll errors, compliance gaps, and financial risk.
• Investigate and resolve complex payroll discrepancies, wage claims, tax notices, and agency inquiries; escalate material risks to senior leadership as appropriate.

Leadership and People Management

• Provide direct leadership to Payroll Managers and indirect leadership to Payroll Specialists.
• Coach and develop payroll leadership talent through performance management, feedback, and succession planning.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and customer service within the payroll function.
• Partner with the Vice President of Payroll on organizational design, staffing decisions, and workload planning.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in finance, accounting, business, HR, or a related analytical discipline; equivalent experience may be considered.
• CPP or FPC certification strongly preferred.
• 5–7 years of progressively responsible payroll experience, including multi-level leadership experience.
• Strong working knowledge of payroll operations, payroll tax, compliance, and internal controls.
• Experience with enterprise payroll and HRIS systems.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and reporting tools (e.g., Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP).
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage competing priorities, and drive operational excellence.

Compensation & Benefits

Full-Time Benefits

• Medical / Pharmacy
• Dental
• Vision
• Voluntary benefits
• 401k with employer match
• Virtual Care
• Life Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits
• PTO

Part-Time Benefits

• 401k with employer match
• PTO