Director of Tax Operations

About Payroll Network (PNI HCM)

Payroll Network (PNI HCM) partners with clients to resolve workforce, process, and business challenges so employers can achieve greater success through their associates. Payroll, HR, time, talent, benefits, compliance, and workforce management are delivered in a unified isolved platform that increases retention and productivity. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Rockville, MD, Payroll Network (PNI HCM) has been recognized by The Washington Post and Washington Business Journal as a Top Workplace and is a proud supporter of the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation in raising awareness about teenage depression and anxiety.

Job Summary

The Director of Tax Operations is the strategic leader responsible for managing the critical functions of our isolved tax solutions while providing overall direction to our tax services organization. This role demands strong payroll tax expertise—including gross-to-net calculations, tax return preparation and submission, managing tax notices—and hands-on leadership experience with hiring, firing, and performance management of multi-employee teams. The Director will oversee tax filing processes across all states—and preferably US territories—and drive initiatives to enhance service offerings, efficiency, and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Team Management

• Provide visionary leadership to the tax services organization by setting strategic goals and driving performance excellence.
• Oversee all aspects of personnel management, including hiring, firing, performance evaluations, and compensation reviews.
• Lead a team of tax experts, managing day-to-day operations (hire-to-retire), ensuring that team members are supported, trained, and held accountable.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with direct reports and adjust staffing schedules as needed to maintain optimal coverage.
• Drive weekly KPI and SLA reporting to monitor team performance.

Client Relationship Management & Compliance

• Act as the primary liaison between clients and tax agencies—reviewing, answering, and responding to client inquiries.
• Ensure that employer and employee taxes are collected and reported accurately and on time, and oversee money movement related to tax payments.
• Serve as the internal expert responsible for driving compliance, establishing tax policies, and monitoring adherence to those policies.
• Develop and nurture strong client relationships by serving as a trusted advisor on tax-related matters.

Tax Strategy, Planning, and Process Improvement

• Stay current with tax laws, regulations, and industry trends, and lead the development and implementation of comprehensive tax strategies.
• Oversee the preparation, reconciliation, and submission of federal and state tax filings using e-filing systems.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive process improvements and ensure that both internal and client-facing procedures are efficient and compliant.

Training and Development

• Train the implementation, support, and tax teams on new tax regulations and processes.
• Drive your own learning by attending tax agency training, leadership meetings, and product-specific training focused on isolved tax.
• Participate in one-on-one sessions with senior leaders (including Mark, Edwin, and other tax team members) to master PNI-specific processes.

Additional Responsibilities

• Prepare and distribute communications to clients and taxing jurisdictions as needed.
• Present a detailed 30/60/90-day plan during the interview process outlining your approach to transitioning into the role.

Normal Day in the Role

While every day brings new challenges, once fully trained you can expect to:

• Act as the leader/manager for your group of tax experts—overseeing daily team activities from hire to retire.
• Ensure accurate and timely collection and reporting of both employer and employee taxes.
• Serve as the primary liaison between clients and tax agencies, resolving inquiries and escalating issues when necessary.
• Drive compliance by establishing and monitoring internal policies and procedures.
• Train team members on emerging regulations and process updates.
• Oversee money movement and manage weekly KPI and SLA reporting.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

Must-Have Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience in a Tax Accounting environment with progressive leadership responsibilities.
• Extensive payroll tax expertise, including a strong understanding of gross-to-net calculations, tax return preparation and submission, and managing tax notices.
• Proven hands-on leadership experience—actual hire, fire, and performance management of multi-employee teams.
• Experience with tax filing in all states and preferably all US territories.

Nice-to-Haves:

• Experience as a leader in a matrix environment.
• Proficiency with isolved and Master Tax software.
• Experience managing both employee and employer taxes in all US territories.

Software Proficiency:

• Must be proficient in standard business software (Microsoft Office) as well as federal and state tax filing e-filing systems.

Additional Skills:

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and time management skills.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with proven client-facing experience.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as a collaborative leader in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be flexible to work overtime when necessary.

Education:

• BA/BS in Accounting, Finance, Business, Computer Science, or equivalent work experience is preferred.
• Professional certifications such as SHRM, CPP, or FPC are highly desirable.

Working Hours:

• Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM EST.

What Does Success Look Like?

Success in this role will be demonstrated by your ability to establish a strong rapport with your team, ensure adequate tax processing coverage, de-escalate client issues effectively, and maintain high levels of compliance and performance. You will be recognized by your team’s performance improvements, your proactive approach in managing tax operations, and your ability to drive continuous process improvements.

Does This Sound Like You?

If you are a strategic tax operations leader with robust payroll tax expertise and proven leadership experience, we want to hear from you.

If This Sounds Like You, APPLY TODAY!

It only takes 3 minutes to start your new career with a fantastic company!

Equal Opportunity Employer

Payroll Network, Inc. (PNI HCM) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Payroll Network, Inc. complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location where the company operates. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.