Payroll Tax Director

Phyton Talent Advisors; Worcester (MA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Phyton Talent Advisors leads a large regional payroll processing operation in Worcester, MA seeking a Director of Tax Compliance. The role provides strategic leadership and hands-on oversight of payroll tax functions, ensuring accuracy in federal, state, and local obligations while addressing complex issues and client escalations.

The position can be hybrid or fully onsite, depending on candidate needs and company requirements.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of payroll tax experience.
• Management/leadership experience required.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee all payroll tax operations (federal, state, and local) including deposits, filings, reconciliations, and year-end reporting.
• Ensure timely and accurate tax payments and multi-state filings for a diverse client base.
• Stay current on federal, state, and local tax laws and regulatory changes.

Skills

Payroll tax

Leadership

Job description

Well-established, large regional payroll processing company based in Worcester, MA seeks a Director of Tax compliance.

The Director of Payroll Tax Compliance provides both strategic leadership and hands-on operational oversight of the payroll tax functions.. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate and timely administration of all federal, state, and local payroll tax obligations while actively participating in the resolution of complex tax issues, agency matters, client escalations, and compliance challenges.

The Director partners closely with Operations, Client Services, Implementation, and Technology teams to ensure payroll tax processes support client needs, regulatory requirements, and organizational objectives. As the senior payroll tax subject matter expert, this individual leads by example, balancing departmental leadership with active involvement in day-to-day tax operations and continuous process improvement initiatives.

This could be a hybrid or fully onsite role depending on the needs/preference of the candidate

Key Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee all aspects of payroll tax operations, including federal, state, and local tax withholding, deposits, filings, reconciliations, year-end reporting, tax notices, power of attorney, agency authorizations, and other documentation necessary to support tax administration.
• Ensure timely and accurate tax payments, returns, multi-state quarterly and annual filings, and applicable information reporting for a diverse client base.
• Maintain current knowledge of federal, state, and local tax laws, regulatory changes, filing requirements, and emerging compliance obligations.
• Establish and maintain effective procedures and internal controls to minimize tax exposure, filing errors, penalties, interest, and compliance risk.
• Maintain direct involvement in complex payroll tax matters, including agency audits, notice resolution, tax account reconciliations, filing discrepancies, and high-priority client issues.
• Ensure accurate year-end tax reporting, including W-2's, 1099's and other applicable federal and state reporting requirements.
• Evaluate and implement processes to address new legislation, regulatory changes, and industry developments affecting payroll tax compliance.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the payroll tax team (3-4 team members) through active engagement, technical guidance, coaching, cross-training, and hands-on support while fostering accountability and professional growth.
• Monitor workloads, staffing levels, deadlines, and departmental productivity to ensure all compliance obligations are met.
• Foster a professional, collaborative, and client-focused work environment that emphasizes accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Participate in recruitment, hiring, onboarding, employee evaluations, and disciplinary matters as appropriate.
• Support business continuity, risk management, and internal control initiatives affecting payroll tax operations.
• Serve as the senior escalation point for complex client payroll tax matters and sensitive compliance issues, taking an active role in research, resolution, agency communications, and corrective actions when necessary.
• Support client retention and service quality through proactive issue identification, timely resolution of tax concerns and partnering with client service and operations to resolve issues efficiently.
• Contribute to company-wide risk management, internal control, and strategic planning initiatives.

Qualified candidates must have at least 5 years of payroll tax experience. Management experience required.

Salary 110-140k DOE plus great bonus potential and benefits