Payroll Director

Payroll Director

Location: South San Francisco, CA

Schedule: Full-Time – Exempt, Hybrid

Department: Headquarters

Reports to: Chief Human Resources Officer

Pay Range: $-$/annually

Make a Meaningful Impact

Aspiranet, a leading California-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting children, youth, and families, is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Payroll Director to join our team. If you thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment and have a passion for providing excellent payroll operations while collaborating with the HQ team, we’d love to hear from you.

About Aspiranet

Aspiranet is a mission-driven social services agency with a proud legacy of supporting California communities since 1975. We are committed to ensuring that every child is loved, every family is supported, and every individual has the tools to succeed. Our services span the state and are delivered through six dedicated divisions:
Foster Care and Adoption;
Transitional Aged Youth (TAY);
Residential;
Intensive Home-Based Services;
Behavioral Health; and Family and Community. At Aspiranet, every role contributes to something greater—helping to create a future where opportunity, hope, and healing are within everyone’s reach.

Position Summary

The Payroll Director reports to the Chief Human Resources Officer and leads a team responsible for processing semi-monthly payroll for 1,000 employees in a complex, highly regulated environment. This role ensures efficient payroll operations, tax reporting, auditing, and system management, while collaborating closely with finance, HR, and leadership to maintain full compliance. The ideal candidate has advanced knowledge of California and multi-state payroll regulations, is a Certified Payroll Specialist, experienced in system implementations, and excels in high-volume, continuous improvement settings.

Key Responsibilities

• Payroll Operations and Compliance
  • Oversee the accuracy and compliance of payroll functions in a complex, grant-funded environment.
  • Ensure full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local employment and tax laws and regulations.
  • Provide final approval on all payroll submissions and deliverables.
  • Serve as a backup for payroll processing as needed.
  • Perform additional job-related duties as assigned.
• Audit and Risk Management
  • Lead audits related to fiscal operations, 403(b) plans, government compliance, workers’ compensation, compensation, benefits, and wage and hour regulations.
  • Conduct regular internal audits of payroll processes, tax filings, rates, accruals, and related areas to ensure accuracy and ongoing compliance.
• Process Improvement and Documentation
  • Develop, document, and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all payroll functions.
  • Identify and implement improvements to payroll systems and processes to enhance efficiency and compliance.
• Team Leadership and Collaboration
  • Supervise, mentor, and develop payroll team members to support professional growth and high performance.
  • Build and maintain consultative relationships with agency leaders and staff across departments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field. Prospectively preferred:
  Certified Payroll Professional.
• Minimum of five years of related work experience in an audit-heavy, high-volume environment.
• Advanced knowledge and application of California wage and hour requirements that affect payroll processing.
• Proficient with Microsoft Suite and enterprise-level timekeeping and payroll systems; UKG experience is a plus.
• Prior experience with system implementations highly preferred.
• Excellent communication skills to coach and train others on best practices.

Work Environment & Schedule

• This role follows a Monday – Friday standard 8:00 am – 5:00 pm business hours.

Why Aspiranet?

• Competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits package, and a 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Access to the Aspiranet Employee Perks Program with exclusive discounts on entertainment, travel, wellness, pet care, gym memberships, theme parks, and more.
• Flexible Hybrid Schedule, combining remote and in-office work.
• Flexible paid time off including 11 paid holidays, 10 vacation days, 10 sick leave days,…