Payroll Director

About the role

This position owns end-to-end payroll operations for a large, fast-growing network of public charter schools. The director leads a small team and partners closely with finance, HR, and benefits to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant execution. The role is responsible for the full lifecycle of payroll processing, from data intake to final disbursement and reconciliation. You will own the design and governance of payroll controls to safeguard against risk and ensure integrity. This leader will interpret complex regulations and translate them into operational procedures for the payroll team. You will drive process standardization and continuous improvement across a multi-state workforce. Collaboration with benefits and HR partners is essential to maintain consistency in policies and employee experience. The position requires a proactive mindset to solve ambiguous problems and manage competing priorities under tight deadlines.

Key facts

What you'll do

Bi-weekly and alternate-week payroll runs process a workforce of 3,000-plus employees to ensure precision and regulatory adherence.

These runs deliver accurate and timely compensation to satisfy employees and stakeholders while maintaining strict confidentiality.

State payroll rules across multiple US jurisdictions guide payroll operations so the organization navig multi-jurisdiction requirements with confidence.

Subject-matter guidance supports compliance for New York and other regions, ensuring local nuances are reflected in calculations and filings.

HRIS integrations with payroll processing systems are maintained and optimized to enable smooth data flow and reduce manual touchpoints.

Optimization of these links strengthens process integrity and minimizes the risk of data discrepancies or processing errors.

Annual W-2 statements are issued and internal or external audit inquiries are managed to provide the information needed to verify compliance and resolve questions efficiently.

Benefits, HR, finance, and accounting teams partner to align policies and practices across functions to ensure cohesive execution.

External vendor relationships with brokers and 403(b) financial advisors are managed to support compensation strategy and employee value proposition.

These efforts reduce manual work and strengthen compliance as the organization scales in a regulated environment.

Requirements

The posting states a minimum of 2 years of experience in a supervisory capacity.

Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline demonstrates academic preparation through a Bachelor's degree.

This foundation supports understanding of payroll principles, internal controls, and regulatory frameworks.

Active Certified Payroll Professional or Fundamental Payroll Certification confirms professional recognition through this credential.

Progressive payroll experience includes at least eight years in the field, with two or more years leading a team.

This experience builds judgment for complex situations and the ability to guide team decisions in ambiguous contexts.

ADP operates as a required platform, with strong familiarity in Workday to support accurate and efficient processing.

Advanced Excel skills, including multi-function formulas, pivot tables, and formatted reporting, show data proficiency and analytical rigor.

Clear, structured outputs support review cycles, stakeholder scrutiny, and decision-making at various levels.

FLSA and federal, state, and local rules define the regulatory knowledge maintained across all jurisdictions.

Current knowledge reduces compliance risk and supports consistent operations across a diverse workforce.

Practical notes

This role operates in a high-energy, fast-paced, and high-volume environment.

Success Academy does not offer employment-based immigration sponsorship.

Typical interview steps

Finance interviews usually include technical questions on accounting or modeling, a case study, and behavioral rounds.

Candidates may be asked to build a forecast or explain a variance to assess analytical thinking and problem-solving.

Spreadsheet skills are tested in most loops to ensure candidates can manipulate data accurately and efficiently.

Accuracy and clear explanations matter, as interviewers evaluate both the result and the logic used to arrive at it.

Interviewers may give a real dataset and ask for a quick analysis to simulate on-the-job decision-making under time constraints.

Showing your work and explaining assumptions matters as much as the final number in these scenarios.

Good to know

Payroll roles of this scope combine technical precision with cross-functional collaboration across HR, finance, and benefits.

Proficiency in payroll systems and advanced Excel is central to daily work and impacts the reliability of employee compensation.

Compliance and audit readiness are core responsibilities in regulated environments, requiring meticulous documentation and process rigor.

Change management skills help drive process improvements in growing organizations that are scaling quickly across multiple states.

Workday and ADP are common platforms in mid to large payroll operations, and mastery of these tools is essential for success in this role.