Director of Payroll

About the role

The Director of Payroll serves as the senior operational leader for Payroll, reporting to the Vice President of HR Operations and Payroll, and is responsible for leading and scaling a high-performing, compliant payroll function across a large, multi-state, multi-facility healthcare organization.

Responsibilities

• Direct end-to-end payroll processing for all entities, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance across multiple pay groups, frequencies, unions, and states.
• Establish clear ownership, decision rights, and tiered escalation paths across the payroll function to support disciplined operations and appropriate risk escalation.
• Establish and maintain payroll processing calendars, standard operating procedures, checklists, and quality assurance checkpoints to ensure consistent and error-free pay cycles.
• Oversee garnishment processing, voluntary deductions, retroactive pay calculations, and off-cycle payment requests with appropriate controls and documentation.
• Drive root-cause analysis and payroll issue prevention by identifying recurring errors, strengthening upstream data quality, reducing manual touchpoints, and improving process reliability.
• Deliver an outstanding service experience to employees across the organization through responsive, accurate, and people-centered payroll support.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), service level agreements (SLAs), and control measures to assess payroll accuracy, timeliness, compliance, and team performance.
• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, tax regulations, and reporting requirements across all operating jurisdictions.
• Maintain relationships with payroll service providers and ensure accuracy of tax registrations, rates, and filings across all jurisdictions.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing payroll team through clear expectations, coaching, continuous feedback, and professional development opportunities.
• Create leadership depth and strengthen succession readiness across the function.
• Hire, on-board, manage, and develop payroll team members.
• Partner with HR Operations, Benefits, Compensation, Legal, and Finance to ensure alignment on earnings, deductions, accruals, and general ledger reconciliation.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to facility administrators and regional leadership on payroll-related questions, policies, and escalations.
• Collaborate with Legal and Compliance on wage and hour matters, audit responses, and regulatory inquiries.
• Partner with the Sr. Payroll Tax and Compliance Analyst on payroll tax filings, reconciliations, amendments, and year-end reporting including W-2 processing, and tax agency correspondence.

  Qualifications

  • 10+ years of progressive payroll leadership experience in complex, multi-state, multi-site, or enterprise environments.
  • Demonstrated success leading and developing payroll teams of 15+ in a high-volume, service-oriented environment.
  • Deep knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax laws, wage and hour regulations, and compliance requirements.
  • Strong understanding of payroll systems, preferably Workday and ADP Smart Compliance, including configuration, integrations, and reporting.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
  • Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Preferred experience in the healthcare or post-acute care industry.
  • Experience with payroll service delivery in a shared services or centralized support model.
  • Experience leading payroll through acquisitions, system implementations, or large-scale organizational change.
  • CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation or equivalent certification.

  Leadership Characteristics

  • People-first leader who inspires trust, develops talent, and drives team performance through coaching, recognition, and accountability.
  • Compliance-minded operator who brings rigor, discipline, and attention to detail to every payroll process and decision.
  • Service-oriented leader with a passion for delivering accurate, timely pay and a positive employee experience.
  • Strategic thinker who can see the big picture while managing the day-to-day details of a complex payroll operation.
  • Calm under pressure — thrives in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments and leads teams through peak periods with composure and clarity.

  Work Location

  This role is based at PACS Headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City, UT. Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates who reside outside the greater Salt Lake City area.

  Travel

  Travel is expected across regions and facilities to build relationships and support implementation. Anticipated travel: 10% depending on business needs.

  Physical Demands

  Primarily sedentary work involving extended periods of sitting, using a computer, and attending virtual or in-person meetings. Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, data entry, and navigating payroll and HR systems. Occasional standing, walking, and movement within the office or between departments. Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, including leading meetings and presentations. Ability to occasionally lift and carry light items (up to 15 pounds), such as laptops, documents, or office materials. Ability to travel as needed (approximately 10%), including walking through facilities and navigating multiple work environments. Visual ability to review detailed data, reports, and financial information on computer screens for extended periods.

  Compensation

  Compensation Range: $145,000 - $160,000 annually depending on direct job related experience

  Join PACS

  PACS is elevating healthcare by revolutionizing our approach to leadership and quality care. Guided by our core values of love, excellence, trust, accountability, mutual respect, and commitment, we strive to foster a culture of compassionate care within our teams and the communities we serve. As we grow rapidly, exciting opportunities await you to engage in impactful projects and contribute valuable insights to stakeholders nationwide. If you're ready to make a difference and embrace our mission of creating real change, we invite you to join us at PACS. Together, let’s shape the future of healthcare!

  Join Our Team and Thrive!

  We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applicants of every race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and any other protected characteristic. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.