We have a great opportunity for a Senior Director, Union Payroll who is a passionate, people-focused, action-oriented leader who will foster proactive collaboration with all internal and external business partners to join our Payroll team.

• Lead the union Payroll teams to ensure the successful and accurate and timely processing of payroll for weekly union and freelance employees and in accordance with company policy, collective bargaining agreements, and federal and state regulations
• Lead a team with diverse and varying levels of experience and provide coaching and learning opportunities, leaning into each team members strengths while continuing to develop and prepare team members for the next level
• Ensure that union benefit contributions and employee deductions are set up, maintained, paid, and reported in accordance with collective bargaining agreements and in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations
• Ensure strict adherence to established internal controls and SOX compliance procedures
• Ensure the Union Time and Attendance System rules are updated as needed to be in compliance with collective bargaining agreement changes and wage and hour regulations through the establishment and oversight of a governance process
• Standardize and optimize the preexisting divisional processes/procedures to create optimal efficiency
• Establish relations and partner strategically with Finance, IT, HR, Labor Relations and operational departments on ongoing business requirements
• Take charge of escalations, directing the payroll team, and guiding other departments in corrective actions
• Implement workable and scalable solutions to business issues/problems
• Impart lessons learned afterwards to prevent future issues
• Identify and mitigate potential payroll-related risks and implement controls to prevent errors, fraud, or compliance violations
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and flowcharts for all payroll processes across the Payroll teams to ensure complete, accurate, and up-to-date depiction of processes
• Maintain awareness of the latest federal, state, and local payroll legislation impacting the business and coordinate with the appropriate internal and external parties to ensure compliance
• Draft and maintain open and effective communications to employees and business partners regarding new payroll developments

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

• 10+ years of relevant experience leading payroll and related processes for a large volume of employees (including a remote workforce) in a complex and rapidly changing multi-state, multi-entity organization
• 5+ years of experience in a relevant media/entertainment industry union payroll environment, preferably at another major studio
• Experience with managing Payroll for employees covered by the IBEW, IATSE, and/or NABET collective bargaining agreements
• Experience with cloud-based (SaaS) Payroll applications
• Experience with managing the integration of large groups of employees from corporate acquisitions
• Experience using software, including but not limited to, PowerPoint, Word, Excel and Smartsheet
• Outstanding people skills with proven experience in cultivating cross-collaborative working relationships across an organization and ability to influence at all levels
• Proven track record of bringing teams together to develop and deliver a consistent, effective, and efficient delivery of services to internal and external stakeholders
• Expert knowledge of FLSA, federal, state and local wage and hour and tax regulations, with an emphasis on New York and California
• Aptitude for streamlining and simplifying teams, policies and processes for efficiency with an appropriate balance of internal controls
• Customer-centric mindset with a seasoned ability to confidently communicate with all levels of leadership
• Demonstrated ability building and managing highly collaborative and effective teams supporting multiple companies / business units, with a commitment to a culture of collaboration, performance, transparency, and integrity

NICE TO HAVE BUT NOT A DEALBREAKER

• Ability to interpret collective bargaining agreements for pay, benefit, and paid time off rules
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation
• Specific experience with Workday