Payroll Director

CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen); Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 125,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

CLA is seeking a Payroll Director to lead our Outsourcing payroll team. You will provide leadership and technical expertise to our internal team and clients, ensuring accurate, compliant payroll processing and effective service delivery.

This role focuses on department management, tax oversight, process improvement, and client service, with opportunities to guide implementations, coaching, and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• 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 Office products, including MS Excel (or other spreadsheet experience), and payroll software is necessary

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Leadership

Payroll expertise

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Business/Accounting/HR degree preferred

PHR/SPHR/CPP preferred

Tools

MS Office / Excel

Payroll software

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.