# Director, Payroll & Tax Implementation

**Company:** [Justworks](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/justworks)
**Location:** New York, NY, Tampa, FL
**Role:** People Ops
**Salary:** $166k – $214k/yr
**Experience:** 10+ years
**Skills:** payroll tax, multi-state tax compliance, payroll implementation, peo, aso, tax registrations, flsa, Excel, electronic tax filing, tpa integrations, sox, SOC 2, Internal Controls, tax reconciliation, Vendor Management
**Posted:** 2026-08-07

> Leads payroll and tax implementation strategy, compliance governance, client migrations, TPA integrations, and team scaling. Requires 10+ years of payroll tax operations experience in PEO, ASO, or HR outsourcing, substantial management experience, multi-state compliance expertise, and a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

## Job Description

## 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.

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