Payroll Director

Knighted Ventures•Dallas, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Knighted is a leader in gaming and entertainment, built on 30 years of experience and a people-first mindset. As the #1 player services provider, we’re growing fast and raising the bar in every market we enter. Our mission is simple: we win together. We believe success comes from a team of leaders at every level—people who take pride in their craft, support each other, and bring their best every day. Gaming is our foundation, but our culture is our edge. About the Role We are seeking an experienced Director of Payroll to lead and own the full payroll function across our growing portfolio of entities, reporting directly to the CFO. This is a senior leadership role responsible for ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing across multiple entities and jurisdictions, while maintaining the highest standards of compliance at the federal, state, and local levels. Beyond execution, the Director will be expected to build and continuously improve the systems, policies, and internal controls that allow payroll to scale alongside the organization, including platform optimization, year-end reporting, and cross-functional partnership with Finance, HR, and Legal. The ideal candidate brings deep multi-state compliance expertise, strong payroll systems knowledge, and the ability to lead a team while serving as the primary point of escalation for complex payroll issues, audits, and disputes.

Requirements

8–10+ years of progressive payroll experience with a minimum of 3 years in a leadership or management role
Demonstrated experience managing multi-entity and multi-state payroll in a complex, high-volume environment
Advanced knowledge of UKG with strong familiarity with other major payroll platforms
Deep expertise in payroll tax compliance at the federal, state, and local levels
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required

Nice To Haves

CPP certification preferred
advanced degree a plus
Experience in the entertainment and hospitality industries.
Familiarity with benefits administration and 401(K) plan administration.
Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
Good communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

Oversee and ensure the accurate and timely processing of bi-weekly and off-cycle payrolls across multiple entities
Maintain strict compliance with all federal, state, and local payroll, wage, and hour laws and best practices — including multi-state and multi-jurisdiction requirements
Direct the management of employee garnishments including child support, tax levies, and other court-ordered wage assignments
Ensure the integrity and accuracy of all data within the payroll system across all entities
Lead the preparation and filing of year-end reporting including W-2s, W-2Cs, and 1099s
Maintain and enforce the highest standards of confidentiality and discretion in the handling of all employee and payroll information
Own payroll tax setup, filings, and compliance at the federal, state, and local levels
Develop, implement, and continuously improve payroll policies, processes, and internal controls to drive accuracy and efficiency
Establish and maintain oversight of all leave accrual records for salaried and hourly employees across the organization
Direct tip reporting reconciliation processes and ensure alignment against payroll records
Design and maintain a comprehensive suite of payroll reports for HR, Accounting, and executive leadership — including ad hoc analysis and reporting requests
Partner with HR, Finance, and Legal to align payroll practices with broader organizational strategy and regulatory requirements
Evaluate and optimize payroll system configuration and third-party integrations to support scalability and operational needs
Lead, develop, and mentor payroll team members — setting clear performance expectations and building a high-functioning, knowledgeable department
Serve as the primary point of escalation for complex payroll issues, disputes, and audits