Managing Director, HR & Payroll Managed Services

Baker Tilly•Frisco, TX

About The Position

Baker Tilly is seeking a Managing Director, HR & Payroll – Managed Services to lead the strategy, growth, and delivery of recurring and non-recurring HR and payroll services. This executive leadership role is accountable for practice strategy, profitable growth, client portfolio performance, service quality, talent leadership, and market presence while scaling the practice nationally. The Managing Director will serve as a trusted advisor to C-suite and senior client stakeholders, originate and expand strategic relationships, and align people, process, technology, risk management, and commercial priorities. The role connects HR, payroll, benefits, tax, accounting, technology, risk, marketing, and other firm leaders to deliver differentiated solutions and consistent client outcomes. The position calls for deep HR, payroll, and benefits expertise, commercial instincts, operational discipline, and the ability to build and lead a high-performing managed services practice. The ideal candidate is an experienced executive leader with expertise in HR, payroll, benefits, managed services, consulting, or related professional services. They have led complex client portfolios, grown strategic relationships, developed leaders, and operated a scaled service business with accountability for growth, profitability, quality, and client outcomes. The leader should be strategic, enterprise-minded, commercially oriented, credible with senior executives, decisive in complex situations, collaborative, client-centered, curious, innovative, and committed to technology-enabled improvement and high standards of quality, ethics, and service.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, HR, or a related field.
CPP and/or SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CEBS, or other relevant professional credentials.
15+ years of progressively responsible experience, including significant leadership responsibility in HR, payroll, benefits, managed services, consulting, or a related professional services environment.
Demonstrated success serving multiple clients across industries and managing complex relationships, engagements, and delivery priorities.
Strong technical payroll, HR, and benefits experience, including the ability to direct work involving technical and legal considerations and engage appropriate specialists.
Experience with Intuit QuickBooks Online, ADP, and/or other HCM and payroll technology platforms.
Proven business development experience originating and growing client relationships, with an established professional network that includes insurance brokers, C-suite leaders, and other centers of influence.
Strong executive presence, communication, presentation, relationship management, analytical, organizational, interpersonal, and decision-making skills.
Ability to lead and supervise others, manage competing priorities, exercise sound ethical judgment, and deliver quality work with urgency.

Responsibilities

Own and execute the service line strategy, operating model, annual plan, and multi-year growth agenda for the Managed Services HRS Payroll & HR practice, with accountability for revenue growth, profitability, utilization, capacity, investment priorities, quality, and client retention.
Translate firm strategy and market trends into differentiated HR and payroll solutions, scalable delivery models, and measurable business outcomes; establish governance, decision rights, performance measures, and escalation protocols.
Executive-sponsor strategic and complex client relationships, maintain trusted advisor relationships with C-suite and senior stakeholders, and lead responses to high-risk, high-impact, or escalated client matters.
Oversee service delivery standards, client experience, quality controls, engagement economics, and continuous improvement across the portfolio, including guidance related to HR strategy, payroll operations, benefits, organizational design, workforce infrastructure, and business continuity.
Originate new client relationships and expand existing accounts through executive-level business development, cross-selling, centers of influence, and strategic partnerships; own or sponsor priority pursuits from qualification and solution design through pricing, negotiation, and executive presentation.
Build and activate relationships with insurance brokers, C-suite leaders, referral partners, and other centers of influence; represent Baker Tilly nationally through thought leadership, industry forums, webinars, publications, speaking engagements, and strategic alliances.
Build, organize, and lead a high-performing leadership team; forecast workforce and capability needs; and establish accountability, coaching expectations, career paths, succession plans, and development opportunities.
Sponsor the practice technology roadmap and prioritize investments in HCM, payroll, workflow, data, automation, reporting, training, and process improvement to improve scale, controls, quality, and client value.
Use performance data and client feedback to improve offerings and guide resource and investment decisions; oversee budgets, forecasts, billing discipline, reporting, and management information needed to operate and grow the practice.
Maintain executive oversight of engagement risk, contractual commitments, client acceptance, independence considerations, data handling, and applicable professional and legal requirements; reinforce ethical conduct, confidentiality, sound judgment, and adherence to firm policies.