Director of Payroll

Our client, a large multi-specialty physician group affiliated with world-class medical schools in New York City, is hiring for this vital leadership role. The position requires onsite presence in Manhattan (4 days per week onsite, plus 1 day remote).

About the role

Shape and elevate payroll operations within one of the largest municipal health care delivery systems in the nation, supporting a complex, unionized environment across multiple hospitals, clinics, and correctional health services. Drive strategic transformation, ensure compliance, and foster strong relationships with clinical and administrative stakeholders while maintaining operational excellence. Join a mission-driven organization committed to providing equitable, high-quality care to all New Yorkers.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end payroll operations for approximately 4,000 employees across multiple sites, including hospitals, clinics, and correctional health services.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing, including bi-weekly (or transition to semi-monthly) cycles.
• Oversee payroll tax reporting and compliance with federal, New York State, and local regulations, managing multi-state requirements and remote employee considerations.
• Collaborate with internal teams—including Finance, HR, Benefits, and Legal—to improve payroll workflows, reduce errors, and enhance data accuracy.
• Develop and mentor a payroll team—currently five members, with plans for growth—and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Manage payroll system configurations, including managing vendor relationships for Paycom (current system) and leading RFP processes for potential transition to platforms such as ADP or others.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of payroll processes and recommend strategic improvements aligned with future organizational needs.
• Implement internal controls, audit readiness protocols, and risk mitigation strategies to safeguard payroll integrity.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to support system enhancements, data validation, and operational scalability.

Requirements

• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive payroll leadership experience.
• Extensive knowledge of federal, New York State, and local payroll laws and tax reporting.
• Proven expertise managing multi-site, unionized, and clinically complex payroll environments, preferably within healthcare.
• Strong proficiency in Excel, data analysis, and payroll systems such as ADP, Paycom, or Workday.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change management initiatives and manage teams effectively.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and leadership presence.

Schedule

4 days per week onsite in Manhattan, plus 1 day remote.