Director of Payroll

Crunch Fitness•Austin, TX

11d

About The Position

The Director of Payroll owns payroll strategy, operations, controls, and technology across a fast-growing, multi-state organization. The role sets and executes the payroll roadmap as the company expands to more than 100 clubs, enters new states, and integrates acquisitions. The Payroll Manager reports to this position. The Director determines how payroll processes should operate, creates controls to support them, and scales the function while managing risk and payroll costs. The Director leads payroll changes from business case and design through testing, rollout, training, and post-implementation review. The role partners closely with Accounting and Finance, HR, IT, Operations, and club leaders. Success includes improving payroll accuracy and efficiency, ensuring timely tax filings and payroll-to-general-ledger reconciliation, maintaining clean audit results, and developing reliable launch processes for new clubs and states. The position also leads and develops the Payroll Manager and payroll team, owns UKG Pro optimization and integrations, and provides payroll analytics and forecasting inputs. Travel is required as needed for new-club visits and field relationship building. The role involves prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field.
At least 7 years of progressive payroll experience, including at least 3 years leading payroll teams in a multi-state, multi-location organization.
Demonstrated record of leading payroll transformation, such as system implementations, process redesign, or automation, from concept through measured results.
Advanced UKG Pro expertise.
Deep knowledge of multi-state payroll tax, wage-and-hour law, garnishments, and benefits and 401(k) payroll impacts.
Strong understanding of payroll accounting, including general-ledger mapping, accruals, reconciliations, and internal controls.
Experience administering bonus and commission programs at scale.
Executive-level communication skills, including the ability to build a business case and influence peers in HR, Operations, and Finance.
Ability to lead strategically while personally executing plans and implementing lasting process and system changes.
Physical ability to sit and work at a computer for prolonged periods.

Nice To Haves

Experience with new-site openings, acquisitions, or high-growth multi-unit environments such as fitness, retail, hospitality, or healthcare.
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.
Advanced Excel skills.
Exposure to AI, SQL, or business intelligence tools for payroll analytics.
UKG Pro implementation or optimization leadership experience.

Responsibilities

Build and own a multi-year payroll roadmap aligned with the company’s growth, new-state entry, and acquisition pipeline.
Identify, prioritize, and lead payroll process improvements end to end, including business case development, design, testing, rollout, training, and post-implementation review.
Drive payroll automation and standardization, including recurring payroll journal entries, bonus and commission calculations, and reduction of off-cycle checks.
Define the payroll operating model, including team structure, roles, service levels, and build-versus-vendor decisions.
Present payroll strategy, risks, and results to the Controller and senior leadership.
Own payroll policies and the internal control framework, including segregation of duties, approval workflows, reconciliations, and audit trails.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage-and-hour and payroll tax rules; lead new-state registrations and setups.
Lead payroll’s role in external, tax, and 401(k) plan audits and ensure timely resolution of findings.
Monitor regulatory changes and update policies, system configuration, and training before effective dates.
Own payroll mechanics for incentive programs, including bonuses, commissions, Partner bonuses, and facilities bonuses, ensuring accurate payment, auditability, and accruals.
Partner with Accounting on payroll general-ledger mapping, accruals, month-end close, and payroll-related reconciliations.
Provide labor-cost analytics and forecasting inputs to FP&A and Operations.
Own the payroll technology roadmap, including UKG Pro optimization and integrations with HRIS, timekeeping, and benefits systems.
Lead system upgrades, new modules, and vendor selection or renegotiation; manage payroll vendor performance.
Establish payroll data-integrity standards and reporting and dashboards for payroll KPIs.
Lead payroll due diligence for acquisitions and build and execute integration playbooks for new clubs and states.
Create a repeatable new-club payroll launch checklist and playbook.
Lead, coach, and develop the Payroll Manager and payroll team; set goals and hold the team to measurable standards.
Build bench strength and succession for critical payroll roles.
Partner with HR, Operations, and club leaders and serve as the escalation point for complex payroll issues.
Travel as required for new-club visits and field relationship building.

Benefits

Salaried flexible PTO.
Paid holidays.
Subsidized health insurance coverage, including health, dental, and vision, for full-time positions.
Employer-paid basic life and AD&D insurance.
Health savings account (HSA).
401(k) offering with employer match.
Short-term disability coverage.
Voluntary supplemental life insurance for employees, children, and spouses.
Free Crunch Fitness membership.
Competitive pay and career advancement opportunities.