Director, Payroll

Zūm has reimagined student transportation, the nation's largest mass transit system. Our integrated end-to-end cloud-based platform provides a modern service for school districts purpose-built around the needs of kids and the expectations of their families. Zūm provides one seamless, real-time interface for parents, drivers, schools, districts, administrators, and operators, to transport children safely and with increased visibility and personalized care. Our multi-sized vehicle approach includes an electric vehicle-first commitment, reduces student commute times by up to 20%, and coupled with our marketplace, delivers added fleet efficiency and optimization. We have been driving the industry forward since 2015, and with more than 8 million miles completed to date, we are leading a new era of safe, reliable, efficient, and sustainable transportation.
Reporting to the VP, Corporate Controller, and working in collaboration with the Managers of Human Resources, Site General Managers, and the Company’s Compliance team, this position manages a Payroll Department of 20+ through planning, developing, interpreting, and implementing all activities of the Payroll Department through subordinate staff in a highly demanding and fast-paced environment.
The position is committed toward continuous improvement in accuracy, efficiency and service levels to ensure readiness for growth and the ability to provide superior service. In addition, this position develops and executes a vision for future processes and systems including project implementation plans and monitoring & reporting of process improvement initiatives. Other key areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, leadership in addressing financial controls with both internal and external stakeholders; being an expert in compliance with federal and state laws as they impact compensation and tax reporting, and knowledge of the terms of the various Collective Bargaining Agreements under which some of the Company’s employees may be compensated.
The position also provides professional development opportunities for the payroll team and documentation, implementation, and improvement of the Company’s policies and procedures; takes ownership of software systems that support payroll processing and reporting; organize, assign, direct, review and evaluate the work of assigned staff. The role must stay abreast of the latest developments in the legal and Union landscape, and serves as the subject matter expert on all payroll issues. In partnership with Human Resources, the position also guides management toward resolution of compensation issues to ensure compliance with the law yet address practicality of proposed solutions and is very hands-on with the Company’s payroll objectives and processing.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the in-house multi-location compensation processing. The payroll will comprise 2,000+ employees in multiple states, 9+ unions, and an internally-developed timekeeping system
• Collaborate with finance and operational leaders, IT and HR partners to identify and prioritize areas for improvement, validate business cases for change, and ensure sound decision-making and coordinated communications
• Proactively drive change management activities to ensure wide adoption and acceptance of changes, including engaging key leaders and facilitating impact assessments, training, and other communications
• Implement, maintain, and review weekly and off-cycle multi-location, multi-state payrolls to ensure timely and accurate processing of payroll transactions including wages, benefits, garnishments, taxes, union benefits, and other deductions.
• Manage compliance with federal, state and local tax law, and quarterly and annual payroll reporting, etc., Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting, etc.
• Interpret, educate and apply a variety of laws and regulations governing payroll administration. Provide written and oral explanations to employees, management, union officials and employees as necessary
• Identify ways to optimize the payroll function, collaborate closely with cross-functional teams and other stakeholders, to facilitate the smooth operation of the payroll system 
• Develop, implement, and maintain internal control policies, procedures, and compliance with respect to the payroll process, including, but not limited to, pay policies, payroll calendars, payroll checklists, process documentation and other items as necessary
• Ensure standardized payroll policies and procedures are documented, maintained and followed, and service level agreements (e.g., response and resolution times for issues) are met or exceeded by the team
• Communicate and enforce organization-wide payroll policies and processes regarding earnings, deductions, timekeeping, and government and union compliance reporting. 
• Serve as subject matter expert in strategic planning concerning new or proj