Payroll Director

Payroll Director

This role is to be based near one of our offices in Los Angeles, Oakland, Austin or New York.

About us: 

We drive intelligent growth for ambitious businesses and leading brands. 

Customer understanding is more potent and drives greater value when insights go to work directly within marketing and experience priorities. To give our clients that advantage, we put an insights-driven operating system at the core of our design, go-to-market and digital experience solutions.  

Material clients make smarter growth choices because they can see clearly how and when to take the shots that count. Together, we connect consumer intelligence with customer demand generation to build lasting, profitable relationships.

About the Payroll Director:

We are seeking a hands-on and detail-oriented Payroll Director to lead our payroll operations, including overseeing two junior payroll staff.  This position will be responsible for leading and managing the complete payroll process, from reviewing/managing timesheets to processing payroll using Workday for 600+ employees across three separate legal entities in dozens of US states and leading payroll for a small subsidiary in the UK.  

Using attention to detail, problem-solving and flexibility, this position requires a strong understanding of various states’ payroll rules (e.g. California overtime laws) and individual state or regional tax issues to ensure each company is following all applicable payroll-related legal requirements and ensuring all employees are paid accurately and on time.  This position requires strong Excel skills, excellent organizational habits, and a high level of accuracy.  The right candidate takes initiative, learns quickly, and embraces opportunities to contribute and improve processes in a fast-paced environment.

Job duties

• Train, coach, and manage two payroll team members
• Oversee review of employees’ timesheets for each pay period (timecards are submitted weekly, payroll processed bi-weekly); have a deep understanding of overtime laws for California and other states so timesheets can be manually audited when needed
• Oversee processing of payroll via Workday Payroll and tax compliance via ADP SmartCompliance
• Oversee review of payroll audit reports with each payroll run
• Work closely with UK payroll processor to submit payroll data, resolve payroll discrepancies and maintain up-to-date employee records
• Run, maintain, and audit weekly payroll reports (primarily in Excel) to ensure data accuracy
• Oversee and review calculation and processing of leaves of absence and final pay for exiting employees
• Oversee and review preparation of final pay for employees exiting the company
• Coordinate with the People team on payroll related issues including, but not limited to, benefit deductions, 401(k) loans, use of paid time off during leaves of absence, and salary adjustments
• Collaborate with the Accounting team related to month-end close processes and reconciliations
• Communicate with employees to resolve payroll-related questions in a timely and professional manner
• Oversee audits of W-2s and paystubs; ensure all government, state, and local reporting requirements are met
• Maintain confidentiality of payroll, private employee, and proprietary information; ensure payroll data is secure
• Lead the payroll team on other projects as needed; encourage teamwork and collaboration

Required Experience and Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience doing full cycle payroll, including experience managing at least one payroll professional
• High school diploma or GED required; associate or bachelor's degree a plus
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification strongly preferred
• Experience with Workday Payroll and/or ADP is strongly preferred; familiarity with payroll systems, HRIS platforms, or ERP tools is required
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g., formulas, pivot tables, vlookups, etc.)

 Required Skills and Attributes:

• Outstanding organizational skills, including ability to structure work plans and prioritize activities on multiple simultaneous projects and recurring activities
• Orientation toward action and taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm
• Strong problem-solving skills; highly analytical thinker
• Detail orientation and ability to identify inconsistencies and provide recommendations
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines consistently
• Strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills; excellent documentation skills
• Fosters an open, honest, and positive relationship with all team members, employees, and cross-functional stakeholders
• Comfortable performing in a fast-paced, lean environment
• Strong appreciation for Material values and culture

Why work for Material?

• Material is a global company and we work with best-of-class brands worldwide.  We also create and launch new brands and products, putting innovation and value creation at the center of our practice. Our clients are in the top of their class, across industry sectors from technology to retail, transportation, finance and healthcare. 
• Material employees join a peer group of exceptionally talented colleagues across the company, the country, and even the world. We develop capabilities, craft and leading-edge market offerings across seven global practices including strategy and insights, design, data & analytics, technology and tracking. Our engagement management team makes it all hum for clients.  
• A community focused on learning and making an impact. Material is an outcomes focused company. We create experiences that matter, create new value and make a difference in our clients’ lives and their customers’ lives.

Pay Range: $100,000.00 - $120,000.00

The range shown represents a grouping of relevant ranges currently in use at Material. Actual range for this position may differ, depending on location and specific skillset required for the work itself. 

Equal Employment Opportunity                           

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.

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