Director of Payroll

Greystone is a private national commercial real estate finance company with an established reputation as a leader in multifamily and healthcare finance, with $13 billion in loan originations in 2025. The firm consistently ranks in the Top 10 for Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac by multifamily loan volumeand is the #1* Overall HUD Multifamily and Healthcare Lender in the country. Greystone also ranks nationally as a top affordable housing, seniors housing, and small balance loan lender. At Greystone, charity is at the heart of who we are and what we do.

At Greystone, everything we do is driven by our purpose of improving others' lives. As we work hard to maintain our ranking as a top national commercial real estate lender, our culture of caring and support is just as important. We don't just say "Where People Matter" - we lead with this mantra every day to guide our actions and behaviors. Greystone is committed to fostering and preserving a culture of inclusion. Belonging is at the heart of our culture of caring, integrity and excellence and is a driving force behind our entrepreneurial spirit and creativity.

We are currently hiring a Director of Payroll to lead and direct Greystone's payroll function. The ideal candidate is a strategic and operational leader responsible for the accurate, compliant, and timely processing of payroll for approximately 1,000 multi-state employees. This role oversees payroll operations leveraging Workday Payroll and OSV (outsourced payroll vendor) solutions, ensuring seamless integration, process optimization, and regulatory compliance.

This position will report to the Chief People Services Officer and manage and mentor a payroll specialist. Experience with One Source Virtual and Workday is required.

Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end payroll operations for all employees across multiple states and companies.
• Responsible for all aspects of timely end-to-end payroll processing, state registrations, payroll adjustments, tax withholdings, deductions, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Oversee payroll for special compensation, including bonuses, awards, and tax gross ups.
• Vendor Management - Serve as primary point of contact for outsourced payroll vendor (OSV) including managing vendor performance, SLAs, and issue resolution; collaborate with vendor to improve service delivery, reporting, and compliance alignment.
• Identify and implement automation opportunities to improve accuracy and reduce manual processes.
• Oversee payroll tax reporting and compliance with federal, State, and local regulations, managing multi-state requirements and remote employee considerations.
• Implement internal controls, audit readiness protocols, and risk mitigation strategies to safeguard payroll integrity.
• Develop and mentor a payroll specialist, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Manage payroll system configurations, including managing vendor relationships.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of payroll processes and recommend strategic improvements aligned with future organizational needs.
• Collaborate with internal teams-including Finance, HR, Benefits, and Legal-to improve payroll workflows, reduce errors, and enhance data accuracy.

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration preferred.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification is required.
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in payroll management including direct management of payroll for a mid-sized company (~1,000 employees).
• Proven expertise in Workday required.
• Experience managing outsourced payroll vendors (OSV or similar)
• Strong understanding of payroll controls, best practices, laws / regulations, and federal, state, and local tax compliance requirements.
• Advanced proficiency in leveraging available (standard) reporting for payroll processing controls, error tracking and payroll reconciliation.
• Detail-oriented with a high degree of accuracy and ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Advanced excel skills.
• Management skills including mentoring direct reports and developing payroll talent.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Record of accomplishment delivering exceptional customer service to employees and internal partners