H-1B Visa Director of Payroll Jobs
Director of Payroll jobs with H-1B visa sponsorship sit squarely in specialty occupation territory: the role requires a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, human resources, or a related field, and employers file an I-129 petition with USCIS to sponsor your status. Multi-state payroll operations often mean multiple LCA filings, so targeting employers with established H-1B visa programs matters.
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License and Certification Qualifications:
- Must hold or be eligible for a valid Georgia Educator's Certificate in Educational Leadership and/or Support Personnel License issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission Required
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification issued from the American Payroll Association Preferred
Education Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in related field Required
- Master's Degree in related field Preferred
Experience Qualifications:
- 5 years of progressively responsible experience, including supervisory responsibilities, in business administration or a related field Required
Skills Qualifications:
- High degree of skill in oral and written communications
- High degree of skill in organization and problem-solving
- Demonstrated leadership experience
- Strong knowledge of applicable payroll taxes, laws, and regulations
- Exceptional ability to communicate and work with others in an effective manner
- Ability to make executive decisions to ensure timely and accurate payrolls
- Ability to effectively analyze information and respond to questions
- Ability to understand the Payroll Services Department's role in the overall school system program
- Ability to effectively work with employees, the public, school administration, the business community, and regulatory agencies
- Ability to effectively present information to top management, school system employees, public groups, and the Board of Education
Primary Responsibilities:
Direct all activities and processes associated with providing quality payroll services in support of the vision, mission, and goals of the Gwinnett County Public Schools.
- Provide administrative leadership to the Payroll Services Department
- Direct and lead managers and staff within the department.
- Develop and administer department budgets.
- Conduct interim and final performance evaluations for direct reports.
- Seek and promote professional development opportunities for all staff within the department.
- Oversee the hiring process for all employees within the department, staffing the department with the most qualified, available personnel and utilizing all personnel in the most effective manner to maximize resources.
- Advise the Executive Director of Financial Services of pertinent details of interaction between the department and other departments, schools, and agencies.
- Direct payroll policy and procedure annual updates.
- Review, research, and revise current payroll policies and procedures.
- Research and develop new payroll policies and procedures as needed.
- Ensure that policies and procedures align with federal, state, and local mandates and they support the needs of the district.
- Oversee program development and implementation initiatives for the Payroll Services Department.
- Identify and analyze strategic employee payroll program needs of the district.
- Plan and develop employee payroll programs with a goal of achieving accurate and timely payrolls.
- Conduct continuous reviews of current payroll programs dealing with outside agencies.
- Ensure that the strategic payroll needs of the district are met.
- Direct and lead customer support and service for the department.
- Maintain effective contact with employees, school administrators, upper management, and the Board of Education.
- Provide supervisory problem resolution and communication processes to all employees.
- Recommend changes in the Payroll Services Department processes to add value and increase customer satisfaction.
- Assess customer service satisfaction and provide information to lead the Payroll Services Department in continuous improvement.
- Ensure that all employees are properly paid and given accurate and clear information regarding their pay.
- Direct processing of all payrolls for the district.
- Direct the preparation of monthly, semi-monthly, miscellaneous, substitute, disability, and Gwinnett Retirement System (GRS) payroll.
- Plan the monthly schedule to ensure promptness of leave accounting and payroll activities.
- Direct and organize issuance of all payrolls.
- Ensure that all employees are properly paid and that payrolls are processed in an efficient and effective manner.
- Direct all reporting for the payroll accounting system.
- Control net payroll benefit and tax transfers.
- Ensure proper processing of all deductions of levies, garnishments, and bankruptcies.
- Ensure that staff prepares and meets the compliance of year-end reports, W-2's, 1095-C's and 1099-R's.
- Ensure that data reported is accurate.
- Direct the leave accounting system.
- Direct and implement all changes to employee's leave.
- Direct the substitute payroll as part of the leave accounting system.
- Direct the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) payroll as part of the leave accounting system.
- Control and maintain all history and maintenance of the leave accounting system.
- Ensure all employee time is processed in accordance with federal and other applicable policies and that employees are fairly paid for work performed.
- Promote the Payroll Services Department as a vital part of the financial support system.
- Direct payroll activity with schools, divisions, departments, offices, and outside agencies.
- Maintain clear communication with the Human Resources and Technology and Innovation Divisions as required.
- Research employee problems/questions and offer viable solutions.
- Evaluate the payroll process and work with the Executive Director of Financial Services to implement revisions and improvements.
- Ensure that the Payroll Services Department supports the vision, mission, and goals of the district.
- Direct processing of the GRS payroll.
- Plan the monthly schedule to ensure timely issuance of retirement and long-term disability payroll.
- Review and approve monthly pre-listing and payroll load.
- Supervise and review the preparation of year-end reports and internal revenue forms 1099-R.
- Ensure that all retirees are paid in an accurate and timely fashion.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods of time. The employee is also required to talk, hear, stand, and walk. The employee may be required to use hands to touch, handle, feel, and/or reach. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee is required to operate a motor vehicle in performance of duties. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Director of Payroll
Align your credentials to specialty occupation standards
USCIS evaluates whether your degree field directly relates to payroll leadership. A degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or HR strengthens your case. If your degree is in an unrelated field, gather documentation showing how your coursework maps to payroll management duties.
Look up prevailing wage tiers before negotiating
Your employer must certify your offered wage meets the DOL prevailing wage for your worksite location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to find the Level III or IV wage for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks or Compensation Managers in your target city before any offer conversation.
Find sponsors through Migrate Mate by role
Search Director of Payroll roles on Migrate Mate to identify employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history in payroll and compensation functions. This surfaces active sponsors, not just companies that mention visa support in job postings without a track record.
Clarify multi-site LCA requirements with HR early
If the role requires overseeing payroll across multiple office locations, each worksite needs its own certified LCA before you work there. Raise this with the hiring team during the offer stage so your employer's immigration counsel files the correct number of LCAs from the start.
Target companies with in-house immigration counsel
Large employers with dedicated HR compliance teams process H-1B petitions faster and handle payroll-role specificity in the I-129 more reliably than companies outsourcing immigration for the first time. Ask during interviews whether the company has sponsored payroll or finance roles before.
Use O*NET to document specialty occupation duties
The O*NET profile for Compensation and Benefits Managers lists degree-level analytical and compliance duties that underpin a Director of Payroll's specialty occupation argument. Share this with your immigration attorney to build the support letter documenting why the role requires a degreed specialist.
H-1B Visa Director of Payroll: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Director of Payroll role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, the role typically qualifies. USCIS looks for a direct relationship between the job duties and a specific bachelor's degree field. Director of Payroll positions that require expertise in payroll tax compliance, multi-state wage law, and financial reporting systems support a specialty occupation finding under accounting, finance, or human resources. Employers strengthen the petition by documenting degree requirements in the job description and offer letter.
How does H-1B status work for a Director of Payroll hired across multiple office locations?
Each worksite where you perform H-1B duties requires its own certified Labor Condition Application filed with DOL before you work there. A Director of Payroll who visits regional offices regularly may need multiple LCAs covering each location. Your employer's immigration counsel should identify all anticipated worksites before filing the I-129 petition with USCIS to avoid compliance gaps.
How long does H-1B status last for a payroll director role?
H-1B status is initially granted for up to three years and can be extended to a maximum of six years. Extensions beyond six years require an approved or pending immigrant visa petition. Payroll directors pursuing permanent residence through an employer-sponsored green card process should discuss AC21 portability and PERM labor certification timelines with their immigration attorney well before the six-year limit.
What payroll certifications matter when sponsoring employers evaluate H-1B candidates?
Employers filing H-1B petitions for payroll leadership roles often look for credentials that reinforce the specialty occupation argument. The Certified Payroll Professional designation from the American Payroll Association, combined with a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance, documents that the role requires specialized knowledge beyond general clerical payroll processing, which supports the USCIS specialty occupation determination.
Where can I find Director of Payroll jobs at employers who sponsor H-1B visas?
Migrate Mate lists Director of Payroll and senior payroll leadership roles at employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history, so you can focus your applications on companies that have already demonstrated they sponsor this visa category. Filtering by role type and location helps you identify employers in your target market before investing time in a full application.