Director of Payroll & Tax Compliance

About Positively Partners

Positively Partners delivers integrated, people-centered consulting services to social impact organizations. Our services include recruitment, HR outsourcing, and consulting on people practices related to compensation, employee engagement, and inclusion.

Founded by nonprofit leaders in 2016, we help social sector organizations access the high-quality, inclusion-focused HR services essential to achieving their missions. We’re a team of learners, HR professionals, and equity practitioners committed to helping employees thrive. Our home bases are in Boston, MA and Washington, DC, with a remote team across the United States, allowing us to deliver services through a mix of in-person and virtual channels.

You can learn more about Positively Partners and our service offerings at www.positivelypartners.org.

About PositivelyHR

PositivelyHR is our outsourced HR service model, providing mission-driven organizations with comprehensive, high-quality HR solutions. We function as an extension of our clients' teams, offering expert support in compliance, payroll and tax processing, benefits administration, policy development, and employee relations.

The Opportunity

Join Positively Partners as Director of Payroll & Tax Compliance and lead a growing team of payroll professionals delivering high-impact services to nonprofit clients nationwide. You’ll ensure accurate payroll and tax compliance across a portfolio of organizations while driving adoption of consistent processes and systems that make our support scalable, efficient, and compliant.

In this highly collaborative role, you’ll oversee the end-to-end payroll and tax function for our nonprofit clients and play a key leadership role on the PositivelyHR team. You’ll serve as a central point of contact for payroll-related matters, mentor and support payroll staff, and contribute to the ongoing refinement of our systems and service delivery model.

This role is ideal for someone who combines deep knowledge of payroll practices with strong client service instincts and a desire to lead others. While not required, experience in a consulting or payroll services firm is a strong plus.

Core Responsibilities

Payroll & Tax Operations:

• Lead payroll operations across multiple nonprofit clients, ensuring accurate and timely processing, ongoing audits, and effective error resolution.

• Manage payroll tax compliance across federal, state, and local jurisdictions, including filings, reconciliations, and tracking of rate changes and regulatory updates.

• Oversee benefit and retirement deductions, audit invoices, and support compliance requirements such as Form 5500 filings.

• Guide leave and time-off administration to ensure accurate payroll calculations and compliance with paid leave laws.

• Serve as back-up payroll processor during periods of staff absence or high-volume processing.

Client Support & Service:

• Serve as a primary point of contact for clients on payroll and tax matters, offering practical guidance, regulatory insight, and effective issue resolution.

• Build client confidence and promote adoption of best practices through responsive, solution-oriented support.

• Partner with HR Business Partners and other PositivelyHR colleagues to ensure coordinated and seamless client service.

Team Leadership & Collaboration:

• Supervise and support payroll staff, setting clear expectations, providing coaching, and promoting accountability.

• Foster a team culture rooted in care, learning, continuous improvement, and excellence in service.

• Provide training to internal team members on payroll systems, tools, and processes to ensure consistency and knowledge-sharing across the team.

Systems, Compliance & Process Improvement:

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of internal systems, workflows, and payroll tools to improve service quality and operational efficiency.

• Maintain accurate documentation of payroll processes to support transparency, compliance, and staff onboarding.

• Monitor and respond to changes in payroll regulations, tax laws, and compliance requirements, adjusting systems and practices accordingly.

• Identify opportunities for automation and process improvements to