Payroll Director

CliftonLarsonAllen LLP; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA) is seeking a Payroll Director to lead the Outsourcing payroll team. You will oversee payroll processing, ensure accurate tax handling, and drive efficient processes while maintaining strong client relationships.

This role requires deep expertise in payroll systems and a proven track record in team leadership. The Payroll Director will guide policy development, manage client engagements, and coordinate with finance and HR to deliver high-quality service.

Qualifications

• 5 years of relevant payroll experience required.
• Leadership experience preferred (2+ years).
• Bachelor's degree required; related fields accepted.
• PHR/SPHR/CPP preferred.
• Proficiency with MS Office and payroll software required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee payroll processing and supervise Payroll Analyst I & II.
• Manage payroll tax registrations and quarterly filings for the department.
• Develop and implement processes to ensure accuracy and efficiency; contribute to proposals and fee quotes.
• Manage client relationships, serve as escalation point, and lead client setup and conversions.

Skills

Payroll processing

Leadership

Client relations

Training & coaching

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Accounting/HR

PHR/SPHR/CPP certification

Tools

MS Office

Payroll software

MS Excel

Job description

CLA is a top 10 national professional services firm where our purpose is to create opportunities every day, for our clients, our people, and our communities through industry-focused wealth advisory, digital, audit, tax, consulting, and outsourcing services. Even with more than 8,500 people, 130 U.S. locations, and a global reach, we promise to know you and help you.

CLA is dedicated to building a culture that invites different beliefs and perspectives to the table, so we can truly know and help our clients, communities, and each other.

About the role:

CLA is looking to hire a Payroll Director who will be a key member of the Outsourcing team and provide leadership and technical expertise to our internal team and clients.

As a Payroll Director, you will:

• Department Management: Oversee payroll processing and review the work of Payroll Analyst I and Payroll Analyst II. Identify and provide training and guidance to team members. Assist in hiring and coaching payroll analysts.
• Tax Management: Oversee and provide guidance with state tax registrations for payroll clients. Oversee and manage quarterly tax filing process for the department. Serve as firm wide resource for payroll tax assistance.
• Process Management: Develop policies and procedures to ensure client experiences are consistent and of high quality. Develop and implement business processes to assure accuracy and efficiency. Contribute to proposals and establishing fee quotes. Absorb more complex payroll processing as needed.
• Client Service: Manage client relationships and serve as escalation point as needed. Consult on compensation and benefit issues with clients as needed. Facilitate invoicing with clients and follow up to ensure maximized realization occurs. Serve as project manager for set up of new clients. Lead client conversions and serve as project manager.

What you will need:

• 5 years of relevant experience required.
• Experience in payroll processing plus 2 years of leadership experience preferred.
• Bachelor's degree is required. Combination of experience, education, and training may be accepted in lieu of degree.
• Degree in Business, Accounting, Human Resources, or related field preferred.
• PHR, SPHR or CPP preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft (MS) Office products, including MS Excel (or other spreadsheet experience), and payroll software is necessary

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

Wellness at CLA

To support our CLA family members, we focus on their physical, financial, social, and emotional well-being and offer comprehensive benefit options that include health, dental, vision, 401k and much more.