Payroll Director

Material Holdings•Oakland, CA

33d•$100,000 - $120,000

About The Position

We are seeking a hands-on and detail-oriented Payroll Director to lead our payroll operations, including overseeing two junior payroll staff. This position will be responsible for leading and managing the complete payroll process, from reviewing/managing timesheets to processing payroll using Workday for 600+ employees across three separate legal entities in dozens of US states and leading payroll for a small subsidiary in the UK. Using attention to detail, problem-solving and flexibility, this position requires a strong understanding of various states' payroll rules (e.g. California overtime laws) and individual state or regional tax issues to ensure each company is following all applicable payroll-related legal requirements and ensuring all employees are paid accurately and on time. This position requires strong Excel skills, excellent organizational habits, and a high level of accuracy. The right candidate takes initiative, learns quickly, and embraces opportunities to contribute and improve processes in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

10+ years of experience doing full cycle payroll, including experience managing at least one payroll professional
High school diploma or GED required; associate or bachelor's degree a plus
Experience with Workday Payroll and/or ADP is strongly preferred; familiarity with payroll systems, HRIS platforms, or ERP tools is required
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g., formulas, pivot tables, vlookups, etc.)
Outstanding organizational skills, including ability to structure work plans and prioritize activities on multiple simultaneous projects and recurring activities
Orientation toward action and taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm
Strong problem-solving skills; highly analytical thinker
Detail orientation and ability to identify inconsistencies and provide recommendations
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines consistently
Strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills; excellent documentation skills
Fosters an open, honest, and positive relationship with all team members, employees, and cross-functional stakeholders
Comfortable performing in a fast-paced, lean environment
Strong appreciation for Material values and culture

Nice To Haves

CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Train, coach, and manage two payroll team members
Oversee review of employees' timesheets for each pay period (timecards are submitted weekly, payroll processed bi-weekly); have a deep understanding of overtime laws for California and other states so timesheets can be manually audited when needed
Oversee processing of payroll via Workday Payroll and tax compliance via ADP SmartCompliance
Oversee review of payroll audit reports with each payroll run
Work closely with UK payroll processor to submit payroll data, resolve payroll discrepancies and maintain up-to-date employee records
Run, maintain, and audit weekly payroll reports (primarily in Excel) to ensure data accuracy
Oversee and review calculation and processing of leaves of absence and final pay for exiting employees
Oversee and review preparation of final pay for employees exiting the company
Coordinate with the People team on payroll related issues including, but not limited to, benefit deductions, 401(k) loans, use of paid time off during leaves of absence, and salary adjustments
Collaborate with the Accounting team related to month-end close processes and reconciliations
Communicate with employees to resolve payroll-related questions in a timely and professional manner
Oversee audits of W-2s and paystubs; ensure all government, state, and local reporting requirements are met
Maintain confidentiality of payroll, private employee, and proprietary information; ensure payroll data is secure
Lead the payroll team on other projects as needed; encourage teamwork and collaboration