Payroll Director

About the role

The Payroll Director at Milhaus is responsible for overseeing the Company's payroll function, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for a multi-state workforce of 1,100+ employees.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight of multi-state, multi-FEIN payroll processing across all business divisions, including property management, development, construction, corporate, and others.
• Ensure accurate, compliant and timely processing of all employee compensation, incentives, bonuses, deductions, garnishments, and special earnings.
• Oversee payroll accounting activities, reconciliations, accruals, payroll funding, and related financial reporting.
• Direct payroll tax administration, filings, deposits, and reconciliations, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Maintain governance frameworks and internal controls to ensure payroll accuracy and mitigate organizational risk.
• Ensure timely processing of final pay requirements and compliance with state-specific termination regulations.
• Develop and execute a payroll strategy aligned with organizational objectives and growth initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes, increase automation, reduce risk, and improve operational efficiency.
• Lead payroll transformation initiatives, including system enhancements, integrations, and process redesign efforts.
• Evaluate and implement best practices to improve employee experience and payroll service delivery.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting payroll, wage and hour compliance, taxation, and reporting requirements.
• Serve as the organization's primary payroll compliance expert and advisor.
• Lead payroll-related internal and external audits, including financial, tax, workers' compensation, and 401(k) reviews as applicable.
• Ensure timely remediation of audit findings and implementation of corrective actions.
• Partner with Human Resources, Benefits, Compensation, Accounting, and Business Lines to ensure seamless administration of payroll-related programs.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, organizational restructures, and expansion into new states or jurisdictions.
• Collaborate on annual budgeting, forecasting, workforce planning, and compensation-related initiatives.
• Advise senior leadership on payroll trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Serve as business owner for payroll technology platforms, including Paylocity and related integrations.
• Partner with IT, internal and external resources and vendors to optimize system functionality, reporting capabilities, and data integrity.
• Lead testing, validation, and implementation of payroll system upgrades and enhancements.
• Ensure robust reporting and payroll analytics to support business decision-making.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and minimum 8 years of progressive payroll experience with responsibility for complex, multi-state payroll operations, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience supporting organizations with 1,100+ employees across multiple states, including California.
• Experience in real estate, property management, construction, or similarly complex operating environments preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading payroll process improvements, system implementations, and organizational growth initiatives.
• Minimum 5 years of payroll leadership experience managing payroll teams and functions.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including data analysis, reporting, and reconciliation functions.
• Experience with Paylocity required.
• Strong understanding of payroll accounting, reconciliations, and financial controls.
• Working knowledge of HRIS systems, integrations, and payroll reporting tools.
• Experience with audit management and compliance programs preferred.