Robert Half has a new direct-hire opportunity for a Payroll Director based in Baltimore, MD. The Payroll Director is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of payroll operations for a multi-state U.S. workforce of several thousand employees. This role oversees a small team of payroll professionals, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing while continuously improving systems, controls, and processes. This is a hybrid position! If interested, please apply to this posting or contact Cody Marshall at Robert Half to learn more.
Key Responsibilities
Payroll Operations & Compliance
- Oversee end-to-end payroll processing for a multi-state employee population (e.g., salaried, hourly, exempt, non-exempt).
- Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local payroll laws and regulations (including tax filings, wage and hour laws, and reporting requirements).
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulatory changes and implement necessary process updates.
- Ensure accurate and timely processing of payroll, including bonuses, commissions, equity transactions, and off-cycle payments.
Team Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and develop a small payroll team, fostering a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
- Establish clear goals, performance expectations, and professional development plans.
- Optimize team workflows and resource allocation to ensure efficiency and scalability.
Systems & Process Improvement
- Manage and optimize payroll systems (e.g., HRIS/payroll platforms), including upgrades, integrations, and troubleshooting.
- Identify opportunities to streamline processes, automate manual tasks, and improve data accuracy.
- Partner with IT and HR to enhance system functionality and reporting capabilities.
Audit, Controls & Reporting
- Establish and maintain strong internal controls to ensure payroll accuracy and mitigate risk.
- Support internal and external audits by providing documentation, reconciliations, and process explanations.
- Prepare and review payroll-related reports, reconciliations, and analytics for leadership.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with HR on employee data changes, benefits deductions, and compliance matters.
- Work closely with Finance on general ledger reconciliations, accruals, and financial reporting.
- Act as a subject matter expert for payroll-related inquiries across the organization.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
- 8+ years of progressive payroll experience, including leadership responsibility.
- Deep knowledge of U.S. payroll laws, tax regulations, and multi-state payroll processing.
- Experience managing payroll for a workforce of 1,000+ employees.
- Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or similar certification.
- Experience with major payroll/HRIS systems (e.g., Workday, ADP, UKG).
- Experience in process automation or payroll transformation initiatives.