Senior Director, Payroll Operations and Services

Jobgether

1d•Remote

About The Position

In this role, you will lead the strategic and operational management of payroll and related financial services for multi-entity, multi-state clients. You will oversee end-to-end payroll execution, regulatory compliance, and financial operations, ensuring operational excellence and mitigating risk. This position offers the opportunity to scale processes, implement automation, and enhance client satisfaction while partnering with cross-functional teams including Product, Finance, Sales, and Legal. You will provide executive leadership, mentor high-performing teams, and establish frameworks to optimize service delivery, compliance, and operational efficiency. Ideal candidates combine deep payroll expertise, financial acumen, and a strong track record of driving scalable processes in high-growth SaaS environments.

Requirements

12+ years of progressive leadership experience in payroll and financial operations, preferably in a SaaS-based payroll or payroll services environment.
5+ years of direct experience managing federal, state, and local payroll compliance, tax filings, remittances, and audit responses.
Proven ability to oversee multi-state, multi-entity payroll operations, including funding, reconciliations, reporting, and service delivery at scale.
Strong operational and analytical acumen, with experience implementing scalable processes, automation, and KPI frameworks.
Hands-on knowledge of payroll platforms, tax engines, accounting systems, treasury workflows, and vendor payment technologies.
Exceptional leadership skills with experience hiring, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams.
Excellent communication and executive presence, capable of collaborating with Finance, Legal, Product, Sales, and Customer Success teams.
Bachelorâs degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field required; MBA, CPA, CPP, or similar professional certification preferred.

Nice To Haves

Experience in banking, financial services, regulated payments, or the hospitality industry is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee payroll and financial operations, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant execution across client accounts.
Streamline workflows, leverage automation, and optimize operational KPIs to improve efficiency and service quality.
Maintain fiduciary oversight of payroll funds, including secure funding, reconciliations, and daily operational controls.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, managing tax filings, remittances, and regulatory reporting.
Serve as executive escalation point for audits, compliance issues, and financial discrepancies, implementing risk mitigation frameworks.
Collaborate with Product, Sales, Customer Success, Legal, and Finance teams to align operational strategies and client deliverables.
Drive initiatives focused on scalability, cost management, and profitability across payroll operations.
Build and maintain strong vendor and client relationships to enhance operational efficiency and ensure compliance.
Lead, mentor, and develop payroll operations teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.