Payroll Manager

Degenkolb Engineers

$125K — $146K *
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
  • Five or more years of progressive payroll experience, particularly in multi-state payroll processing.
  • Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements, with specific expertise in California regulations.
  • Proficient in payroll systems, data analysis, and custom reporting, with a readiness to adapt to new technology.
  • Exceptional attention to detail, organization, and communication skills; ability to handle confidential information professionally.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and ensure accurate, timely, and compliant multi-state payroll operations.
  • Prepare and submit semi-monthly payroll records to international accounting partners.
  • Manage payroll tax processes, including new jurisdictions and review of tax filings and W-2s for accuracy.
  • Oversee compensation administration activities and conduct market analysis for compensation planning.
  • Administer leave of absence programs, ensuring effective communication and coordination of returns to work.
  • Maintain robust payroll processes, identify improvement opportunities, and contribute to future payroll system implementations.
  • Supervise the HR Coordinator to ensure proper payroll-related benefit processing and audit support.

Benefits

  • Health and life insurance coverage.
  • Commuter benefits for travel expenses.
  • 401(k) plan with company profit-sharing contributions.
  • Employee ownership through a private stock plan.
  • Financial support for professional development and activities.
  • Company holidays, a generous paid time-off policy, and paid parental leave.
Full Job Description
Position Description

Our HR team is seeking an experienced, detail-oriented Payroll Manager to lead Degenkolb's multi-state payroll operations, compensation administration, and leave of absence programs. This position is responsible for ensuring accurate and timely payroll, maintaining compliant and effective payroll processes, administering retirement and incentive compensation programs, and managing team member leaves.

Working closely with the HR Director, this position will also play a key role in the firm's compensation program, including market analysis, salary ranges, annual compensation planning, and recommendations for market adjustments. The Payroll Manager will oversee the HR Coordinator supporting payroll administration and help continuously improve our payroll and compensation processes. This is a hybrid position based in either or San Francisco or Oakland offices.

Ideal Candidate: You'll thrive in this role if you:
  • Have strong multi-state payroll expertise and a commitment to accuracy and excellent service.
  • Are proactive, take initiative, and use good judgment to identify and resolve issues.
  • Enjoy looking for ways to improve processes and make things work more efficiently.
  • Are analytical and comfortable working with detailed payroll and compensation data.
  • Are organized and able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
  • Build strong working relationships and collaborate effectively with colleagues and external partners.
  • Handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead accurate, timely, and compliant multi-state payroll, including reconciliations, tax requirements, garnishments, year-end activities, reporting, and resolution of complex payroll issues.
  • Prepare and submit semi-monthly payroll records to international accounting partners for Mexico and potentially other international locations.
  • Manage payroll tax administration, including new jurisdictions and third-party administrator access, and review quarterly and annual tax filings and W-2s for accuracy.
  • Manage compensation administration in partnership with the HR Director, including market analysis, salary ranges, annual market adjustments, and incentive compensation-related payments.
  • Manage the firm's leave of absence programs, including team member communication, documentation, pay and benefit coordination, and return-to-work processes.
  • Maintain strong payroll processes, controls and SOPs, identify opportunities for improvement, and play a key role in future payroll and HR system implementations.
  • Provide direction and oversight to the HR Coordinator and ensure accurate payroll-related benefit and 401(k) processing, records, reporting, and audit support.

Minimum Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
  • Five or more years of progressive payroll experience, including processing multi-state payroll, and strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements, including California payroll and wage and hour requirements.
  • Knowledge of visa-related payroll tax treatment, including determining appropriate FICA withholding.
  • Strong payroll systems, data analysis, and custom reporting experience, and the ability to learn and adapt to new technology.
  • Excellent attention to detail, organization, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to handle confidential information appropriately.

Desired Qualifications
  • Experience with compensation analysis, salary range development, and incentive compensation.
  • Experience administering employee leaves of absence.
  • Experience with payroll system implementation, transition, or process improvement.
  • CPP or other relevant payroll certification.
  • Experience in a professional services environment.
Skills & Requirements

Compensation & Benefits

The annual salary range for this position across our offices generally falls between $125,000 and $146,000. This range is a good-faith estimate provided pursuant to applicable pay transparency laws. Actual compensation will be based on factors including work location, company geographic differentials, education, experience, and candidate qualifications.

Our benefits are designed to support your well-being, growth, and long-term connection to the firm. They include:

  • Health and life insurance


  • Commuter benefits


  • 401(k) with company profit-sharing contribution


  • Employee ownership through a privately held stock plan


  • Financial support for professional activities and development


  • Company holidays, a generous paid time off program, and paid parental leave


Application Process

Click Apply Now button and please submit your resume and a targeted cover letter (either as a merged PDF with your resume or uploaded as a separate document) describing the alignment of your background with this position.

Qualifications

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