Director, Payroll & Tax Implementation

Responsibilities

Implementation Strategy & Commercial Enablement

• Serve as a strategic commercial partner to go-to-market teams, using implementation to accelerate deal closure and time to revenue.
• Build scalable implementation frameworks for complex tax and compliance requirements.
• Lead complex client migrations and platform transitions while managing operational and regulatory risk.
• Define operational playbooks for new growth channels.
• Collaborate with Product and Sales leadership to translate operational complexity into clear client value propositions.

Payroll & Tax Compliance Operations

• Establish payroll operational governance for implementation activities, including multi-state tax registrations, wage and hour requirements, FLSA requirements, and payroll tax setup.
• Oversee quarter-end and year-end processing, including federal, state, and local tax reconciliations, W-2 and 1099 issuance, and audit-ready documentation.
• Design and maintain internal controls, audit procedures, and compliance documentation.
• Partner with Compliance, Legal, and Tax on federal, state, and local tax law changes.
• Provide operational guidance and serve as an escalation point for complex payroll and tax matters.
• Address payroll tax inquiries and collaborate with tax authorities on notices and audit responses.
• Audit client payroll data, tax filings, and imported payroll history to ensure accurate tax agency setup.

TPA Integration Governance & Operational Controls

• Develop operational governance frameworks for TPA integrations.
• Establish control matrices, documentation requirements, data validation procedures, and reconciliation controls.
• Partner with Compliance, Legal, and Risk on regulatory audits, attestations, and internal controls testing.
• Manage corrective action plans and remediation.
• Support SOX and SOC 2 compliance initiatives and coordinate audit preparation.

Team Leadership & Scaling

• Lead and develop a high-performing payroll and compliance team.
• Recruit talent and build diverse teams capable of scaling.
• Establish career development paths and a continuous learning culture.
• Create scalable processes and use technology and automation to support growth without proportional headcount increases.
• Drive process streamlining, efficiency improvements, and operational innovation.

Requirements

• 10+ years of payroll tax operations experience within PEO, ASO, or HR outsourcing environments.
• Expertise in multi-state tax compliance and client implementation operating models.
• Deep knowledge of TPA environments, vendor management, and compliance governance.
• Advanced Excel skills for complex data analysis and electronic tax filing.
• 7+ years of management experience, including 4+ years leading managers and teams of 5 or more.
• Experience motivating, mentoring, and developing payroll and tax professionals.
• Strong client-facing communication skills and the ability to simplify complex regulatory matters.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, HR, or Business, or equivalent experience.

Nice to Have

• CPP, CPA, or relevant payroll or tax certification.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base wage range for the New York City office: $166,000.00–$214,000.00 per year.
• Benefits, wellness program offerings, and company retreats.