Director Payroll

National Express•Warrenville, IL

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Payroll is responsible for overseeing all payroll procedures for Summit School Services (Summit LLC) in accordance with US federal, state, local laws, Canadian provisional regulations, and corporate policies. The position manages a team of payroll administrators, partners with various departments including Human Resources, HR Information Systems, Accounting, Finance, Operations, and Information Technology. Oversees external payroll service providers to ensure employees are compensated accurately and on time. Drives strategic improvements in payroll systems and processes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Payroll Administration, Accounting, Business, or related field.
10+ years’ experience in payroll and/or HR Services related areas.
In-depth knowledge of payroll procedures, tax regulations, and compliance requirements.
Experience with ADP, Oracle, and other payroll systems.
Strong leadership and management skills with a demonstrated ability to lead a team.
Experience managing multiple payrolls in a large payroll environment with multiple customer contracts and union collective bargaining agreements.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
Exceptional organizational and time-management abilities.
High level of integrity and ability to maintain confidential information.
Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal skills; ability to communicate and interact positively and professionally with all levels of individuals, both internal and external.
Proficiency in MS Office products (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and ability to use complex features.

Responsibilities

Manage and oversee the daily operations of the US and Canadian payroll department.
Ensure accurate and timely payment of compensation payable employees, while confirming correct processing of payroll transactions including salaries, benefits, taxes, and other deductions.
Oversee payroll reconciliations, audits, and regulatory procedures to ensure payroll tax reporting and remittance are timely and in compliance with applicable federal, state and local tax laws.
Verify time and labor rules are set up correctly within the payroll system and follow customer contracts, union collective bargaining agreements, and corporate guidelines.
Review exception reports, coordinate and resolve inaccurate information with field operations.
Collaborate with various internal departments to ensure seamless integration of payroll processes and vendors into business processes.
Lead, develop and performance manage payroll staff, provide guidance and support to ensure high performance and professional development of both onsite and remote team.
Develop and maintain payroll policies and procedures that follow company policies and regulatory requirements. Ensure they are properly administered and communicated to employees.
Drive automation, efficiency, and continuous improvement in payroll operations, including system upgrades, and integration with HRIS platforms like Oracle Fusion, Workday, or SAP.
Maintain an effective internal control structure, with audit procedures that ensure the consistent application of payroll policies and practices.
Manage external payroll service vendor relationships with a focus on process improvements, cost savings, and innovative technology solutions.
Stay updated on changes in payroll technology, regulations, and processes.
Prepare payroll reports and presentation for management and audit purposes.
Manage escalated payroll issues and inquiries.