Director of Payroll

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

The History of Foley Family Wines & Spirits
In spring of 1996, Bill & Carol Foley purchased 1,000 acres of lush and fertile earth within the then relatively unknown Sta. Rita Hills region of Santa Barbara County. Their plan – produce hand-crafted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that reflected the best of California’s Central Coast. Named for their two daughters – Lindsey & Courtney – Lincourt Vineyards was born, and with it, the beginning of Foley Family Wines & Spirits.

In the 25 years since, Foley Family Wines & Spirits has grown into one of the world’s largest producers of fine wine, adding some of the industry’s most valuable wineries, located in the most recognized winemaking regions, including Napa, Sonoma, the Pacific Northwest, and New Zealand. Today, the Foley Family Wines & Spirits portfolio boasts a number of the most-celebrated names in wine, including Chalk Hill Estate, Chalone, Ferrari-Carano, and Sebastiani

Job Summary
The Director of Payroll is responsible for overseeing all payroll operations for approximately 700 employees across multiple states and entities. This role ensures accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing while driving process improvements, system optimization, and adherence to federal, state, and local regulations. 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. The Director will lead a team, collaborate with HR, Finance, and external partners and serve as the subject matter expert for payroll strategy and compliance.

** This is a hybrid role. M & F remote optional, Tues - Thursday onsite. **

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Operational Responsibilities
• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing for multiple entities and jurisdictions. This includes commissions and incentives.
• Review and approve monthly payroll entries provided to the accounting team for GL entry.
• Review and approve payroll journals and accruals ensuring all payroll transactions are accurate and compliant with company and government regulations
• Manage PVL accruals: overseeing the accrual and usage of Paid Time off for Employees
• Manage monthly workers comp accruals
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations, wage and hour laws, and company policies.
• Conduct ongoing internal audits of payroll processes, tax filings, rates, accruals, and controls to proactively identify risks and ensure audit-ready compliance.
• Oversee payroll tax filings and year-end reporting (W-2, 1099, etc.).
• Maintain internal controls and lead and coordinate internal and external audits.
• Occasional travel to Washington and/or Nevada.

Leadership & Team Management
• Lead and develop the payroll team, providing guidance, training, and performance management.
• Foster a culture of accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Strategic Responsibilities
• Develop and execute payroll strategy aligned with organizational goals.
• Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities in payroll operations.
• Evaluate and manage payroll vendors and service providers for optimal performance and cost efficiency.
• Partner with HR and Finance leadership to ensure payroll supports workforce planning and budgeting initiatives.
• Drive automation and digital transformation initiatives to enhance payroll accuracy and scalability.
• Monitor legislative changes and proactively adjust payroll policies and systems to
maintain compliance.
• Lead payroll integration during mergers and acquisitions (M&A), including harmonizing systems, consolidating processes, and ensuring compliance for acquired employees.
• Develop transition plans for onboarding employees from acquired entities and align payroll practices with corporate standards.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex payroll issues.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Other Abilities
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to follow through on projects with minimal supervision.
• Strong written and oral communication skills; attention to details and responsiveness
• High level of integrity and discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information.
• Interact effectively and professionally with team members and outside agencies, vendors, customers, etc.
• Ensure excellent service delivery to employees and internal stakeholders.
• Experience in a mid-sized organization (500 – 800 employees).
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Embrace Company Core Values – Teamwork, Commitment, Quality, Integrity, Safety, Entrepreneurship and FUN!

Education & Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related field strongly preferred.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) required.
• 8+ years of payroll experience, including multi-state and multi-entity environments.
• 3+ years in a leadership role managing payroll teams.
• Advanced expertise in California wage and hour laws, with demonstrated ability to apply regulations accurately within complex payroll operations; multi-state experience preferred.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and enterprise-level payroll and timekeeping systems; Paylocity experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, tax compliance, and reporting requirements.

Company Core Values:
Teamwork – Be a Spirited Partner
Commitment – Crush Every Day
Quality – Good vs. Grape: It’s All in The Details
Integrity – It Takes a Community
Safety – Tend the Vines
Entrepreneurship – Love the Wine You’re With
Fun! - Smile! You Have Purple Teeth!

Foley Family Wines & Spirits provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation.