Director of Payroll

Job Description:

The Senior Director of Payroll is a strategic and operational leader responsible for overseeing all aspects of payroll operations for a large, multi-state, and high-volume workforce. This role ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations while driving efficiency, accuracy, and innovation in payroll processes. The Senior Director will lead a team of payroll professionals and collaborate with HR, Finance, IT, and external vendors to deliver a seamless payroll experience for our employees. This role requires a proactive leader with exceptional technical expertise, a deep understanding of payroll systems and compliance, and the ability to align payroll strategies with our company's business objectives.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Drive the development and execution of a payroll strategy aligned with our company's business goals, leading process automation and efficiency initiatives while analyzing trends to identify cost-saving opportunities.

• Oversee accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing for a multi-state workforce, including hourly and salaried employees. Managing all related activities including tax administration, garnishments, employee inquiries, and year-end reporting while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local payroll laws, tax regulations, wage and hour laws, and company policies.

• Lead and develop a high-performing payroll team by setting strategic direction, establishing performance goals, and fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous growth.

• Ensure payroll compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley, legal, and audit standards by partnering with internal and external stakeholders, while resolving complex issues and mitigating operational risks.

• Manage payroll systems and integrations (e.g., Oracle), collaborating with IT to optimize functionality and leveraging analytics to drive data-informed decisions.

• Serve as a strategic advisor on payroll matters, partnering with cross-functional teams and effectively communicating updates and initiatives to employees and leadership.

• Oversee payroll vendor relationships and manage budgets, forecasts, and cost controls to ensure alignment with financial objectives and service expectations.

Qualifications Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Extensive knowledge of payroll laws and compliance including federal, state, and local regulations, tax requirements, wage and hour laws, Sarbanes-Oxley, internal controls, audit processes, and risk mitigation strategies.

• Expertise in payroll systems and integrations, with strong knowledge of platforms like Oracle and related systems such as timekeeping and general ledger, as well as the ability to leverage these tools for operational efficiency and reporting accuracy.

• Strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to align payroll strategy with organizational goals, identify process improvement and cost-saving opportunities, and analyze payroll data to inform decision-making.

• Strong leadership and team development skills, including the ability to mentor, manage, and grow high-performing teams while fostering a culture of accountability and excellence.

• Project and vendor management capabilities, demonstrated through experience leading cross-functional initiatives, managing third-party vendor relationships, and overseeing system implementations.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex payroll concepts to stakeholders at all levels and collaborate effectively across departments such as HR, Finance, Legal, and IT.

• Problem-solving and adaptability, with the ability to resolve complex payroll issues—such as tax discrepancies and compliance concerns—while thriving in a fast-paced environment.

• High level of integrity and confidentiality, maintaining discretion when handling sensitive payroll and employee information.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required.

• Master's degree (MBA) preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive payroll experience, including at least 3-5 years in a senior leadership role. Fifteen plus years of progressive payroll experience highly preferred.

• Experience managing payroll for a large, multi-state organization.

• Strong background in payroll compliance, audits, and regulatory requirements.

• Demonstrated success leading and developing high-performing teams.

• Expertise in payroll systems (e.g., ADP, Workday, Oracle) and system integrations with HRIS and accounting platforms.

Certifications:

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) highly preferred.

• Additional certifications (e.g., CPA, SHRM-CP/SCP, or SPHR) are a plus.