Director, Payroll

About the A's:

The A's are a baseball team founded in 1901. They have a rich history, having won nine World Series championships and 15 American League pennants. The A's are known for pioneering the "Moneyball" approach to team-building, which focuses on using statistical analysis to identify undervalued players.

In addition to their success on the field, the A's also have a positive and dynamic work culture. They have been recognized twice as the Front Office Sports, Best Employers in Sports.

The A’s are defined by their core pillars of being Dynamic, Innovative, and Inclusive. Working for the A's offers the opportunity to be part of an innovative organization that values its employees and strives to create a positive work environment.

Description:

The Director, Payroll is responsible for executing end-to-end payroll operations across the Athletics organization. This role ensures payroll accuracy and compliance across highly complex compensation structures, including variable pay, bonuses, incentives, multi-state taxation, and contractual earnings. 

This leader will own payroll systems strategy and serve as a key functional partner to Finance, People Operations, Legal, and Information Technology. The ideal candidate brings deep technical payroll expertise, systems proficiency, and a strong understanding of payroll data workflows, integrations, and compliance within a high-volume, multi-entity environment. 

Responsibilities:

• Own the end-to-end payroll operating model, including design, configuration, execution, and optimization across all employee populations (full-time staff, baseball operations personnel, game-day, and seasonal employees)
• Ensure accurate processing of complex compensation structures, including base pay, variable compensation, bonuses, incentives, and contract-based payments
• Calculate and process complex player payroll, including contract-based compensation, performance incentives, bonuses, and varied compensation structures 
• Own payroll system configuration, optimization, and ongoing administration within ADP Workforce Now (and related modules), including integration management, data interfaces, and workflows across HRIS, Finance, and time and attendance systems
• Review, identify, and implement system enhancements to ensure seamless payroll data flow across platforms to improve efficiency and reduce manual data entry 
• Establish and maintain comprehensive payroll controls, including audit trails, reconciliation frameworks, and reporting
• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, local, and jurisdictional tax regulations, including multi-state taxation
• Oversee payroll compliance with Major League Baseball rules and league-specific compensation requirements
• Lead payroll audit strategy, including reconciliations and reporting to ensure accuracy and data integrity               
• Own payroll reporting, including standard reporting, analytics, and dashboards (payroll cost, accruals, etc.)
• Oversee year-end processing, including W-2s, reconciliations, tax filings, and year-end configuration in systems
• Develop and enforce payroll policies and SOPs aligned with compliance and operational best practices
• Serve as escalation point for complex payroll calculations, system issues, and compensation inquiries
• Lead and develop a high-performing payroll team
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred
• 8-10+ years of progressive payroll experience in multi-state/multi-entity environments
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing payroll teams and/or payroll operations functions 
• Hands-on experience administering payroll for multiple compensation structures (e.g., contracts, union wages, bonuses, incentives, and variable pay) within a multi-state or multi-entity environment 
• Strong technical experience with payroll systems; ADP Workforce Now strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of HRIS integrations and financial systems (GL mapping, cost centers, etc.)
• Advanced knowledge of multi-state taxation, wage & hour compliance, and complex compensation structures 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, etc.) and reporting tools
• Proficiency with Google Workspace (Sheets, Docs, Slides)
• High level of accuracy, discretion, and ability to manage sensitive and confidential data 
• Demonstrated ability to lead process improvements, and system enhancements
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills
• Experience with payroll audits and compliance processes
• Experience in sports, entertainment, or similarly complex workforce environments strongly preferred 
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certified preferred

The A’s Social Impact & Belonging Statement:

Social Impact & Belonging are in our organizational DNA. Our commitment to these values is unwavering – on and off the field. Together, we continue to build an inclusive, innovative, and dynamic culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates belonging and amplifies all voices. Combining a collaborative and innovative work environment with talented team members, we've created a workforce in which every team member has the tools to reach their full potential.

Equal Opportunity Consideration:

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.