Payroll Director - Managed HR Services

Baker Tilly•Pittsburgh, PA

5d•$116,000 - $345,330•Remote

About The Position

The Payroll Director will serve as a senior leader within Managed HR Services, reporting to the Principal of MS HRS Payroll & HR. This individual will be responsible for overseeing payroll operations, leading a team of 10–15 professionals, driving revenue growth, and shaping the strategic direction of payroll services. The role requires deep functional payroll expertise, strong leadership in a remote environment, and the ability to build scalable systems, processes, and client solutions.

Requirements

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)
7–10+ years of progressive payroll experience
3–5+ years of people management experience
Deep functional knowledge of payroll operations, compliance, and multi-state payroll requirements
Proven ability to lead teams and manage complex payroll environments
Experience building systems, processes, and operational infrastructure from scratch
Strong ability to operate autonomously and make independent decisions

Nice To Haves

Experience with Intuit and ADP payroll platforms, including ADP RUN and ADP Workforce Now
Background in a consulting or outsourced services environment
Experience managing payroll implementations across diverse client environments
Familiarity with integrating payroll with HRIS, timekeeping, benefits, and financial systems
Experience leveraging AI or advanced tools to enhance payroll processes

Responsibilities

Lead, develop, and manage a team of payroll associates, implementation specialists, and managers (10–15 team members)
Establish clear performance expectations, accountability, and development plans
Foster a high-performing, collaborative, and client-focused culture across a distributed team
Provide leadership in managing remote teams effectively and efficiently
Oversee end-to-end payroll service delivery, including processing, review / support, compliance, issue resolution, and client communication
Ensure timely response and resolution of payroll issues, aligning with service expectations (e.g., rapid response for critical issues)
Maintain high standards of payroll accuracy, compliance, and client satisfaction across all engagements
Partner with implementation teams to ensure seamless onboarding, system configuration, and payroll transitions
Lead payroll system implementations, including configuration, data migration, testing, and go-live execution
Design, build, and optimize scalable payroll processes and operational workflows
Identify opportunities to streamline manual processes and improve efficiency through technology and automation
Collaborate with internal and external technology partners (including ADP and Intuit) to optimize system performance and integrations
Leverage payroll technologies, including ADP platforms (RUN and Workforce Now preferred), to deliver scalable client solutions
Drive adoption of emerging tools, including AI-enabled capabilities, to improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, and insights
Ensure alignment between payroll systems, HRIS platforms, and financial integrations
Support and drive payroll revenue growth through client expansion, cross-sell opportunities, and service enhancements
Identify and develop new market segments and client demographics for payroll services
Contribute to go-to-market strategy, service offerings, and pricing approaches
Partner with firm leadership on long-term strategy and scaling the payroll practice
Serve as a senior escalation point and trusted advisor for key client relationships
Ensure strong communication, transparency, and responsiveness in all client interactions
Deliver consultative insights to clients related to payroll operations, compliance, and system optimization