Payroll Director

Payroll Director Job Description

Firms look for payroll directors with an in-depth knowledge of payroll processing and the ability to design and manage complex payroll systems. Payroll directors also need the communication and leadership skills to manage the payroll team and collaborate with other departments to ensure that payroll operations align with the organization’s overall business strategy. Top candidates for this role have a comprehensive understanding of all federal, state and local payroll laws and regulations. A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or a related field is typically required, along with several years of experience in payroll management.

Typical payroll director duties:

Developing and implementing payroll policies and procedures

Ensuring compliance with applicable payroll laws, regulations, and best practices

Overseeing the payroll processing and ensuring accurate payment of all employees

Managing the payroll team and facilitating training and development

Generating payroll-related data for budgeting and forecasting purposes

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Salary for Payroll Director

104250 - 185500

Low

104250

The candidate is new to the role or has limited experience and is building necessary skills.

Mid

135000

The candidate has moderate experience in the role, meets most requirements or has equivalent transferable skills, and may also have relevant certifications.

High

185500

The candidate has extensive experience and advanced skills for the role, and may also have specialized certifications.

Projected salaries for related positions

Job title

Low

Mid

High

Payroll Manager

75250

93250

110750

Payroll Analyst

54000

61750

81000

Payroll Specialist/Administrator

53000

61250

77250

Payroll Clerk

43250

47500

55750

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Our starting salary projections come from a rigorous, multistep process so that our numbers accurately reflect the marketplace. They are based on actual compensation for professionals Robert Half has matched with employers across the country and third-party job posting data from Textkernel that we use to independently validate the salary levels.

Starting compensation—pay for someone new to a role—can vary significantly based on a candidate’s skills, experience and certifications, as well as other factors including industry, company size and revenue, and demand for the role. To reflect this variability, we report our salary data in three levels: low, mid and high.

Payroll Director