Director of Payroll
2 days ago
Melville
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. 1. 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. 1. 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. 1. 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. 1. 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.