Material
Payroll Director
This role is to be based near one of our offices in Los Angeles, Oakland, Austin or New York.
About us: We drive intelligent growth for ambitious businesses and leading brands.
Customer understanding is more potent and drives greater value when insights go to work directly within marketing and experience priorities. To give our clients that advantage, we put an insights‑driven operating system at the core of our design, go‑to‑market and digital experience solutions.
Material clients make smarter growth choices because they can see clearly how and when to the shots that count. Together, we connect consumer intelligence with customer demand generation to build lasting, profitable relationships.
About the Payroll Director: We are seeking a hands‑on and detail‑oriented
Payroll Director
to lead our payroll operations, including overseeing two junior payroll staff. This position will be responsible for leading and managing the complete payroll process, from reviewing/managing timesheets to processing payroll using Workday for 600+ employees across three separate legal entities in dozens of US states and leading payroll for a small subsidiary in the UK.
Using attention to detail, problem‑solving and flexibility, this position requires a strong understanding of various states’ payroll rules (e.g. California overtime laws) and individual state or regional tax issues to ensure each company is following all applicable payroll‑related legal requirements and ensuring all employees are paid accurately and on time. This position requires strong Excel skills, excellent organizational habits, and a high level of accuracy. The right candidate takes initiative, learns quickly, and embraces opportunities to contribute and improve processes in a fast‑paced environment.
Job duties
Train, coach, and manage two payroll team members
Oversee review of employees’ timesheets for each pay period (timecards are submitted weekly, payroll processed bi‑weekly); have a deep understanding of overtime laws for California and other states so timesheets can be manually audited when needed
Oversee processing of payroll via Workday Payroll and tax compliance via ADP SmartCompliance
Oversee review of payroll audit reports with each payroll run
Work closely with UK payroll processor to submit payroll data, resolve payroll discrepancies and maintain up‑to‑date employee records
Run, maintain, and audit weekly payroll reports (primarily in Excel) to ensure data accuracy
Oversee and review calculation and processing of leaves of absence and final pay for exiting employees
Oversee and review preparation of final pay for employees exiting the company
Coordinate with the People team on payroll related issues including, but not limited to, benefit deductions, 401(k) loans, use of paid time off during leaves of absence, and salary adjustments
Collaborate with the Accounting team related to month‑end close processes and reconciliations
Communicate with employees to resolve payroll‑related questions in a timely and professional manner
Oversee audits of W‑2s and paystubs; ensure all government, state, and local reporting requirements are met
Maintain confidentiality of payroll, private employee, and proprietary information; ensure payroll data is secure
Lead the payroll team on other projects as needed; encourage teamwork and collaboration
Required Experience and Qualifications
10+ years of experience doing full cycle payroll, including experience managing at least one payroll professional
High school diploma or GED required; associate or bachelor’s degree a plus
CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification strongly preferred
Experience with Workday Payroll and/or ADP is strongly preferred; familiarity with payroll systems, HRIS platforms, or ERP tools is required
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g., formulas, pivot tables, vlookups, etc.)
Required Skills and Attributes
Outstanding organizational skills, including ability to structure work plans and prioritize activities on multiple simultaneous projects and recurring activities
Orientation toward action and taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm
Strong problem‑solving skills; highly analytical thinker
Detail orientation and ability to identify inconsistencies and provide recommendationsAbility to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines consistently
Strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills; excellent documentation skills
Fosters an open, honest, and positive relationship with all team members, employees, and cross‑functional stakeholders
Comfortable performing in a fast‑paced, lean environment
Strong appreciation for Material values and culture
Why work for Material?
Material is a global company and we work with best‑of‑class brands worldwide.
We also create and launch new brands and products, putting innovation and value creation at the center of our practice. Our clients are in the top of their class, across industry sectors from technology to retail, transportation, finance and healthcare.
Material employees join a peer group of exceptionally talented colleagues
across the company, the country, and even the world. We develop capabilities, craft and leading‑edge market offerings across seven global practices including strategy and insights, design, data & analytics, technology and tracking. Our engagement management team makes it all hum for clients.
A community focused on learning and making an impact.
Material is an outcomes focused company. We create experiences that matter, create new value and make a difference in our clients’ lives and their customers’ lives.
PayRange:$100,000.00 - $120,000.00
The range shown represents a grouping of relevant ranges currently in use at Material. Actual range for this position may differ, depending on location and specific skillset required for the work itself.
Equal Employment Opportunity All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.
Privacy Statement Material is committed to protecting privacy in our recruiting processes for all candidates. For more information, please refer to Privacy Policy. California‑resident applicants should also refer to California‑resident Candidate Privacy Statement.
If you need support with a privacy‑related matter, please send an email to: privacyrequests@materialplus.io
#J-18808-Ljbffr
This role is to be based near one of our offices in Los Angeles, Oakland, Austin or New York.
About us: We drive intelligent growth for ambitious businesses and leading brands.
Customer understanding is more potent and drives greater value when insights go to work directly within marketing and experience priorities. To give our clients that advantage, we put an insights‑driven operating system at the core of our design, go‑to‑market and digital experience solutions.
Material clients make smarter growth choices because they can see clearly how and when to the shots that count. Together, we connect consumer intelligence with customer demand generation to build lasting, profitable relationships.
About the Payroll Director: We are seeking a hands‑on and detail‑oriented
Payroll Director
to lead our payroll operations, including overseeing two junior payroll staff. This position will be responsible for leading and managing the complete payroll process, from reviewing/managing timesheets to processing payroll using Workday for 600+ employees across three separate legal entities in dozens of US states and leading payroll for a small subsidiary in the UK.
Using attention to detail, problem‑solving and flexibility, this position requires a strong understanding of various states’ payroll rules (e.g. California overtime laws) and individual state or regional tax issues to ensure each company is following all applicable payroll‑related legal requirements and ensuring all employees are paid accurately and on time. This position requires strong Excel skills, excellent organizational habits, and a high level of accuracy. The right candidate takes initiative, learns quickly, and embraces opportunities to contribute and improve processes in a fast‑paced environment.
Job duties
Train, coach, and manage two payroll team members
Oversee review of employees’ timesheets for each pay period (timecards are submitted weekly, payroll processed bi‑weekly); have a deep understanding of overtime laws for California and other states so timesheets can be manually audited when needed
Oversee processing of payroll via Workday Payroll and tax compliance via ADP SmartCompliance
Oversee review of payroll audit reports with each payroll run
Work closely with UK payroll processor to submit payroll data, resolve payroll discrepancies and maintain up‑to‑date employee records
Run, maintain, and audit weekly payroll reports (primarily in Excel) to ensure data accuracy
Oversee and review calculation and processing of leaves of absence and final pay for exiting employees
Oversee and review preparation of final pay for employees exiting the company
Coordinate with the People team on payroll related issues including, but not limited to, benefit deductions, 401(k) loans, use of paid time off during leaves of absence, and salary adjustments
Collaborate with the Accounting team related to month‑end close processes and reconciliations
Communicate with employees to resolve payroll‑related questions in a timely and professional manner
Oversee audits of W‑2s and paystubs; ensure all government, state, and local reporting requirements are met
Maintain confidentiality of payroll, private employee, and proprietary information; ensure payroll data is secure
Lead the payroll team on other projects as needed; encourage teamwork and collaboration
Required Experience and Qualifications
10+ years of experience doing full cycle payroll, including experience managing at least one payroll professional
High school diploma or GED required; associate or bachelor’s degree a plus
CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification strongly preferred
Experience with Workday Payroll and/or ADP is strongly preferred; familiarity with payroll systems, HRIS platforms, or ERP tools is required
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g., formulas, pivot tables, vlookups, etc.)
Required Skills and Attributes
Outstanding organizational skills, including ability to structure work plans and prioritize activities on multiple simultaneous projects and recurring activities
Orientation toward action and taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm
Strong problem‑solving skills; highly analytical thinker
Detail orientation and ability to identify inconsistencies and provide recommendationsAbility to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines consistently
Strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills; excellent documentation skills
Fosters an open, honest, and positive relationship with all team members, employees, and cross‑functional stakeholders
Comfortable performing in a fast‑paced, lean environment
Strong appreciation for Material values and culture
Why work for Material?
Material is a global company and we work with best‑of‑class brands worldwide.
We also create and launch new brands and products, putting innovation and value creation at the center of our practice. Our clients are in the top of their class, across industry sectors from technology to retail, transportation, finance and healthcare.
Material employees join a peer group of exceptionally talented colleagues
across the company, the country, and even the world. We develop capabilities, craft and leading‑edge market offerings across seven global practices including strategy and insights, design, data & analytics, technology and tracking. Our engagement management team makes it all hum for clients.
A community focused on learning and making an impact.
Material is an outcomes focused company. We create experiences that matter, create new value and make a difference in our clients’ lives and their customers’ lives.
PayRange:$100,000.00 - $120,000.00
The range shown represents a grouping of relevant ranges currently in use at Material. Actual range for this position may differ, depending on location and specific skillset required for the work itself.
Equal Employment Opportunity All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.
Privacy Statement Material is committed to protecting privacy in our recruiting processes for all candidates. For more information, please refer to Privacy Policy. California‑resident applicants should also refer to California‑resident Candidate Privacy Statement.
If you need support with a privacy‑related matter, please send an email to: privacyrequests@materialplus.io
#J-18808-Ljbffr