Director of Payroll and Benefits

We are currently seeking an experienced Director of Payroll and Benefits to lead and oversee payroll and benefits operations for our growing, multi-state organization. This role is responsible for the strategic direction, compliance, and execution of payroll and benefits programs while ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and an exceptional employee experience. The ideal candidate brings 10+ years of progressive payroll leadership experience, deep expertise in multi-state payroll processing, and a collaborative leadership style that partners effectively across HR, Accounting/Finance, and external vendors.

Prior experience with Ceridian Dayforce and running international payroll are preferred.

In this role, the Director of Payroll and Benefits will have end-to-end ownership of payroll and benefits administration, including policy development, system optimization, compliance oversight, and team leadership. The successful candidate will serve as a subject matter expert, proactively identifying opportunities for process improvement, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting organizational growth domestically and, where applicable, internationally.

This is a hybrid position, offering flexibility to work from home and in-office at either our Peachtree Corners or Cobb County locations. We are seeking a strategic, detail-oriented leader who can balance high-level oversight with hands-on involvement while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy, confidentiality, and service.

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for all payroll and benefits functions across multiple states
• Direct full-cycle payroll processing, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll execution
• Oversee benefits administration, including enrollments, changes, vendor management, and invoice reconciliation
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local wage/hour laws and benefits regulations (FLSA, FMLA, COBRA, ACA, etc.)
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex payroll and benefits issues
• Lead, mentor, and develop payroll and benefits team members, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
• Partner with HR, Finance, Legal, and external vendors to support organizational initiatives and audits
• Drive system optimization and process improvements, including payroll and benefits technology enhancements
• Support international payroll and benefits operations, where applicable (preferred experience)
• Maintain accurate records, reporting, and controls to support internal and external audits

• Bachelor’s degree (BS) required in Human Resources, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field
• 10+ years of progressive payroll experience, including leadership or management responsibility
• Demonstrated experience processing multi-state payroll in a complex, growing organization
• Ceridian Dayforce experience preferred
• International payroll and benefits experience preferred
• Strong working knowledge of federal and state wage/hour laws and benefits compliance requirements
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage competing priorities, and meet critical deadlines
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with exceptional attention to detail
• High level of integrity and ability to handle confidential information with discretion
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel (advanced functions such as pivot tables and lookups)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a service-oriented mindset
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) and/or SHRM-CP/PHR certification preferred