Director of Payroll - CONFIDENTIAL

We are seeking a strategic Director of Payroll to lead and manage payroll operations for a large, multi-state U.S. manufacturing workforce, including both union and non-union employees, as well as oversight of a smaller Canadian employee population. This individual will ensure accurate, compliant, and efficient payroll processes while driving continuous improvement and optimizing use of the Workday platform during and after implementation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage end-to-end payroll processing for approximately 5,000 U.S.-based employees and oversee Canadian payroll operations.

• Manage and develop a team of 6 payroll professionals, ensuring operational excellence and continuous development.

• Oversee the payroll transition to Workday, including system testing, data validation, workflow design, and process documentation in partnership with IT and the vendor.

• Develop and implement payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure compliance with federal, state, local, and applicable Canadian regulations.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with HR, Finance, Legal, and IT to ensure accuracy, alignment, and process integration.

• Provide guidance on union-related payroll complexities and support collective bargaining agreement compliance.

• Identify opportunities for automation, efficiency, and process improvement to reduce errors and manual work.

• Serve as a subject matter expert on payroll audits, tax filings, year-end processes, and regulatory changes.

• Provide Merger & Acquisition support by assessing payroll operations and compliance of acquired entities and driving post-acquisition harmonization.

• Partner with Legal, HR, and Finance to ensure a smooth transition of payroll processes, systems, and employee pay structures in newly acquired regions or entities.

• Select third party payroll processors and serve as the company liaison for vendor relationships (e.g., tax agencies, payroll service providers) to ensure effective service delivery.

• Prepare and analyze payroll metrics and reports for senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or related field.

• 10+ years of progressive payroll experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership role managing multi-state U.S.

• International payroll experience is required, Canadian payroll experience preferred.

• Experience leading payroll functions across North America (U.S. and Canada, Mexico preferred)

• Experience supporting union payroll in a manufacturing environment required.

• Strong experience with Workday Payroll required; Workday implementation experience is a plus.

• Proven ability to lead teams, streamline processes, and implement scalable solutions.

• Deep knowledge of payroll compliance, tax reporting, and internal controls.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.

• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification is a plus.

Director of Payroll

\#PTS