Director, Payroll

Athletics - Business Operations•Las Vegas, NV

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Payroll is responsible for executing end-to-end payroll operations across the Athletics organization. This role ensures payroll accuracy and compliance across highly complex compensation structures, including variable pay, bonuses, incentives, multi-state taxation, and contractual earnings. This leader will own payroll systems strategy and serve as a key functional partner to Finance, People Operations, Legal, and Information Technology. The ideal candidate brings deep technical payroll expertise, systems proficiency, and a strong understanding of payroll data workflows, integrations, and compliance within a high-volume, multi-entity environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred
8-10+ years of progressive payroll experience in multi-state/multi-entity environments
5+ years of leadership experience managing payroll teams and/or payroll operations functions
Hands-on experience administering payroll for multiple compensation structures (e.g., contracts, union wages, bonuses, incentives, and variable pay) within a multi-state or multi-entity environment
Strong technical experience with payroll systems; ADP Workforce Now strongly preferred
Strong understanding of HRIS integrations and financial systems (GL mapping, cost centers, etc.)
Advanced knowledge of multi-state taxation, wage & hour compliance, and complex compensation structures
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, etc.) and reporting tools
Proficiency with Google Workspace (Sheets, Docs, Slides)
High level of accuracy, discretion, and ability to manage sensitive and confidential data
Demonstrated ability to lead process improvements, and system enhancements
Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills
Experience with payroll audits and compliance processes
Experience in sports, entertainment, or similarly complex workforce environments strongly preferred
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certified preferred

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end payroll operating model, including design, configuration, execution, and optimization across all employee populations (full-time staff, baseball operations personnel, game-day, and seasonal employees)
Ensure accurate processing of complex compensation structures, including base pay, variable compensation, bonuses, incentives, and contract-based payments
Calculate and process complex player payroll, including contract-based compensation, performance incentives, bonuses, and varied compensation structures
Own payroll system configuration, optimization, and ongoing administration within ADP Workforce Now (and related modules), including integration management, data interfaces, and workflows across HRIS, Finance, and time and attendance systems
Review, identify, and implement system enhancements to ensure seamless payroll data flow across platforms to improve efficiency and reduce manual data entry
Establish and maintain comprehensive payroll controls, including audit trails, reconciliation frameworks, and reporting
Ensure full compliance with federal, state, local, and jurisdictional tax regulations, including multi-state taxation
Oversee payroll compliance with Major League Baseball rules and league-specific compensation requirements
Lead payroll audit strategy, including reconciliations and reporting to ensure accuracy and data integrity
Own payroll reporting, including standard reporting, analytics, and dashboards (payroll cost, accruals, etc.)
Oversee year-end processing, including W-2s, reconciliations, tax filings, and year-end configuration in systems
Develop and enforce payroll policies and SOPs aligned with compliance and operational best practices
Serve as escalation point for complex payroll calculations, system issues, and compensation inquiries
Lead and develop a high-performing payroll team
Other duties as assigned