Payroll Director - Tax​/Compliance

Location: Chesterfield

Payroll Director (or Senior Manager) - Payroll Tax & Compliance

Manchester, MO
Permanent | Hybrid (2-3 Days Onsite)

Soni's client is seeking a Payroll Director (or Senior Manager) - Payroll Tax & Compliance to lead enterprise-wide payroll tax compliance, regulatory governance, audit readiness, and payroll risk management within a large, complex, multi-state organization. This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll leader who thrives in a highly regulated environment and enjoys partnering cross-functionally with Finance, HR, Legal, and Operations to drive compliance excellence and operational integrity.

Reporting to senior finance leadership, this individual will serve as the subject matter expert for payroll tax compliance, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and full regulatory adherence across a highly complex, multi-jurisdictional payroll environment. This role will also support M&A activity, payroll integrations, and enterprise-wide process improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities of the Payroll Director (or Senior Manager) - Payroll Tax & Compliance:

• Own payroll tax compliance across all federal, state, and local jurisdictions
• Ensure accurate and timely payroll tax filings, deposits, reconciliations, and year-end reporting
• Serve as the primary escalation point for payroll tax notices, agency inquiries, and compliance issues
• Maintain a zero-penalty, zero-notice posture through proactive monitoring and issue resolution
• Establish and maintain payroll controls, governance frameworks, and audit-ready processes
• Lead internal and external payroll audits, compliance reviews, and remediation efforts
• Partner with Finance, HR, Legal, Tax, and Internal Audit teams to identify and mitigate compliance risks
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes and drive timely implementation across the organization
• Support M&A activity, payroll integrations, and system implementation initiatives
• Develop compliance reporting, dashboards, and executive-level KPIs
• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing payroll compliance team
• Maintain payroll policies, procedures, and documentation aligned with regulatory requirements and best practices
• Drive continuous improvement in payroll compliance processes and controls

Requirements of the Payroll Director (or Senior Manager) - Payroll Tax & Compliance:

• 10+ years of progressive payroll leadership experience in multi-state, multi-entity environments
• Deep expertise in payroll tax regulations, filings, reconciliations, and compliance requirements
• Proven experience managing payroll audits, agency notices, and regulatory compliance programs
• Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, payroll integrations, or rapid organizational growth
• Strong understanding of payroll systems, HRIS platforms, and internal control frameworks
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing and developing payroll teams
• Strong analytical skills with high attention to detail and risk awareness
• Ability to partner effectively across Finance, HR, Legal, Tax, and Operations

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation strongly preferred
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred
• Experience in high-growth, private equity-backed, or complex multi-entity organizations

Compensation:
$140,000 - $190,000 (Senior Manager to Director Level)
10% - 20% bonus depending on level and experience
Compensation may vary based on experience, skills, and qualifications.

Please apply for immediate consideration!