Director Of Payroll

Director of Payroll Reports To: Vice President of Finance 2 Direct Reports: Payroll Manager, Payroll Admin Role Type: Operational & Strategic Leadership (100% Hands-On "Player-Coach") Salary: $145,000 - $175,000 POSITION OVERVIEW The Director of Payroll provides strategic leadership and complete operational ownership of the organization’s end-to-end payroll function. Managing a weekly payroll for 2,000 to 2,500 active checks (across an active workforce of ~3,000 employees—predominantly hourly with ~150 salaried/admin), this role requires a deeply technical, hands-on leader who can execute any task on the team while driving system integrations, project management, and M&A stand-ups. The ideal candidate possesses deep expertise in Workday and ADP Smart Compliance, holds full accountability for 401(k) administration and tax compliance (NYS-45, 941, SUI) without a dedicated tax manager, and thrives in rolling up their sleeves to configure systems, write deduction rules, and build payroll operations from scratch. ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Operational Payroll Execution & System Configuration Direct and execute weekly high-volume payroll processing for ~2,000+ hourly and ~150 salaried employees. Act as primary administrator for Workday and ADP Smart Compliance; configure foundation rules, build payroll groups, and create earnings/deduction codes from scratch. Perform advanced data reconciliation and reporting using Microsoft Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs/XLOOKUPs). Troubleshoot and resolve technical system errors, data flow issues, and operational bottlenecks. 2. Systems, Integrations & M&A Expansion Serve as technical lead for system integrations and data mappings between Workday and third-party vendor applications. Stand up full payroll operations from scratch for newly acquired entities, business units, or geographic regions. Plan, lead, and execute payroll technology projects, system upgrades, and process automation. 3. Tax, FLSA Compliance & Year-End Close Hold full, end-to-end operational responsibility for payroll tax administration (no dedicated internal Tax Manager). Personally oversee and execute federal, state, and local tax filings, including Form 941, NYS-45, and State Unemployment Insurance (SUI) filings. Direct year-end operations, including manual W-2 reconciliations, tax audits, and compliance reporting. Ensure strict adherence to FLSA regulations, meal/rest break laws, overtime rules, garnishments, and court-ordered deductions across a complex hourly workforce. 4. 401(k) Manage all aspects of retirement plan payroll processes: census file creation/transmission, contribution calculations, match processing, and loan garnishments. Lead annual 401(k) compliance activities, including audit support, data collection, and preparation/review for Form 5500 filings. 5. Leadership & Team Management Supervise, mentor, and develop two direct reports (Payroll Manager and Payroll Admin), establishing operational accountability and performance standards. Maintain cross-functional alignment with HR, Benefits, and Finance/Accounting for journal entries, labor allocations, and accruals. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS: Experience: 7+ years of progressive payroll management experience handling complex, high-volume weekly payrolls (2,000+ checks) with a high concentration of hourly workers. Systems Expertise (MUST-HAVE): Direct hands-on experience using Workday (building payroll groups, creating deduction/earning codes) and ADP Smart Compliance. Technical & Data Skills: Advanced Excel proficiency required (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs/XLOOKUPs, data manipulation, and audits). Tax Expertise: Hands-on mastery of federal/state tax mechanics, specifically Form 941, NYS-45, and SUI filings without third-party tax management. 401(k) Ownership: Demonstrated track record managing 401(k) census data, contributions, and Form 5500 compliance from end to end. M&A / Integration Capability: Proven ability to build payroll systems from scratch, establish integrations, and onboard acquired entities. Education / Credentials: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field preferred; Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation is a plus. CORE COMPETENCIES: Player-Coach Mentality: Unafraid to roll up sleeves to run processing, calculate manual adjustments, or trace technical system errors alongside the team. Technical Problem Solving: Ability to diagnose root-cause technical issues between Workday and integrated systems. Project Management: Structured approach to scoping, planning, and executing system builds and operational changes. Scrupulous Accuracy: Flawless execution in W-2 reconciliations, wage calculations, and compliance filings.