Summary of Role/Position
The Accounting Manager / Payroll Manager is a hands-on finance leadership role responsible for the accuracy and integrity of CarParts.com's day-to-day accounting operations, including cash management, journal entries, account reconciliations, and month-end/year-end close, while also directing the company's payroll function. This role ensures accurate and compliant multi-state payroll processing, strong internal controls, and timely, audit-ready financial reporting. The Accounting Manager / Payroll Manager partners closely with the Corporate Controller, CFO, HR, and cross-functional teams to keep the general ledger accurate and payroll operations running smoothly.
This is an onsite role located in our Long Beach, CA headquarters. Key Responsibilities
Accounting & Financial Reporting- Perform month-end and year-end close activities, including journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, and financial reporting support.
- Manage daily cash forecasting activities and oversee cash posting accuracy, bank funding, and monthly bank reconciliations.
- Prepare and review complex account reconciliations, including bank accounts, payroll accounts, intercompany transactions, and general ledger balances.
- Conduct financial and payroll variance analysis, researching discrepancies and implementing corrective actions.
- Prepare and post recurring and non-recurring journal entries (e.g., commission and bonus accruals, consulting allocations, prepaid reclasses, and other operating accruals), ensuring accurate coding and timely reversal where applicable.
- Prepare and issue annual IRS Forms 1099 to vendors, ensuring accurate entity classification and timely filing.
- Support SOX-compliant accounting and payroll controls, maintaining documentation for internal and external audits.
- Identify opportunities for process improvement, automation, and standardization across accounting and payroll workflows.
Payroll Leadership & Operations- Lead end-to-end payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
- Serve as subject matter expert for ADP Workforce Now, including payroll processing, system maintenance, troubleshooting, and payroll data integrity.
- Review and validate payroll runs, earnings, deductions, tax withholdings, garnishments, and benefit contributions prior to payroll finalization.
- Partner closely with HR, Finance, and operational leadership to ensure accurate employee data flow and payroll processing for employee lifecycle events.
- Lead payroll account reconciliations and review payroll-related journal entries for general ledger accuracy.
- Process and reconcile payroll related to stock compensation programs, including RSU and ESPP transactions, ensuring accurate taxation, withholdings, reporting, and compliance within payroll and financial systems.
- Lead annual 401(k), workers' compensation, and financial audits, ensuring timely and accurate reporting.
- Research payroll tax and compliance regulations, ensuring ongoing adherence to evolving multi-state payroll requirements.
- Supervise and mentor payroll staff, fostering accountability, collaboration, and operational excellence.
Cross-Functional Collaboration- Work closely with HR, Finance, Data & Catalogue, and operational teams to align priorities, streamline processes, and achieve business objectives.
- Respond to inquiries and requests for payroll and accounting data or reports from internal stakeholders and external agencies.
- Assist and resolve payroll and accounting issues raised by employees, managers, and auditors.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required; CPA and/or CPP a plus.
- 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, including month-end close, account reconciliations, and general ledger management.
- Proven experience managing or leading multi-state payroll operations; ADP Workforce Now experience strongly preferred.
- Strong working knowledge of GAAP, payroll tax regulations, and SOX-compliant control environments.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, extract insights, and make data-driven decisions.
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across internal and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrated leadership ability, including experience supervising and mentoring staff.
- Ability to manage competing deadlines and maintain a high level of detail and accuracy under pressure.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, ERP systems (e.g., Microsoft D365), and payroll platforms.
A reasonable salary estimate based on education, experience, and geographical location is: $130,000-$165,000
The above-noted job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that may be assigned but rather to give the incumbent a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of his/her position. As the nature of business demands change so, too, may the essential functions of this position.
