Director of Payroll

CFS; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 171,000 - 209,000; Full time

Job summary

CFS is seeking a Director of Payroll in Boston to lead a large, multi-state payroll operation. You will guide transformation initiatives, optimize systems, and ensure accurate, compliant processing for a 10,000+ workforce. This role reports to finance leadership and requires strong team development skills.

Join a growing organization where you will shape payroll strategy, governance, and controls while collaborating across Finance and HR to drive operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Director-level payroll leadership in a large-scale organization.
• Experience managing payroll for 10,000+ employees across states.
• Extensive multi-state payroll exposure with union environments and CBAs.
• Hands-on experience with UKG; Kronos and Dimensions preferred.
• Proven track record improving payroll operations and developing teams.
• Experience in complex, unionized industries strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead all payroll operations for 10,000+ employees across multiple states.
• Ensure accurate and timely payroll processing in compliance with laws.
• Oversee complex union payroll activity and administration under CBAs.
• Mentor and develop the payroll team, improving structure and workflow.
• Identify and implement improvements across payroll systems, controls, reporting.
• Collaborate with Finance, HR, and leadership on payroll strategy and growth.

Skills

Director-level payroll leadership

10,000+ employees payroll

Multi-state payroll experience

Union environments / collective barg.

Payroll systems improvements

Team development

Complex industry exposure

Tools

UKG (Kronos) / Dimensions

Job description

Title: Director of Payroll

Salary: Up to $190,000 + 10% bonus

Location: Boston, MA (Hybrid, 2 days onsite)

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

• Step into a key leadership position with direct exposure to senior finance and executive leadership
• Join a well-established organization entering a major period of growth and operational expansion
• Take ownership of a large-scale payroll function and help shape its future structure, processes, and controls
• Play a central role in payroll transformation, systems optimization, and reporting improvements
• Oversee a highly complex payroll environment supporting more than 10,000 employees across multiple states
• Opportunity to modernize the function while building a stronger, more scalable payroll operation

Director Of Payroll Key Responsibilities

• Lead all payroll operations for a workforce of 10,000+ employees across multiple states
• Ensure accurate and timely payroll processing while maintaining compliance with federal, state, and local requirements
• Oversee complex union payroll activity and administration across multiple collective bargaining agreements
• Manage, mentor, and develop the payroll team while improving structure, accountability, and workflow
• Identify and implement improvements across payroll systems, controls, reporting, and overall processes
• Collaborate closely with Finance, HR, and leadership on workforce growth, organizational initiatives, and payroll strategy

Director Of Payroll Qualifications

• Proven payroll leadership experience at the Director level within a large-scale organization
• Background managing payroll operations for 10,000+ employees
• Extensive multi-state payroll experience with strong exposure to union environments and collective bargaining agreements
• Strong hands-on experience with UKG required; Kronos and Dimensions highly preferred
• Track record of improving payroll operations, developing teams, and supporting organizations through periods of change or growth
• Experience in transportation, healthcare, manufacturing, utilities, logistics, or another complex unionized environment strongly preferred