Role OverviewAs the Lead Payroll, you will hold primary day-to-day responsibility for the end-to-end payroll operations of a complex, 3,000+ employee organization. Reporting directly to the Leader of Finance Operations, you will manage a dedicated team of 1-2 specialists and serve as a strategic change agent, bridging the gap between routine processing and high-level financial transformation.
Core Responsibilities- Operational Leadership: Execute and oversee semi-monthly and bi-weekly payroll for 3,000+ employees, ensuring 100% accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
- Regulatory Expertise: Serve as the resident Subject Matter Expert (SME) for payroll regulations, specifically for New York State and multi-state US jurisdictions.
- Deductions Management: Maintain deep technical knowledge of withholdings, including complex payroll taxes, medical elections, 403(b) contributions, garnishments, and diverse benefit deductions.
- Systems & Integration: Lead the maintenance and optimization of integrations between the HRIS and payroll processing systems.
- Compliance & Audit: Drive the issuance of annual W-2 statements and manage all internal/external audit inquiries.
- Stakeholder Partnership: Act as a critical business partner to Benefits, HR, FP&A, and Accounting. Manage external vendor relationships, including brokers and 403(b) financial advisors.
- Transformation & Innovation: Proactively identify opportunities to automate, optimize, and audit the payroll lifecycle to increase compliance, streamline workflows, and reduce manual overhead.
Requirements & QualificationsEducation & Certification- Degree: Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required.
- Certification: Active Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) designation is required.
Technical Skills & Experience- Direct Experience: 8+ years of progressive payroll experience, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or leadership capacity.
- Software Proficiency: Experience with ADP is required; experience with Workday is strongly preferred.
- Excel Mastery: Advanced data manipulation skills, including multi-function formulas, pivot tables, and sophisticated data formatting.
- Regulatory Knowledge: Comprehensive, up-to-date understanding of Federal, State, and Local laws, including FLSA.
Leadership & Soft Skills- Change Management: Proven ability to act as a "change agent," bringing transformation experience to an entrepreneurial, fast-paced, and high-volume environment.
- Communication: Refined emotional intelligence with the ability to influence stakeholders, deliver exceptional internal customer service, and negotiate buy-in across departments.
- Critical Thinking: A hands-on problem solver who can easily balance granular detail with big-picture process improvement.
Compensation, Benefits & PerksAt Success Academy, we know that our extraordinary team is our greatest asset. We offer a highly competitive compensation package designed to support your well-being, financial future, and work-life balance:
- Generous Paid Time Off: Enjoy 20 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) annually to rest and recharge.
- Paid Holidays: Take a well-deserved break with all major holidays off.
- Retirement Security: A 3% employer match on your 403(b) retirement plan to help you build long-term wealth.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Access to full, premium healthcare benefits (medical, dental, and vision insurance), flexible spending accounts (FSA), and pre-tax commuter benefits.
Exact compensation may vary based on skills and experience. This position is not bonus eligible.
Compensation Range
$150,000-$180,000 USD
