Director of Payroll

Position Summary

The Director of Payroll provides strategic and operational leadership for the organization’s payroll function, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing across all entities, locations, and pay groups. This role oversees payroll governance, systems, controls, and team development while serving as the organization’s primary subject matter expert on payroll operations, compliance, and technology. The Director of Payroll partners closely with Human Resources, Finance, HRIS, Legal, Operations, and external vendors to support enterprise-wide payroll accuracy, data integrity, and regulatory compliance.

• Lead, coach, and develop the payroll team to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing in compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, union agreements, and company policies.
• Establish, document, and maintain payroll processes, procedures, workflows, and internal controls supporting routine payroll processing, off-cycle payrolls, tax reporting, audits, and internal financial requirements.
• Oversee end-to-end payroll operations, including payroll calculations, tax filings, reconciliations, reporting, and issue resolution across multiple entities and pay structures.
• Serve as the primary subject matter expert for payroll systems, policies, compliance interpretation, and best practices.
• Lead payroll system implementations, upgrades, integrations, and enhancements, ensuring data integrity, audit readiness, and effective end-user training.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Human Resources, HRIS, Finance, Accounting, Legal, Operations, and external vendors to support payroll-related reporting, reconciliations, audits, and process improvements.
• Monitor existing and emerging payroll-related legislation and regulatory changes; assess organizational impact and advise senior leadership on compliance strategies and change management.
• Ensure the accuracy, confidentiality, and security of payroll data, records, and reporting in accordance with regulatory and organizational standards.
• Support and lead internal and external payroll-related audits, including tax, financial, and union audits, and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll efficiency, scalability, and service delivery through process optimization, automation, and standardization.
• Perform other work-related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive, high-volume payroll processing experience in a multi-entity or multi-location environment.
• Minimum of 5 years of management or supervisory experience leading payroll teams.
• Experience working in a unionized environment is highly preferred.
• Prior experience with enterprise payroll platforms such as UKG or similar systems preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and Access.
• Strong understanding of payroll compliance, wage and hour laws, tax regulations, and reporting requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive payroll and employee data with discretion.
• Excellent customer service, verbal and written communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently under tight deadlines.
• Collaborative leadership style with a strong teamwork orientation.

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. This role may require carrying items weighing less than 25 pounds; bending; stooping; crouching; side bending; overhead reaching; handling; stair climbing; forward reaching; grasping; prolonged sitting;

standing; walking; finger dexterity; vision; hearing; and eye-hand-foot coordination.

This position requires frequent verbal and…