Director of Payroll

Our client, a large multi-specialty physician group affiliated with world-class medical schools in New York City, is hiring a Director of Payroll. This position required onsite presence in Manhattan (4 days per week onsite, plus 1 day remote). This vital leadership role offers the opportunity to shape and elevate payroll operations within one of the largest municipal health care delivery systems in the nation, supporting a complex, unionized environment across multiple hospitals, clinics, and correctional health services. The ideal candidate will drive strategic transformation, ensure compliance, and foster strong relationships with clinical and administrative stakeholders, all while maintaining operational excellence. Join a mission-driven organization committed to providing equitable, high-quality care to all New Yorkers. Lead a dedicated payroll team, oversee system optimization, and implement best practices that support the organization’s growth and operational integrity.

Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end payroll operations for approximately 4,000 employees across multiple sites, including hospitals, clinics, and correctional health services.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing, including bi-weekly (or transition to semi-monthly) cycles.
• Oversee payroll tax reporting and compliance with federal, New York State, and local regulations, managing multi-state requirements and remote employee considerations.
• Collaborate with internal teams—including Finance, HR, Benefits, and Legal—to improve payroll workflows, reduce errors, and enhance data accuracy.
• Develop and mentor a payroll team—currently five members, with plans for growth—and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Manage payroll system configurations, including managing vendor relationships for Paycom (current system) and leading RFP processes for potential transition to platforms such as ADP or others.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of payroll processes and recommend strategic improvements aligned with future organizational needs.
• Implement internal controls, audit readiness protocols, and risk mitigation strategies to safeguard payroll integrity.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to support system enhancements, data validation, and operational scalability.

Requirements:

• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive payroll leadership experience.
• Extensive knowledge of federal, New York State, and local payroll laws and tax reporting.
• Proven expertise managing multi-site, unionized, and clinically complex payroll environments, preferably within healthcare.
• Strong proficiency in Excel, data analysis, and payroll systems such as ADP, Paycom, or Workday.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change management initiatives and manage teams effectively.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and leadership presence.

Some of the Benefits:

• Competitive salary.
• Generous total rewards package, including comprehensive medical, dental, and prescription coverage with significant employer contributions.
• Flexible hybrid work options available.
• Supportive organizational culture emphasizing social and racial equity, high-quality patient care, and professional growth.

Salary: The posted range is not a guarantee. The actual salary will be based on qualifications, experience, and education and could fall outside of this range. Contact us for more information.

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