Strategic Payroll Director — Multi-State Operations

Columbia Hospitality; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pay Range: $120,000 to $150,000 DOE

Commuter/Parking options

Get Paid Daily

Paid Time off & Holiday Pay

Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, 4

HSA/FSA Plans -with employer contrib.

Values Based Culture

Culture Add

Referral Bonus

Discounted Lodging, Dining, Spa, Golf,

Job summary

Columbia Hospitality, Inc. in Seattle, WA, is seeking a Director of Payroll to provide strategic leadership and governance for payroll across its diverse portfolio of hotels, resorts, and other properties.

The role oversees compliance, system governance, and a high-performing payroll team across multiple states, partnering with Finance, HRIS, and operations. You will drive automation, standardization, and data integrity while delivering scalable payroll processes and expert guidance on wage laws

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive payroll leadership experience.
• 5+ years leading payroll functions in a multi-state environment.
• 3+ years of direct people leadership experience managing payroll teams.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing large-scale payroll operations across multiple locations, entities, or properties.
• Extensive knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including wage and hour laws.
• Experience managing multiple payroll, timekeeping, and HRIS platforms.
• Strong understanding of payroll accounting, payroll tax administration, garnishments, and audit practices.
• Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and process improvement skills.
• Strong communication and leadership capabilities with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Two or more years of Dayforce experience
• This is an onsite position based in Seattle, Washington

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the company's payroll strategy to support a growing portfolio of properties operating across multiple states.
• Establish scalable payroll processes, controls, and governance practices that support operational growth and changing regulatory requirements.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on automation, standardization, system optimization, and enhanced team member experience.
• Provide strategic guidance to executive leadership regarding payroll risks, compliance trends, legislative developments, and operational efficiencies.
• Develop payroll metrics, dashboards, and reporting to measure accuracy, timeliness, compliance, and service performance.
• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing for exempt, non-exempt, tipped, seasonal, and salaried team members across multiple entities and locations.
• Ensure timely and accurate processing of payroll, payroll taxes, year-end reporting, W-2s, corrections, and off-cycle payments.
• Establish and maintain payroll controls to ensure data integrity, accuracy, and compliance.
• Partner with Finance and Accounting to ensure payroll-related reconciliations, accruals, labor reporting, and general ledger integrations are accurate and timely.
• Develop standardized operating procedures across all payroll functions.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Analytical skills

Process improvement

Communication

Leadership

Dayforce

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field

Tools

Dayforce

Job description

Columbia Hospitality, Inc. in Seattle, WA, is seeking a Director of Payroll to provide strategic leadership and governance for payroll across its diverse portfolio of hotels, resorts, and other properties.

The role oversees compliance, system governance, and a high-performing payroll team across multiple states, partnering with Finance, HRIS, and operations. You will drive automation, standardization, and data integrity while delivering scalable payroll processes and expert guidance on wage laws