Payroll Director

Payroll Director Opportunity At TalentCount, we connect high-impact HR, Payroll, and Finance professionals with organizations where people, processes, and business growth are closely aligned. We are currently supporting a confidential search for a Payroll Director to join a rapidly growing, multi-entity organization undergoing significant expansion and transformation. This is a unique opportunity for a payroll leader who thrives in both strategic and hands-on environments. The organization is scaling through acquisitions and organic growth, with a long-term vision of centralizing payroll operations across multiple companies and states into a best-in-class shared services model. The ideal candidate is an experienced payroll professional who can lead a team, drive process improvements, support acquisitions, standardize payroll operations, and personally step in when payroll execution requires hands-on leadership. Key Responsibilities Payroll Operations & Compliance Direct and oversee payroll operations across multiple companies, entities, and states. Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant payroll processing for all employees. Maintain expertise in federal, state, and local payroll regulations. Support complex payroll calculations, including commissions, incentive compensation, bonuses, piece-rate pay, overtime, and multi-frequency payroll schedules. Establish and maintain strong payroll controls, audit processes, and compliance standards. Shared Services & Process Improvement Lead the standardization of payroll practices across multiple operating companies. Evaluate current payroll processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency, and scalability. Reduce manual processes through automation and process redesign. Develop and implement payroll best practices, policies, procedures, and service standards. Create a long-term roadmap for payroll shared services operations. Mergers, Acquisitions & System Integrations Lead payroll integration activities related to acquisitions. Manage payroll transitions from acquired company systems into the organization's payroll platform. Coordinate payroll setup and compliance requirements for expansion into new states. Partner with Accounting, HR, IT, and operational leaders to ensure successful integrations. Support future payroll system enhancements, implementations, and platform transitions as needed. Systems & Reporting Serve as the payroll subject matter expert for ADP and related payroll technologies. Troubleshoot payroll system issues and partner with internal stakeholders to drive solutions. Ensure proper payroll-to-general ledger mapping and interface accuracy. Develop payroll reporting and analytics that support operational and executive decision-making. Improve payroll data integrity and reporting capabilities across the organization. Leadership & Team Development Lead, mentor, and develop a growing payroll team. Foster a culture of accountability, accuracy, customer service, and continuous improvement. Establish team structure and responsibilities to support future growth. Partner closely with HR, Finance, Accounting, and operational leadership. Qualifications Required Experience 10+ years of progressive payroll experience, including leadership responsibilities. Experience leading multi-state payroll operations. Experience supporting payroll across multiple entities, business units, or operating companies. Strong hands-on payroll processing expertise. Experience managing payroll in complex compensation environments, including commissions, incentives, bonuses, and other variable pay structures. Demonstrated experience supporting mergers and acquisitions from a payroll perspective. Strong knowledge of payroll compliance, wage and hour regulations, and payroll controls. Experience leading payroll process improvement and standardization initiatives. Advanced ADP experience, including configuration, troubleshooting, and administration. Experience managing and developing payroll teams. Preferred Qualifications Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation. Experience supporting high-growth or acquisitive organizations. Experience with payroll system conversions or implementations. Knowledge of Workday Payroll or other enterprise payroll platforms. Experience supporting payroll-related audits, wage and hour claims, or employment litigation matters. Strong understanding of payroll general ledger interfaces and payroll accounting concepts. Success in This Role Within the first 12 months, the successful candidate will: Improve payroll consistency across multiple entities. Establish stronger controls and reporting capabilities. Reduce manual processes and inefficiencies. Support acquisition-related payroll integrations. Create a scalable payroll structure capable of supporting significant organizational growth. Drive the standardization and simplification of payroll processes and pay codes. Help position the payroll function as a strategic business partner to the organization. Why Join This Opportunity? - Highly visible leadership role with executive exposure. - Opportunity to build and transform a growing shared services payroll function. - Support a rapidly expanding organization with ambitious growth plans. - Influence payroll strategy, systems, processes, and team development. - Competitive compensation package including bonus eligibility and potential equity participation. - Significant opportunity for long-term career growth and impact. Compensation: $160,000 - $180,000 base salary + 20% bonus Work Arrangement: On-site Location: Brea, California