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Payroll Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Payroll Director is responsible for routine and complex supervisory, accounting, and administrative work in managing the payroll function, and performs related duties as required. Essential ...

The Payroll Director is responsible for routine and complex supervisory, accounting, and administrative work in managing the payroll function, and performs related duties as required. Essential ...

We are seeking an experienced Director, Payroll to lead enterprise payroll operations for a large, multi-state healthcare organization supporting approximately 55,000 employees nationwide. This ...

Payroll Director

Brea, CA · On-site

$160K - $180K/yr

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 ...

The Department of Probation is seeking to hire a Payroll Director who will oversee the Department's payroll operations and provide leadership to the Payroll unit. The Director is responsible for ...

The Department of Probation is seeking to hire a Payroll Director who will oversee the Department's payroll operations and provide leadership to the Payroll unit. The Director is responsible for ...

The Payroll Director is responsible for leading all aspects of payroll operations for one of the largest automotive groups in Oklahoma (1,300+ employees in OKC and Tulsa). This role ensures accurate ...

Posting Information Posting Number PG194698EP Internal Recruitment No Working Title Assistant Payroll Director Anticipated Hiring Range $120,000 - $123,000 Work Schedule Core Business Hours: Monday ...

Direct Hire/Permanent Work Authorization: No Sponsorship The A.C.Coy Company has an immediate need for a Global Payroll Director. This role will be critical in providing oversight for the company ...

Payroll Operations * Oversee and process biweekly payroll for approximately 700 employees across 70+ entities using UKG. * Ensure payroll accuracy and compliance with all federal, state, and local ...

Payroll Operations * Oversee and process biweekly payroll for approximately 700 employees across 70+ entities using UKG. * Ensure payroll accuracy and compliance with all federal, state, and local ...

Position Purpose/Summary Manages the payroll processes for the Springfield Public Schools and the City of Springfield. Provides external reporting to state and federal authorities for employees ...

Direct Hire/Permanent Work Authorization: No Sponsorship The A.C.Coy Company has an immediate need for a Global Payroll Director. This role will be critical in providing oversight for the company ...

Director of Payroll

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$95 - $98/hr

Our client is hiring for a Payroll Director in Atlanta, GA. This role leads end-to-end payroll operations for a large, multi-entity organization with 8,000+ employees across multiple states and FEINs.

Payroll Operations * Oversee and process biweekly payroll for approximately 700 employees across 70+ entities using UKG. * Ensure payroll accuracy and compliance with all federal, state, and local ...

More about our team The LBS Payroll team operates at the center of a rapidly evolving, enterprise-wide function supporting a growing healthcare organization. With a recent transition to Oracle and ...

Global Payroll Director

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$133K - $172K/yr

As a Global Payroll Director, you will be responsible for overseeing and managing payroll operations across multiple countries and regions on a global scale. Your primary focus will be on developing ...

As a Global Payroll Director, you will be responsible for overseeing and managing payroll operations across multiple countries and regions on a global scale. Your primary focus will be on developing ...

As a Global Payroll Director, you will be responsible for overseeing and managing payroll operations across multiple countries and regions on a global scale. Your primary focus will be on developing ...

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Payroll Director information

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$57.5K

$116.4K

$165K

How much do payroll director jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for payroll director in the United States is $116,415.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $96,000.00 and $135,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Does a Payroll Director Do?

A payroll director oversees the payroll department, ensures that accounting is accurate, and pays all payroll taxes for their organization. As a payroll director, your daily duties involve reconciling payroll ledgers, confirming tax laws and regulations are met, and managing employee compensation and benefits. A payroll director may also be responsible for hiring and training new employees.

What are Payroll Directors?

Payroll Directors are senior professionals responsible for overseeing an organization’s payroll operations, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time. They manage payroll staff, develop and implement payroll policies, ensure compliance with tax laws and regulations, and often collaborate with HR and finance departments. Payroll Directors also handle complex payroll issues, audit processes, and may be involved in selecting and maintaining payroll systems. Their role is crucial in maintaining employee satisfaction and organizational compliance.

What are some common challenges a Payroll Director faces when managing multi-state or international payroll operations?

Payroll Directors overseeing multi-state or international operations often encounter challenges such as navigating varying tax laws, compliance regulations, and reporting requirements for each jurisdiction. They must stay updated on frequent legislative changes and ensure accuracy across different systems, which may require collaborating closely with legal, finance, and HR teams. Effective communication, attention to detail, and strong organizational skills are essential to mitigate compliance risks and streamline payroll processes across diverse locations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Payroll Director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Payroll Director, you need deep expertise in payroll processing, tax compliance, and relevant labor laws, typically backed by a degree in finance, accounting, or business and several years of payroll management experience. Familiarity with payroll software (such as ADP, SAP, or Workday), data analysis tools, and certifications like Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) are commonly required. Exceptional leadership, attention to detail, and strong communication skills set top candidates apart in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring accurate, timely payroll operations and minimizing legal and financial risks for the organization.

What is the difference between Payroll Director vs Payroll Manager?

AspectPayroll DirectorPayroll Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees entire payroll department, develops policies, ensures compliance, manages teamManages payroll processing, supervises staff, ensures accurate and timely payroll
Required CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, payroll certifications (e.g., CPP)Usually requires similar credentials, payroll certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentExecutive-level, strategic focus, higher-level decision makingOperational focus, day-to-day payroll processing
Industry UsageCommon in large organizations and corporationsFound in organizations of various sizes, often as a supervisory role

The Payroll Director and Payroll Manager roles share many credentials and work environments, but the Director typically handles strategic oversight and policy development, while the Manager focuses on daily payroll operations. Both positions are essential in payroll departments, especially in larger organizations.

What cities are hiring for Payroll Director jobs? Cities with the most Payroll Director job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Payroll jobs? The most popular types of Payroll jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Payroll Director jobs? The top employers for Payroll Director jobs are:
What states have the most Payroll Director jobs? States with the most job openings for Payroll Director jobs include:
Infographic showing various Payroll Director job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $116,415 per year, or $56 per hour.
Payroll Director

Payroll Director

City of Somerville

Somerville, MA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

Statement of Duties:
The Payroll Director is responsible for routine and complex supervisory, accounting, and administrative work in managing the payroll function, and performs related duties as required.
Essential Functions:
The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
  • Provides working supervision for the preparation of weekly, biweekly, monthly, and supplemental payrolls
  • Possesses responsibility for inputting, overseeing, record keeping and auditing all payroll activities
  • Manages and supervises payroll operations to achieve goals within available resources
  • Trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned staff and reviews progress and directs changes as needed
  • Responsible for the development and maintenance of a payroll standard operations procedures manual and the related training of departmental personnel in City prescribed procedures
  • Ensures integrity of payroll accounting transactions to ensure all employees are paid timely and accurately. Verifies employee salaries and age records. Provides prompt resolution to any discrepancies.
  • Prepares and maintains municipal payroll records and calculations to include appropriate sick leave, overtime, personal leave, vacations and other miscellaneous wage and compensation actions such as periodic wage and salary updates to the payroll system, retroactive pay adjustments, and other normal maintenance requirements
  • Interacts with payroll clerks to instruct, guide, and assist with payroll issues
  • Ensures accurate preparation and balancing of weekly, monthly, and special payrolls
  • Reviews wages computed and corrects errors
  • Coordinates, interprets, schedules and processes payments of various contracted benefits contained in collective bargaining agreements
  • Periodic reconciliation to various withholding and deduction reports
  • Monitors budget to actual spending in personal service budgets
  • Audits and records compensated absence data submitted by departments on the weekly payroll
  • Produces reports detailing sick and vacation time usage broken down by department and employee
  • Prepares and maintains policies and procedures related to payroll
  • Participates in collective bargaining information gathering
  • Monitors and documents departmental compliance with payroll procedures in accordance with departmental, collective bargaining federal, state and local rules and regulations
  • Preparation and reconciliation of all quarterly and annual federal and state reports. Reconciles and distributes year-end W2/1099 forms for both City and School
  • Maintains all Local, Federal, and State required documents related to payroll
  • Conducts a continuing study of all payroll related policies, programs, and legal issues to keep top management informed of new developments and suggestions for improvement

Recommended Minimum Qualifications:
Education and Experience: Bachelor's Degree and five to seven (5-7) years' experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. CPP preferred.
Knowledge, Abilities and Skill:
Knowledge: Knowledge of Tyler Enterprise ERP (Munis), Payroll for Windows; W-2's, external audits, taxable fringe benefits and HRIS link to payroll; relevant knowledge including maintenance, preparation, balancing, internal controls, and payroll taxes.
Abilities: Ability to handle information in a sensitive, confidential, and professional manner; ability to understand and apply procedures, regulations and policies related to areas of specialized expertise; ability to work independently, meet deadlines and be able to prepare ad hoc financial reports.
Skill: Excellent organizational skills; data processing skill in the use of personal computers and office software including word processing, computer, and spreadsheet applications.
Work Environment:
The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to attend evening meetings or complete work assignments.
Physical and Mental Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position's essential functions.
Physical Skills:
Few physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. May also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs).
Motor Skills:
Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone, personal computer and/or most other office equipment including word processing, filing and sorting of papers.
Visual Skills:
Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.
Hours: Full-Time
Salary: $110,000-$114,400 annualized + benefits
Union: Non-Union
Date Posted: July 17th, 2026
The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact the ADA Coordinator at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.
Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:
  • MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
  • Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Overview of Total Rewards:
  • 4 weeks annual vacation for non-union positions. Union positions vary by contract. Please note, police officers are members of the SPEA union. Public Health Nurses are part of Union A (SMEA).
  • Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
  • Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
  • Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
  • Long term disability through Sun Life
  • Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
  • Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
  • Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
  • Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
  • Annual cancer screening & wellness release
  • Somerville Retirement Pension System
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • MBTA pass program
  • FREE Blue Bikes membership
  • Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.