Director of Payroll

Compensation Type: Yearly Highgate Hotels:

Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company with over $15 billion of assets under management and a global portfolio of more than 400 hotels spanning North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

With a 30-year track record as an innovator in the hospitality industry, this forward-thinking company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate continues to demonstrate success in developing a diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts, featuring contemporary programming and digital acumen. The company utilizes industry-leading revenue management tools that efficiently identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value.

With an executive team of seasoned hospitality leaders and corporate offices worldwide, Highgate is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. 

The Director of Payroll is responsible for the strategic leadership and day-to-day execution of payroll operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing and reporting across multiple California locations in accordance with Highgate's policies and applicable federal, state, and local regulations. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring active involvement in payroll processing while overseeing payroll operations, payroll tax compliance, systems administration, financial reporting, and process improvement.

The Director leads a high-performing payroll team and partners with Finance, Human Resources, IT, and business leaders to optimize payroll processes, enhance system integrations, and implement scalable solutions that support the organization's continued growth.

• Maintain payroll best practices, ensure that high quality payroll and customer service is delivered
• Ensure that the end payroll product and its processes are compliant with established internal controls and all state and federal regulations
• Oversees annual preparation of W-2 income reporting
• Defines and drives key requirements, projects and initiatives aimed at efficiency, quality, compliance, eliminating complexity and/or maximizing value of select functions and operations
• Responsible for entering payroll data into the system
• Responsible for auditing payroll data and maintaining files and records to produce accurate payroll period reports in accordance with hotel standards
• Engages in ongoing auditing activities to verify the accuracy of payroll records and information
• Check figures, postings, and documents for accuracy
• Organize, secure, and maintain all files, records, cash and cash equivalents in accordance with policies and procedures
• Record, store, and/or analyze computerized payroll information
• Prepare, maintain, audit, and distribute statistical, auditing, or payroll reports and tables
• Maintain, update, create, secure, and archive employee payroll records and files
• Process and/or issue employee paychecks and statements of earnings and deductions
• Understand basic payroll tax as it relates to the employee’s pay and their W2
• Assist with benefits administration and compliance. Including, but not limited to, Healthcare and the verification of the weekly 401(k) wire confirmation for all properties and confirming that each property’s 401(k) contribution equal 25% 401(k) matches
• Compute employee wages and deductions and enter wages and deductions into payroll system
• Provide information to employees and managers/supervisors on payroll matters and tax issues
• Adjust basic settings in time clock system
• Display strong ethics and ability to keep information confidential
• Provide analysis and guidance on payroll related initiatives
• Maintain relationship with 3rd party banking, tax, and garnishment providers
• Responsible for administration of garnishments and tracking all returned or stopped garnishment payments
• Responsible for security setup for new system users for payroll and removing access for terminated user’s, resetting passwords, and maintaining an internal audit spreadsheet
• Must have the ability to research payroll or payroll related items and present finding to the group
• Responsible for additional administrative duties as required

• Bachelor's degree required; Accounting/Business Degree preferred
• Extensive leadership experience (process, people, and cross-functional teams)
• Solid understanding of Payroll, US tax, HR processes and timekeeping automation experience
• Must understand California Wage/Work Rules/Laws
• Union payroll experience preferred
• 3rd party provider management experience
• 5+ years of payroll processing management experience in a large company is required
• Proven ability to manage numerous projects, as well as resources, remotely in a highly dispersed organization
• Project Management Experience
• Excellent written, analytical, and verbal communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to clearly articulate/summarize issues and present solutions to key stakeholders and senior leaders
• Ability to influence and guide to achieve the best solution
• Ability to analyze complex laws and regulations and apply them across Business Units and within corporate strategies
• Ability to develop and maintain strong internal and external business relationships
• Strong working knowledge of Ceridian Dayforce is preferred