Chief Financial Officer / Controller Operations & Payroll Tax-Focused

Position Overview

We are seeking a hands-on, operationally focused leader to join a growing payroll processing company in Brooklyn, NY. This in-person role combines strategic financial leadership with direct oversight of payroll tax operations, compliance, and process management. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable managing accounting and compliance functions while improving workflows, driving operational efficiency, and supporting executive decision-making. This is not a purely back-office accounting role; it requires a proactive leader who can oversee financial operations while collaborating across payroll operations, payroll tax, client service, compliance, technology, and executive management.

Responsibilities

Financial Leadership

• Oversee all accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management.
• Prepare and analyze monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements while maintaining internal controls to ensure compliance with GAAP.
• Manage audits, tax filings, banking relationships, insurance matters, and advise executive leadership on financial strategy.
• Develop KPIs and financial metrics to support company growth and profitability.

Payroll Tax Department Leadership

• Directly oversee all payroll tax operations, filings, deposits, reconciliations, and compliance activities.
• Ensure timely filing of federal, state, and local payroll taxes (Forms 941, 940, W-2s, and state unemployment filings).
• Supervise payroll tax personnel, build controls to minimize penalties, manage agency correspondence, and coordinate with technology teams to ensure system accuracy and multi-state regulatory updates.

Operational Oversight

• Partner with payroll operations leadership to improve workflows, controls, scalability, and efficiency across processing, onboarding, billing, and collections.
• Help implement systems, automation, and reporting tools to improve accuracy and productivity.
• Support organizational scaling, process documentation, and cross-functional accountability.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Monitor risk exposure and implement procedures to protect company assets and client funds.
• Maintain strong controls around payroll processing accuracy and establish audit-ready documentation standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive accounting/finance leadership experience, with CPA preferred.
• Significant experience managing payroll tax operations within a payroll processing company, PEO, staffing firm, or related environment.
• Deep understanding of multi-state payroll tax compliance, agency requirements, and a hands-on mentality to dive into operational details.

Pay

The base salary range for this full-time position is $200,000 - $250,000 plus a performance bonus. Compensation may be higher for an exceptional candidate with highly relevant industry experience.