Director of Payroll & Benefits Accounting - Atlanta, GA

MAULDIN & JENKINS LLC•Atlanta, GA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Payroll & Benefits Accounting will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for all compensation and health/welfare programs. Reporting to the COO, this role is responsible for ensuring the financial integrity of payroll and benefits data for 800+ employees across a multi-state footprint. This leader will leverage GL and HRIS software to automate workflows and ensure GAAP-compliant reporting. We are seeking a "Digital-First" leader—someone who possesses a traditional accounting foundation but is actively driven to integrate AI, automated agents, and emerging technologies into the payroll lifecycle to drive efficiency. This is a high-impact, in-person leadership position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Human Resources.
15 years of experience in Payroll & Benefits, with at least five years in a leadership role.
Advanced proficiency in Sage, Excel, and Copilot is required.
Deep knowledge of the FLSA, ERISA, ACA, and COBRA, as well as federal and multi-state tax regulations.
A detail-oriented leader who thrives in an in-person, collaborative environment and can manage complex financial data with absolute discretion.

Responsibilities

Oversee the mapping and reconciliation of all payroll and benefits-related GL accounts within Sage.
Manage the financial side of employee benefits, including 401(k) funding, FSA reconciliations, and the audit of monthly carrier invoices (Medical, Dental, Vision, etc) to ensure billing accuracy.
Own the month-end accrual process for bonuses, commissions, PTO, and benefits liabilities, providing detailed variance analysis to the Finance team.
Actively explore, pilot, and implement AI-driven solutions and automated agents to streamline repetitive tasks such as data entry, reconciliation, and employee inquiry responses.
Lead the development and management of the annual personnel budget. Partner with department heads and the finance team to provide data-driven projections for base pay, variable compensation, and payroll taxes.
Build and maintain "What-If" models to simulate the financial impact of new hires, market adjustments, or geographic expansion into new tax jurisdictions.
Conduct monthly BVA reviews to identify and explain variances in labor spend, ensuring the leadership team has a clear narrative on personnel-related fiscal performance.
Lead the administration of health and welfare plans, retirement programs, and leave-of-absence policies (FMLA, Disability).
Direct the annual Open Enrollment process, partnering with HR and brokers to ensure smooth system implementation and employee communication.
Act as the primary point of contact for benefits brokers and third-party administrators, evaluating plan performance and cost-effectiveness annually.
Ensure 100% compliance with federal and state regulations, including ACA (1095-C) filing, 5500 filings, and EEO-1 reporting.
Serve as the lead for the annual 401(k) audit and Workers’ Compensation audits, ensuring all data is audit-ready and internal controls are strictly maintained.
Monitor multi-state tax implications for both pay and benefits, ensuring correct withholding and reporting in all active jurisdictions. Quarterly review of payroll tax returns.