Director, Payroll

The Payroll Director will oversee and manage the entire payroll function for the organization, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing for all employees. This role involves leading a team of payroll professionals, ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, and optimizing payroll systems and processes. The Payroll Director will work closely with Finance, HR, and Legal teams to ensure seamless payroll operations.

A successful candidate is passionate and about payroll, leads and inspires their team, ensures payroll professionals are well-trained, engaged, and capable of meeting payroll deadlines. Leadership also involves fostering a positive work environment, coaching, and providing feedback.

Payroll Management

• Oversee and manage all payroll processes, ensuring timely and accurate payroll for employees across the organization.
• Ensure payroll is processed in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• Implement and maintain payroll best practices to improve efficiency and accuracy.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and mentor a team of payroll specialists, ensuring development and adherence to payroll policies and procedures.
• Monitor team performance, provide regular feedback, and foster a collaborative team environment.

Compliance

• Ensure payroll compliance with tax regulations and labor laws.
• Stay up-to-date with changes in tax laws, wage regulations, and other payroll-related legislation.
• Manage internal and external audits related to payroll.

Process Optimization & Systems

• Continuously review and optimize payroll systems, processes, and policies.
• Partner with IT to implement and update payroll software systems.
• Lead payroll projects and initiatives to improve accuracy, efficiency, and employee experience.

Reporting & Analytics

• Prepare and manage payroll reports for senior management, including payroll summaries, tax filings, and benefit payments.
• Provide financial reporting related to payroll, including cost forecasting, accruals, and variance analysis.

Collaboration & Communication

• Collaborate with HR, Finance, and Benefits teams to coordinate payroll and benefits processing.
• Act as the point of contact for employee payroll issues and escalate complex cases when necessary.

Vendor Management

• Manage relationships with third-party vendors related to payroll processing, tax filings, and compliance services.

Education & Experience Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field. A Master’s degree or certification (CPP) is a plus.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in payroll, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Experience with payroll systems (Workday a plus).
• Proven experience managing payroll in multi-state or global organizations.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, And ABILITIES

• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Thorough understanding of payroll tax regulations, compliance, and reporting.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

This position sits in our Atlanta Support Center, with the expectation to be onsite 80% of the time.

Inspire Brands is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 32,000 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC restaurants worldwide.

We’re made up of some of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands, but we’re much more than just a restaurant company. We’re a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple—it’s an experience. At Inspire, that’s our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.