The Payroll Director is responsible for managing a team of payroll professionals and will have accountability for the accurate and timely processing of the company’s payroll (6,500+ employees encompassing hourly and salaried Team Members), processing and management of garnishments, and maintaining and reporting payroll taxes.  This position is the key liaison between HR, Payroll and Finance/Accounting to troubleshoot issues, collaborate on projects and provide accurate payroll information, as needed.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Directly manage payroll operations (payroll processing and garnishments) and payroll tax (multi-state and federal payroll tax functions) functions to ensure all payroll processes and responsibilities are being achieved, completed in a timely manner and are in compliance with federal and state regulations.
• Maintain labor hour rules within the time & attendance system.
• Critically review and analyze current payroll, garnishments, and tax procedures in order to recommend and implement changes leading to best-practice operations.
• Provide support to all employees (restaurant employees, restaurant leadership, and support center employees) for payroll and paycheck related inquiries and resolution, as needed, including maintaining a system for payroll team weekend coverage
• Prepare for payroll audits and ensure team is following wage and hour compliance and best practices
• Main point of contact for both the HR and the Accounting and Finance teams to enhance collaboration/communication and manage issues to resolution
• Stays abreast of multi-state regulatory requirements and company policies
• In the future, participate in the implementation of an alternative HRIS, including participating in the set-up of the software to fit our business and reviewing current payroll procedures to identify best practice opportunities as we bring payroll in-house.
• Other duties as assigned.

 Skills/Knowledge:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to effectively plan, organize and meet deadlines while maintaining a high level of quality.
• Displays strategic thinking and good judgment when faced with complex or difficult situations and decisions.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelors’ Degree or extensive payroll managerial experience (+15 years), in lieu of a college degree is required
• 8 -10 years of payroll experience required. Minimum of 5 years in a supervisory or management role with Payroll oversight
• Expert knowledge of payroll operations and Federal, State and local payroll laws required
• Working knowledge of UltiPro. Experience with a system conversion or implementation preferred. 
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills required
• Audit and compliance experience preferred
• Experience managing multi-state payrolls and payroll tax
• Experience with tipped employees considered a plus
• Ability to deliver high quality customer service consistently in a professional manner
• Strong knowledge of payroll-related compliance and reporting requirements
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal, listening and communication skills
• Effective team building capability and ability to guide, coach, and develop people
• Ability to manage the conflict/issue resolution process
• Ability to handle multiple customer requests/priorities effectively in a fast paced environment and make quick decisions

The Payroll Director is responsible for managing a team of payroll professionals and will have accountability for the accurate and timely processing of the company’s payroll (6,500+ employees encompassing hourly and salaried Team Members), processing and management of garnishments, and maintaining and reporting payroll taxes.  This position is the key liaison between HR, Payroll and Finance/Accounting to troubleshoot issues, collaborate on projects and provide accurate payroll information, as needed.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Directly manage payroll operations (payroll processing and garnishments) and payroll tax (multi-state and federal payroll tax functions) functions to ensure all payroll processes and responsibilities are being achieved, completed in a timely manner and are in compliance with federal and state regulations.
• Maintain labor hour rules within the time & attendance system.
• Critically review and analyze current payroll, garnishments, and tax procedures in order to recommend and implement changes leading to best-practice operations.
• Provide support to all employees (restaurant employees, restaurant leadership, and support center employees) for payroll and paycheck related inquiries and resolution, as needed, including maintaining a system for payroll team weekend coverage
• Prepare for payroll audits and ensure team is following wage and hour compliance and best practices
• Main point of contact for both the HR and the Accounting and Finance teams to enhance collaboration/communication and manage issues to resolution
• Stays abreast of multi-state regulatory requirements and company policies
• In the future, participate in the implementation of an alternative HRIS, including participating in the set-up of the software to fit our business and reviewing current payroll procedures to identify best practice opportunities as we bring payroll in-house.
• Other duties as assigned.

 Skills/Knowledge:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to effectively plan, organize and meet deadlines while maintaining a high level of quality.
• Displays strategic thinking and good judgment when faced with complex or difficult situations and decisions.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelors’ Degree or extensive payroll managerial experience (+15 years), in lieu of a college degree is required
• 8 -10 years of payroll experience required. Minimum of 5 years in a supervisory or management role with Payroll oversight
• Expert knowledge of payroll operations and Federal, State and local payroll laws required
• Working knowledge of UltiPro. Experience with a system conversion or implementation preferred. 
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills required
• Audit and compliance experience preferred
• Experience managing multi-state payrolls and payroll tax
• Experience with tipped employees considered a plus
• Ability to deliver high quality customer service consistently in a professional manner
• Strong knowledge of payroll-related compliance and reporting requirements
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal, listening and communication skills
• Effective team building capability and ability to guide, coach, and develop people
• Ability to manage the conflict/issue resolution process
• Ability to handle multiple customer requests/priorities effectively in a fast paced environment and make quick decisions