Position Summary:

The Payroll Director is responsible for managing a team of payroll professionals andwill have accountability for the accurate and timely processing of the company’s payroll (6,500 employees encompassing hourly and salaried Team Members), processing and management of garnishments, and maintaining and reporting payroll taxes. This position is the key liaison between HR, Payroll and Finance/Accounting to troubleshoot issues, collaborate on projects and provide accurate payroll information, as needed.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Directly manage payroll operations (payroll processing and garnishments) and payroll tax (multi-state and federal payroll tax functions) functions to ensure all payroll processes and responsibilities are being achieved, completed in a timely manner and are in compliance with federal and state regulations.
• Maintain labor hour rules within the time & attendance system.
• Critically review and analyze current payroll, garnishments, and tax procedures in order to recommend and implement changes leading to best-practice operations.
• Provide support to all employees (restaurant employees, restaurant leadership, and support center employees) for payroll and paycheck related inquiries and resolution, as needed, including maintaining a system for payroll team weekend coverage
• Prepare for payroll audits and ensure team is following wage and hour compliance and best practices
• Main point of contact for both the HR and the Accounting and Finance teams to enhance collaboration/communication and manage issues to resolution
• Stays abreast of multi-state regulatory requirements and company policies
• In the future, participate in the implementation of an alternative HRIS, including participating in the set-up of the software to fit our business and reviewing current payroll procedures to identify best practice opportunities as we bring payroll in-house.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to effectively plan, organize and meet deadlines while maintaining a high level of quality.
• Displays strategic thinking and good judgment when faced with complex or difficult situations and decisions.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelors’ Degree or extensive payroll managerial experience ( 15 years), in lieu of a college degree is required
• 8 -10 years of payroll experience required.Minimum of 5 years in a supervisory or management role with Payroll oversight
• Expert knowledge of payroll operations and Federal, State and local payroll laws required
• Working knowledge of UltiPro.Experiencewith a system conversion or implementation preferred.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills required
• Audit and compliance experience preferred
• Experience managing multi-state payrolls and payroll tax
• Experience with tipped employees considered a plus
• Ability to deliver high quality customer service consistently in a professional manner
• Strong knowledge of payroll-related compliance and reporting requirements
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal, listening and communication skills
• Effective team building capability and ability to guide, coach, and develop people
• Ability to manage the conflict/issue resolution process
• Ability to handle multiple customer requests/priorities effectively in a fast paced environment and make quick decisions

Competencies:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Business Acumen - Employs analytical, critical thinking, and problem solving skills; plans and efficiently organizes work, appropriately seeks, manages, integrates and interprets data. Able to prioritize work and make sound decisions using available data. Exercises good judgment and is committed to excellence and operational integrity.

• Collaboration & Customer Relationships - Understands the value of diverse talents and perspectives and encourages diversity of thought and ideas. Is always professional when dealing with internal and external customers. Works through differences and finds a productive common ground with others to achieve mutually beneficial results. Has a strong sense of customer service.

• Functional Expertise - Achieves success through a comprehensive knowledge of industry and business as it relates to position. Applies creative solutions resulting in internal and external customer satisfaction. Demonstrates initiative and is accountable for own actions and decisions.

• Communication Skills - Has good verbal and written skills; is effective when communicating with peers and superiors as well as with customers and others outside the company. Expresses opinions and ideas concisely. Encourages two-way communication.

• Manager of People – Attracts, develops and retains top talent; deploys talent effectively and builds strong teams. Leverages individual strengths to build strong, diverse teams. Provides clear direction and effective counseling when needed. Sets realistic goals and hold team accountable for results.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Manages team members of the Payroll Department.

Work Environment:

General office environment. Lighting and temperature are adequate, and there are no hazardous or unpleasant conditions caused by noise, dust, etc. Work is generally performed within an office environment, with standard office equipment available. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Travel Requirements:

Negligible required.

Physical Requirements:

Work is generally sedentary in nature, exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including human body. Walking and standing but may be required, up to 15% of the time.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The essential duties and responsibilities listed in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed, as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Management retains the right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time for any reason, including reasonable accommodation.