Associate Director of Payroll - Temp to Hire

• Senior‑level payroll leadership with immediate impact
• Stable, five‑day onsite role with predictable hours

About Our Client

Our client is a well‑established organization in the independent education and nonprofit sector, supporting a diverse workforce of faculty, administrators, and staff. The organization values collaboration, professionalism, and strong operational practices across its finance and people functions.

Job Description

• Manage full‑cycle semi‑monthly payroll processing, including salaries, benefits, taxes, garnishments, and deductions
• Maintain payroll systems and internal controls to ensure timely and accurate payroll delivery
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local payroll and wage/hour regulations
• Partner with Human Resources to ensure employee data and benefit deductions are accurately maintained in the payroll system
• Review and reconcile quarterly and annual payroll tax filings and payroll records
• Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll‑related employee inquiries, providing clear and customer‑focused support
• Collaborate with Finance to ensure accurate payroll accounting and reconciliation within the financial system and to support reporting needs
• Support internal and external audits and assist with the implementation of audit recommendations
• Establish or document payroll protocols related to new benefits or collective bargaining agreements, as needed
• Identify and implement immediate payroll process improvements in collaboration with HR, Finance, and IT
• Foster positive working relationships across teams and contribute to a collaborative onsite work environment
• Perform additional payroll‑related duties and projects as required during the assignment

The Successful Applicant

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
• CPP or FPC certification preferred
• Minimum of 7 years of payroll or fiscal operations experience; leadership experience strongly preferred
• Experience in education, nonprofit, or unionised environments preferred
• 5-7 years of hands‑on experience with ADP Workforce Now or similar payroll/HRIS platforms
• Strong knowledge of New York payroll laws, wage/hour regulations, and IRS requirements
• Experience with benefits administration and payroll deduction integration
• Highly detail‑oriented with strong organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving skills
• Advanced Excel or payroll reporting experience is a plus
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain payroll matters clearly to a broad employee population
• Demonstrated discretion and integrity when handling confidential information
• Calm, adaptable, and effective in a deadline‑driven, onsite environment

What's on Offer

• Competitive hourly compensation, commensurate with experience
• Full‑time temporary assignment with a 40‑hour work week
• Five days onsite, providing consistency and strong team integration
• Opportunity to step into a senior payroll leadership role with immediate organizational impact
• Temp to hire opportunity