Senior Director of Payroll POST NUMBER: 464838
Vaco has partnered with a company looking for a Senior Director of Payroll to join their team!
Job Summary
The Senior Director of Payroll provides strategic and operational leadership over enterprise-wide payroll functions for a large, complex organization. This role ensures accurate, timely, and compliant payroll delivery across multiple entities and jurisdictions, while driving governance, scalability, and continuous improvement. The Senior Director partners with executive leadership across HR, Finance, Tax, Legal, and IT to support business growth and transformation.
Key Responsibilities
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Provide strategic oversight of end-to-end payroll operations for a large, multi-state and/or global workforce
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Establish and maintain a strong governance framework, internal controls, and SOX-compliant processes
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Lead payroll strategy, including system modernization, automation, and vendor optimization
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Oversee payroll tax compliance, audits, garnishments, W-2s, and year-end activities
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Serve as executive escalation point for complex payroll issues and risk management
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Partner with HR, Total Rewards, Finance, Tax, and Legal on compensation programs, bonuses, equity, and benefits
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Lead and develop payroll leadership and management teams; build scalable shared services models
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Manage payroll budgets, vendor contracts, and performance metrics (SLAs, KPIs)
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Drive enterprise process improvements, M&A payroll integrations, and change management initiatives
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Provide executive-level reporting, analytics, and insights related to payroll operations
Qualifications
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Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field; Master’s preferred
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12–15 years of progressive payroll leadership experience in large or public companies
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Demonstrated experience leading high-volume, multi-entity, multi-state (and/or global) payroll operations
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Deep knowledge of payroll tax regulations, wage & hour laws, and SOX controls
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Experience with enterprise payroll platforms (Workday, ADP GlobalView, SAP, Oracle, UKG, etc.)
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Proven success leading large teams, vendors, and complex transformations
Skills & Competencies
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Executive-level leadership and strategic thinking
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Strong risk management, compliance, and audit expertise
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Ability to influence senior leaders and C-suite stakeholders
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Excellent communication, presentation, and decision-making skills
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High level of discretion with sensitive and confidential data
Preferred Certifications
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CPP (Certified Payroll Professional)
Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.
EEO Notice
Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.
Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com .
Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.
By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.
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Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries (“we,” “our,” or “Vaco by Highspring”) respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.
- California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
- Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
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Pay Transparency Notice
Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:
- the individual’s skill sets, experience and training;
- licensure and certification requirements;
- office location and other geographic considerations;
- other business and organizational needs.
With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.