Senior Director of Payroll Job at Robert Half (Charlotte)

Job Description

A large, complex, and growing organization is seeking a Senior Director of Payroll to lead payroll operations across the U.S. and Canada. This role oversees payroll processing for a highly distributed workforce that includes full-time, part-time, and high-volume seasonal employees across multiple entities and jurisdictions. This leader will operate both strategically and hands-on, strengthening the payroll function, building team capability, improving processes, and ensuring accuracy, compliance, and scalability. The environment is fast-paced and operationally complex, making this an ideal role for a payroll leader who enjoys rolling up their sleeves while driving transformation.

Job Responsibility

Oversee end-to-end payroll processing across all U.S. and Canadian entities
Maintain deep working knowledge of daily payroll operations to inform leadership decisions
Manage multiple payroll types and pay structures (hourly, salaried, bonuses, commissions, etc.)
Ensure payroll accuracy, timeliness, and data integrity across systems
Support high-volume seasonal ramps and complex pay cycles
Serve as the internal subject matter expert on payroll tax and wage & hour compliance
Ensure compliance with federal, state/provincial, and local regulations
Oversee payroll tax filings, garnishments, and third-party vendor relationships
Establish and enhance internal controls, audit processes, and approval workflows
Lead internal and external payroll audits and proactively mitigate risk
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing payroll team
Strengthen the team through clear role definition, accountability, and cross-training
Build redundancy and reduce single points of failure within payroll operations
Provide ongoing training on systems, compliance, and evolving best practices
Own payroll systems and integrations, including large-scale time & attendance platforms
Drive process improvement initiatives, standardization, and documentation (SOPs)
Analyze payroll metrics and trends to improve accuracy, efficiency, and scalability
Partner with IT and Finance on system enhancements and optimization
Collaborate closely with Finance, HR/People, and Operations leaders
Support acquisitions, integrations, and organizational growth initiatives
Act as a trusted advisor for payroll-related strategy, compliance, and problem-solving
Support M&A due diligence, system implementations, and integration efforts
Assist with modernization of legacy payroll processes and platforms
Perform other duties as needed to support business growth

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or related field
8+ years of progressive payroll experience, including 5+ years in payroll leadership
Experience processing payroll for
Deep knowledge of U.S. payroll tax, wage & hour laws, and compliance
Exposure to Canadian payroll or demonstrated ability to quickly learn cross-border requirements
Experience working in complex, high-volume, operationally driven environments
Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills
High level of discretion and confidentiality

What we offer

medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance
401(k) plan

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Senior Director of Payroll

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