Payroll Director

At TalentCount, we connect high-impact HR, Payroll, and Finance professionals with organizations where people, processes, and business growth are closely aligned. We are currently supporting a confidential search for a Payroll Director to join a rapidly growing, multi-entity organization undergoing significant expansion and transformation.

This is a unique opportunity for a payroll leader who thrives in both strategic and hands-on environments. The organization is scaling through acquisitions and organic growth, with a long-term vision of centralizing payroll operations across multiple companies and states into a best-in-class shared services model.

The ideal candidate is an experienced payroll professional who can lead a team, drive process improvements, support acquisitions, standardize payroll operations, and personally step in when payroll execution requires hands-on leadership.

Payroll Operations & Compliance

• Direct and oversee payroll operations across multiple companies, entities, and states.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant payroll processing for all employees.
• Maintain expertise in federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• Support complex payroll calculations, including commissions, incentive compensation, bonuses, piece-rate pay, overtime, and multi-frequency payroll schedules.
• Establish and maintain strong payroll controls, audit processes, and compliance standards.

Shared Services & Process Improvement

• Lead the standardization of payroll practices across multiple operating companies.
• Evaluate current payroll processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency, and scalability.
• Reduce manual processes through automation and process redesign.
• Develop and implement payroll best practices, policies, procedures, and service standards.
• Create a long-term roadmap for payroll shared services operations.

Mergers, Acquisitions & System Integrations

• Lead payroll integration activities related to acquisitions.
• Manage payroll transitions from acquired company systems into the organization's payroll platform.
• Coordinate payroll setup and compliance requirements for expansion into new states.
• Partner with Accounting, HR, IT, and operational leaders to ensure successful integrations.
• Support future payroll system enhancements, implementations, and platform transitions as needed.

Systems & Reporting

• Serve as the payroll subject matter expert for ADP and related payroll technologies.
• Troubleshoot payroll system issues and partner with internal stakeholders to drive solutions.
• Ensure proper payroll-to-general ledger mapping and interface accuracy.
• Develop payroll reporting and analytics that support operational and executive decision-making.
• Improve payroll data integrity and reporting capabilities across the organization.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a growing payroll team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, accuracy, customer service, and continuous improvement.
• Establish team structure and responsibilities to support future growth.
• Partner closely with HR, Finance, Accounting, and operational leadership.

Required Experience

• 10+ years of progressive payroll experience, including leadership responsibilities.
• Experience leading multi-state payroll operations.
• Experience supporting payroll across multiple entities, business units, or operating companies.
• Strong hands-on payroll processing expertise.
• Experience managing payroll in complex compensation environments, including commissions, incentives, bonuses, and other variable pay structures.
• Demonstrated experience supporting mergers and acquisitions from a payroll perspective.
• Strong knowledge of payroll compliance, wage and hour regulations, and payroll controls.
• Experience leading payroll process improvement and standardization initiatives.
• Advanced ADP experience, including configuration, troubleshooting, and administration.
• Experience managing and developing payroll teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.
• Experience supporting high-growth or acquisitive organizations.
• Experience with payroll system conversions or implementations.
• Knowledge of Workday Payroll or other enterprise payroll platforms.
• Experience supporting payroll-related audits, wage and hour claims, or employment litigation matters.
• Strong understanding of payroll general ledger interfaces and payroll accounting concepts.

Within the first 12 months, the successful candidate will:

• Improve payroll consistency across multiple entities.
• Establish stronger controls and reporting capabilities.
• Reduce manual processes and inefficiencies.
• Support acquisition-related payroll integrations.
• Create a scalable payroll structure capable of supporting significant organizational growth.
• Drive the standardization and simplification of payroll processes and pay codes.
• Help position the payroll function as a strategic business partner to the organization.

- Highly visible leadership role with executive exposure.

- Opportunity to build and transform a growing shared services payroll function.

- Support a rapidly expanding organization with ambitious growth plans.

- Influence payroll strategy, systems, processes, and team development.

- Competitive compensation package including bonus eligibility and potential equity participation.

- Significant opportunity for long-term career growth and impact.

Compensation: $160,000 - $180,000 base salary + 20% bonus

Work Arrangement: On-site

Location: Brea, California