Sr. Director, Payroll and Benefits

Our client is seeking a strategic and hands-on Senior Director of Payroll and Benefits to lead and evolve the company’s payroll and benefits operations across a dynamic, high-growth organization. Reporting to the Finance Corporate Controller, this leader will ensure the accuracy, compliance, and operational excellence of payroll across multi-state and multi-entity operations. This role also leads the design and administration of competitive and cost-effective benefits programs, supporting the company’s efforts to attract, retain, and engage top talent across education and healthcare.

This position plays a critical role in optimizing systems (particularly UKG / UltiPro), driving data-informed decision-making, and aligning payroll and benefits with the company’s broader financial and human capital goals.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Payroll Leadership
• Lead end-to-end payroll processing for 12,000 employees across multiple states and business units.
• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Oversee payroll tax filings, wage garnishments, and year-end reporting (e.g., W-2s).
• Partner with HR, Finance, IT, and Legal to ensure payroll integrity and cross-functional alignment.
• Maintain SOX-level internal controls and lead readiness for audits and lender reviews.
• Benefits Strategy & Administration
• Design and manage competitive health, welfare, and retirement programs for a geographically diverse workforce. Experience with self-funded plans is required.
• Lead Open Enrollment planning and execution with strong employee education and engagement.
• Manage broker and vendor relationships and periodic RFPs to evaluate alternative program designs or partners; monitor claims and participation trends, performance and service levels.
• Oversee worker’s compensation vendor relationship, internal reporting, BLS reporting, invoicing, and collaborate with supervisors on case management.
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, ADA, FMLA, HIPAA, COBRA, and related regulations.
• Support M&A due diligence and benefits program integrations.
• Develop KPIs to track utilization, cost trends, and employee satisfaction.
• Systems Optimization & Process Improvement
• Collaborate with UKG (UltiPro) system administrators to ensure optimal configuration, reporting, and automation across payroll, timekeeping, and benefits.
• Drive improvements in payroll and benefits data governance and integration with financial systems.
• Support M&A integration efforts by developing scalable systems and processes.
• Team Leadership & Development
• Build and lead a high-performing team across payroll and benefits functions.
• Set performance goals, track KPIs, and drive a culture of continuous improvement.
• Provide strategic input to CHRO, CFO, and ELT on total rewards and compliance risk.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field. Advanced degree or certifications (e.g., CPP, CEBS) strongly preferred.
• 10 years of progressive experience in payroll and benefits administration; 3 years in a senior leadership role.
• Direct experience with UKG / UltiPro including implementation, configuration, and reporting.
• Knowledge of multi-state payroll, ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, ADA, FMLA, and federal/state employment law.
• Strong communication skills and proven ability to collaborate across functions.
• Experience with a significant part-time hourly and seasonal workforce
• Demonstrated success in scaling systems, teams, and policies in complex environments.