Director Payroll

Keolis Canada•Boston, MA

18h•$170,000 - $185,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director Payroll is responsible for overseeing US payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing, compliance with regulations, and continuous improvement of payroll processes and systems. This role involves managing a team of payroll professionals, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and serving as a subject-matter expert for payroll software and platforms.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive payroll management experience in a large complex (10,000+ employee) North American organization.
BS degree or CPP.
6+ years of management experience.
Experience in implementing and/or managing a large multi-location payroll provider in the United States.
Demonstrated leadership involving skilled teams and change management.
Experience with complex cross-functional payroll projects.
Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, relationship building and business partnering skills.
Experience in delivering payroll services within a heavily unionized, multiple CBA employer.
Ability to effectively multi-task, prioritize work, demonstrate accountability, and lead a team of payroll professionals to support US payroll activities.
Ability to influence and negotiate priorities with a focus on continuous improvement of operational processes and systems.

Nice To Haves

Experience with UKG HCM and payroll software platform strongly preferred.
Strong experience in time and attendance auditing and time control and reporting, Workforce Management strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience in digitalization/automation of business/payroll process and ideally some experience in utilization of AI.
Bi-lingual – English and French speaker preferred.

Responsibilities

Deliver accurate, timely, and high-quality professional payroll services to employees across the US in a complex portfolio business.
Enhance payroll analytical and reporting capabilities to update stakeholders regularly and provide meaningful decision support for management.
Stay current on US regulations, benefits changes impacting payroll deductions and taxation, and labor laws impacting the payroll process, ensuring compliance for all payroll tax jurisdictions.
Serve as a subject-matter expert for the payroll software platform (UKG) and time & attendance platforms (Kronos/Dimensions and UTA).
Ensure systems and internal controls adequately support North America payroll, employment taxes, and all applicable labor laws and regulations.
Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations, as well as company policies regarding payments of wages, tax withholding, garnishments, and employee deductions.
Ensure taxes and other required government withholdings are executed, collected, deposited, and reported on a timely basis to federal, state, provincial, and local authorities in a secure manner.
Coordinate year-end tax activities, including adjustments to tax withholdings, submission of IRS employer reports, and distribution of wage and tax statements (W-2, 1042-S, and T4) to employees.
Perform research and analysis of current payroll issues and propose and implement appropriate solutions.
Develop, maintain, and regularly assess internal controls for payroll processes and related payroll software systems.
Ensure internal controls and regulatory and company-established narratives and controls are correct and comprehensive.
Build proactive, collaborative relationships with stakeholders, outside vendors, and global payroll teams to ensure global best practices and process consistency.
Produce records of employment.
Oversee the time & attendance team with CBA requirements/company policies in creating/implementing business process and set up in the UKG systems.
Drive and assure the delivery of the time and attendance system, including payroll audits.
Ensure accurate reporting of time to payroll, creating checks and balances.
Ensure proper administration of the security of the system and coordinate enhancements and efficiencies associated with the time system.
Oversee the timely tracking of hours worked, leave time (vacation, personal, sick leave) for employees.
Verify attendance, hours worked, and pay adjustments, and post information onto designated records.
Record employee information, such as exemptions, transfers, and resignations, to maintain and update payroll records.
Work closely with Core business, HR, and finance to recommend opportunities that support strategic initiatives, goals, and priorities.
Develop and present business case proposals to senior executives for enhancements, tools, or procedural changes to support new initiatives.
Provide project leadership for all payroll-related projects, including creating project plans, obtaining appropriate resources, conducting regular project meetings, and resolving issues.
Coordinate the wider payroll community, ensuring the sharing of best practices and capabilities.
Provide oversight and assurance through indirect oversight of payroll (non-shared service).
Identify opportunities, recommend, and implement harmonization between direct and indirect oversight payroll functions to improve payroll efficiencies and effectiveness and build internal capabilities.
Improve checks and controls in the payroll function to reduce errors, increase accuracy, timeliness, and performance.
Responsible for managing, coaching, and developing the US payroll operations staff.
Promote a positive team environment.
Develop team capabilities to ensure competence.