Payroll Director

This is a Full Time Job

Position: Director, Payroll
Department: Finance
Reporting Manager: Senior Vice President, Finance
Status: Full-Time
Job Classification: Exempt
Location: Las Vegas, NV

Description:

The Director, Payroll is responsible for executing end-to-end payroll operations across the Athletics organization. This role ensures payroll accuracy and compliance across highly complex compensation structures, including variable pay, bonuses, incentives, multi-state taxation, and contractual earnings.

This leader will own payroll systems strategy and serve as a key functional partner to Finance, People Operations, Legal, and Information Technology. The ideal candidate brings deep technical payroll expertise, systems proficiency, and a strong understanding of payroll data workflows, integrations, and compliance within a high-volume, multi-entity environment.

Responsibilities:
• Own the end-to-end payroll operating model, including design, configuration, execution, and optimization across all employee populations (full-time staff, baseball operations personnel, game-day, and seasonal employees)
• Ensure accurate processing of complex compensation structures, including base pay, variable compensation, bonuses, incentives, and contract-based payments
• Calculate and process complex player payroll, including contract-based compensation, performance incentives, bonuses, and varied compensation structures
• Own payroll system configuration, optimization, and ongoing administration within ADP Workforce Now (and related modules), including integration management, data interfaces, and workflows across HRIS, Finance, and time and attendance systems
• Review, identify, and implement system enhancements to ensure seamless payroll data flow across platforms to improve efficiency and reduce manual data entry
• Establish and maintain comprehensive payroll controls, including audit trails, reconciliation frameworks, and reporting
• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, local, and jurisdictional tax regulations, including multi-state taxation
• Oversee payroll compliance with Major League Baseball rules and league-specific compensation requirements
• Lead payroll audit strategy, including reconciliations and reporting to ensure accuracy and data integrity
• Own payroll reporting, including standard reporting, analytics, and dashboards (payroll cost, accruals, etc.)
• Oversee year-end processing, including W-2s, reconciliations, tax filings, and year-end configuration in systems
• Develop and enforce payroll policies and SOPs aligned with compliance and operational best practices
• Serve as escalation point for complex payroll calculations, system issues, and compensation inquiries
• Lead and develop a high-performing payroll team
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications/Requirements:
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred
• 8-10 years of progressive payroll experience in multi-state/multi-entity environments
• 5 years of leadership experience managing payroll teams and/or payroll operations functions
• Hands-on experience administering payroll for multiple compensation structures (e.g., contracts, union wages, bonuses, incentives, and variable pay) within a multi-state or multi-entity environment
• Strong technical experience with payroll systems; ADP Workforce Now strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of HRIS integrations and financial systems (GL mapping, cost centers, etc.)
• Advanced knowledge of multi-state taxation, wage & hour compliance, and complex compensation structures
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, etc.) and reporting tools
• Proficiency with Google Workspace (Sheets, Docs, Slides)
• High level of accuracy, discretion, and ability to manage sensitive and confidential data
• Demonstrated ability to lead process improvements, and system enhancements
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills
• Experience with payroll audits and compliance processes
• Experience in sports, entertainment, or similarly complex workforce environments strongly preferred
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certified preferred