SelectOne is partnering with a rapidly growing, tech-focused organization in Buffalo, NY to hire a Payroll Director. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced payroll leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and excels in accuracy, compliance, and team leadership. In this role, you’ll oversee a multi-state, multi-entity payroll operation supporting both union and non-union employees. You’ll be the organization’s trusted payroll expert — managing compliance, audits, system enhancements, tax requirements, and team development. This position blends strategic oversight with hands-on execution and cross-functional collaboration.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop the payroll team to ensure accuracy and compliance

• Manage all aspects of multi-state payroll for union/non-union staff

• Ensure compliance with wage & hour laws, prevailing wage, and tax regulations

• Drive audits, reporting, process improvements, and system upgrades

• Collaborate across HR, Finance, and Operations on compensation, integrations, and workflow enhancements

• Serve as the senior escalation point for complex payroll issues

Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree

• 5+ years of payroll management, including 3+ years of leadership

• Strong multi-state, union, and prevailing wage experience

• Certified payroll and CBA knowledge

• Experience supporting payroll through organizational growth and integrations

• HRIS/payroll expertise — UKG strongly preferred

• Strong communication, customer service, and problem-solving skills

Ideal Candidate Profile

•Experience: Previous experience in a large, growing company or scaling environment is ideal. Must be comfortable with ambiguity​

•Technical Skills: Experience with UKG, HRIS integrations, prevailing wage, union/non-union payroll (approx. 25% is union)

•Temperament: A "do-er" who is strategic and capable of leadership but is also heavily involved and not simply a delegator