Director Payroll

Payroll Director

Location: Remote

JOB SUMMARY

MGT is a leading social impact and performance solutions firm that serves state, local, education, technology, and commercial clients across the U.S. and abroad. By elevating education systems, managing and securing critical networks, solving complex human capital and fiscal problems, and advancing equity as a performance imperative, we can

impact communities, for good, through client partnership. We deliver these solutions through our three-point stance of technology, education, and performance offerings.

Celebrating its 50th year in 2025, the firm attracts exceptional talent and empowers them to exceed client expectations as they navigate the dynamic demands of the clients we serve.

We are hiring a Human Resources Payroll Director who will help MGT build, improve, and manage payroll processes and related HR technology capabilities, with a dedicated focus on enhancing the employee experience for our rapidly growing organization. Reporting to the VP of our People Operations team, our ideal candidate has the right

experience and is passionate about leading payroll operations, building great teams, leveraging and enhancing technology, developing scalable and compliant processes, designing amazing employee experiences, and developing project plans to ensure strong delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the payroll team across the full employee payroll lifecycle (onboarding to offboarding)
  
• Oversee US multi-state payroll processing, benefits and payroll administration
  
• Lead payroll system evaluation, vendor RFPs, and payroll platform implementation
  
• Assess payroll team structure, implement stronger controls, and mature payroll processes
  
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll laws and tax regulations
  
• Manage payroll tax registrations, filings, year-end activities, audits, and SOX controls
  
• Prepare payroll operations for future organizational transitions (growth, M&A, private equity)
  
• Act as payroll subject matter expert and advisor to senior leadership and C-suite
  
• Drive payroll process improvements, reporting, and operational efficiency
  

Required Qualifications:

• 10 - 15 Years of progressive US payroll leadership experience

  with hands-on payroll processing
• Strong expertise in

  US payroll taxation

  ,

  multi-state payroll

  , and

  payroll compliance

• Proven experience managing

  day-to-day payroll operations

  and leading payroll teams
• Hands-on experience with

  payroll audits

  , statutory filings, and

  SOX compliance

• Strong understanding of

  benefit withholdings

  , taxable vs non-taxable earnings, and payroll impacts
• Experience leading

  payroll system implementations and vendor management

• Familiarity with

  UKG (current), ADP, and/or Paylocity

  (experience with all three preferred)
• Strong proficiency in

  MS Office Suite

  , especially

  advanced Excel

• Project and program management experience related to payroll transformation
  
• Educational background in

  HR, Finance, or Business

  with practical finance/GL exposure

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting payroll functions during organizational growth or M&A
  
• Payroll or HR certifications (CPP, SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR) preferred
  
• Experience in professional services or fast-growing organizations