Payroll Lead / Director of Payroll — Denver Metro, Colorado | Pacific Executive Search

Payroll Lead / Director of Payroll

(Job ID: 1946)

Denver Metro, Colorado

Hybrid

Direct Hire

Energy

$150,000 – $175,000 base

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Overview

Join a dynamic organization as a Payroll Lead / Director of Payroll, where you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the accuracy and timeliness of payroll processing. This position offers a unique opportunity for career growth and professional development within a collaborative and innovative work environment. We value flexibility and integrity, and you will be part of a team that is committed to excellence and compliance in payroll operations.

Responsibilities

Oversee and manage all payroll functions, ensuring timely and accurate processing of payroll transactions, including salaries, benefits, and deductions.
Implement and maintain payroll processing systems to enhance efficiency and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
Supervise the payroll team, providing training, performance evaluations, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Prepare and maintain accurate payroll records and reports, facilitating audits by providing necessary documentation.
Ensure compliance with payroll laws and best practices, proactively identifying areas for process improvement.
Collaborate with HR and finance departments to manage payroll updates, including new hires, terminations, and pay rate changes.
Evaluate and recommend updates to payroll software and systems to optimize operations.

Qualifications

Must-Have: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field.
Must-Have: 3-5 years of experience in payroll management or a related field.
Must-Have: Extensive knowledge of payroll functions, including preparation, balancing, and payroll taxes.
Must-Have: Proficiency in payroll software and Microsoft Office Suite.
Nice-to-Have: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a keen attention to detail.
Nice-to-Have: Experience with ERP systems such as SAP or NetSuite.
Nice-to-Have: Strong supervisory and leadership skills, with a focus on team development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Accounting Manager hires fail?
Because companies hire for close execution when the real need is issue ownership and team leadership. Many candidates can manage a checklist. Far fewer can stabilize the function under pressure, improve weak processes, coach staff, and hold the line during audit, turnover, or reporting stress.
What are strong Accounting Manager candidates evaluating during the interview process?
They are usually trying to understand whether they are walking into a stable environment, a cleanup situation, or an under-resourced function. Strong candidates do not just evaluate title and compensation. They assess whether success is realistically achievable and whether leadership understands what the accounting team actually needs.
Why are SaaS accounting and finance roles different from general corporate roles?
Because recurring revenue models create different pressure points around revenue recognition, deferred revenue, forecasting, metrics, and scale. Even strong general accounting or finance candidates can struggle if they have not operated in an environment where recurring revenue and growth-stage process discipline matter.
Why does ERP experience matter so much in roles like this?
Because many accounting and finance roles are really process-and-systems roles disguised as job titles. A candidate may know the accounting, but if they cannot operate effectively inside the company's environment, ramp time becomes risk. Exact system match is not always mandatory, but comparable complexity often is.
How do strong candidates typically evaluate opportunities like this?
Strong candidates rarely evaluate a role based on title alone. They look at what the position actually owns, how the function is viewed internally, whether the environment is stable or in transition, and what success will realistically look like in the first 6 to 12 months. Many first discover a role through a posting, but the strongest career decisions usually come from understanding the context behind the opportunity, not just the job description. In accounting and finance hiring, that level of context is often what separates a lateral move from a meaningful one. Learn more about how strategic accounting and finance searches differ from transactional recruiting.
Is direct NetSuite experience actually necessary?
Not always. What matters more is whether the candidate has handled a similar level of system complexity and can adapt quickly. That said, in lean environments, cleanups, or fragile closes, direct NetSuite familiarity can materially reduce ramp risk.

Payroll Lead / Director of Payroll

Overview

Responsibilities

Qualifications

Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

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