Payroll Manager

American Automobile Association

$160K — $214K *
Business Services
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years in corporate payroll operations with multi-state experience
  • 3+ years managing payroll for 10,000+ employees
  • Proficient in Workday Payroll for cycle execution and reporting
  • Experience collaborating with HR Technology teams on system configurations
  • In-depth knowledge of multi-state tax regulations and FLSA compliance
  • Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and Workday Report Writer
  • Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation preferred

Responsibilities

  • Own and execute payroll processing cycle for 17,000+ employees
  • Audit payroll inputs for calculation accuracy
  • Oversee management of deductions including taxes and garnishments
  • Conduct audits to validate payroll outputs and analyze variances
  • Act as the strategic owner for Workday Payroll module
  • Work with HR Technology on pay code setups and deductions
  • Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations
  • Maintain internal controls and support SOX compliance audits
  • Lead a team of payroll specialists ensuring service delivery
  • Handle escalated employee payroll inquiries

Benefits

  • Health coverage for medical, dental, vision
  • 401(K) saving plans with company match and pension
  • Tuition assistance for further education
  • Flexible PTO and floating holidays for volunteering
  • Paid parental leave for new parents
  • Wellness programs to support employee health
  • Employee discounts on various services and memberships
Full Job Description
Payroll Manager

The Payroll Manager directs day-to-day operations and executes end-to-end, multi-state payroll processing for a workforce of 17,000+ employees. This role functions as the business owner of the Workday Payroll system, driving operational cycle execution, data integrity, and strict regulatory compliance. Instead of hands-on system configuration, the manager collaborates with the HR Technology team as a functional expert to validate system behavior and advise on pay code logic.

WhatYoullDo:

  • Cycle Execution: Own and execute the end-to-end multi-state payroll processing cycle for 17,000+ exempt and non-exempt employees.

  • Data Integrity: Audit all payroll inputs, master data changes, and hours tracking files to ensure flawless calculation accuracy before finalizing cycles.

  • Deduction Management: Oversee the accurate execution of voluntary and involuntary deductions, including benefits, 401(k), tax levies, and multi-state garnishments.

  • System Results Review: Conduct comprehensive pre- and post-payroll audits using system reports to analyze variances and validate final financial outputs.

  • Business Ownership: Serve as the primary functional owner of the Workday Payroll module, defining business requirements and testing outcomes for system changes.

  • Tech Collaboration: Partner with the HR Technology team to advise analysts on required pay code setups, earnings logic, and specific deduction configurations.

  • Tax Compliance: Oversee multi-state, local, and federal tax filings, including W-2 balancing, payroll audits, and resolving tax agency notices across all applicable US jurisdictions.

  • Compliance Management: Ensure continuous adherence to federal, state, and local payroll regulations, tax nexus rules, and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines.

  • Audit & Control: Maintain rigorous internal controls, lead SOX compliance audits, and reconcile payroll registers against general ledger (GL) accounting strings.

  • Team Leadership: Manage and develop a team of operational payroll specialists to maintain service delivery metrics and handle escalated employee inquiries.

WhatYoullNeed:

  • Experience: Minimum of 5 years of corporate payroll operations experience, with at least 3 years managing a multi-state workforce of 10,000+ employees.

  • Workday Proficiency: Strong experience utilizing Workday Payroll as an operator to run cycles, extract reports, and review processing results.

  • Functional Collaboration: Demonstrated success partnering with HR Technology or IT teams to test, refine, and sign off on system configuration logic.

  • Regulatory Expertise: Comprehensive knowledge of multi-state tax regulations, wage-and-hour laws, and payroll accounting principles.

  • Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, complex formulas) and Workday Report Writer.

  • Analytical Skills: Advanced ability to evaluate complex payroll data sets, spot anomalies, and resolve processing discrepancies under tight deadlines.

  • Certifications: Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation is highly preferred.

  • Education: Bachelors degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or an equivalent combination of work experience.

The starting pay range for this position is:

$160,500.00 - $214,100.00

Additionally, for full time positions, you will be eligible to participate in our incentive program based upon the achievement of organization, team and personal performance.

.

Remarkable benefits:
 Health coverage for medical, dental, vision

 401(K) saving plans with company match AND Pension

 Tuition assistance

 Floating holidays and PTO for community volunteer programs

 Paid parental leave

 Wellness programs

 Employee discounts (membership, insurance,

travel, entertainment, services and more!)

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