Director, Payroll

About the role

The Director of Payroll is responsible for the strategic leadership, governance, compliance, and operational execution of payroll functions across the organization. This role ensures the accurate and timely payment of employees while maintaining compliance with federal, state, local, and union labor requirements. The Director will lead payroll operations, payroll tax administration, regulatory compliance, payroll systems, internal controls, and continuous process improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate possesses deep expertise in union payroll administration, wage and hour compliance, payroll taxation, collective bargaining agreement administration, and payroll governance within a complex, multi-state environment.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee payroll operations for exempt, non-exempt, union, and salaried employees.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of multiple regular and off-cycle payrolls.
• Develop and execute payroll strategies that support organizational objectives and workforce growth.
• Establish payroll policies, procedures, and service standards to ensure operational excellence, as well as process and system optimization.
• Lead payroll team development, performance management, succession planning, and organizational capability building.
• Ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements across multiple bargaining units.
• Interpret and administer contractual pay provisions.
• Partner with Labor Relations and HR to support contract negotiations and implementation of payroll-related provisions.
• Conduct impact analyses of proposed labor contract changes and collective bargaining agreements.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable payroll regulations.
• Maintain compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) controls and internal audit requirements.
• Develop, document, and monitor payroll controls to mitigate compliance and financial risk.
• Serve as the primary payroll contact for internal and external audits.
• Oversee withholding, reporting, and remittance of federal, state, and local payroll taxes.
• Ensure timely and accurate preparation and filing of tax documents, including Forms W-2 and related reporting requirements.
• Manage payroll tax audits, inquiries, and notices.
• Monitor regulatory changes and