Payroll Manager

Job Description Summary: The Payroll Manager provides functional oversight and strategic leadership for payroll operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll administration. This position establishes payroll priorities, policies, controls, and performance expectations; oversees payroll tax compliance, financial reconciliation, reporting, systems, vendor relationships, and year-end activities; and leads the payroll team in identifying and managing operational risks and process improvements. The Payroll Manager partners with Human Resources, Finance, and other stakeholders to support effective payroll governance and business operations. Job Description: Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following (other duties may be assigned): Leadership and Payroll Oversight · Oversee the end-to-end payroll function, establishing priorities, operating standards, and strategic direction to support accurate and timely payroll delivery. · Lead, coach, and evaluate payroll team members; establish accountability for performance, capacity, deadlines, and quality of work. · Provide guidance and escalation support on complex payroll matters and ensure timely resolution of significant operational issues. Compliance, Tax and Risk Management · Oversee payroll tax compliance, required filings, and deposits across applicable federal, state, and local jurisdictions. · Establish and maintain payroll controls, compliance procedures, and audit readiness; assess payroll-related risks and implement corrective measures. · Monitor changes in payroll laws and regulations, evaluate their impact, and direct necessary process or policy updates. Finance Partnership and Reconciliation · Partner with Finance on payroll-to-general-ledger reconciliation, financial reporting, and resolution of material variances. · Oversee payroll funding, accruals, and related financial controls; address significant reconciliation issues and provide accurate payroll information for financial reporting. Projects, Systems and Process Improvement · Lead major payroll projects, including system implementations, upgrades, and changes, establishing project priorities, governance, and accountability. · Establish payroll systems strategy and oversee payroll vendor relationships, service delivery, and performance. · Identify and implement process improvements that strengthen payroll accuracy, compliance, controls, and operational efficiency. Reporting and Governance · Establish, maintain, and update payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls. · Define payroll key performance indicators, monitor team and operational performance, and provide management reporting on trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement. Year-End Oversight · Lead the year-end payroll process, establishing timelines, deliverables, and cross-functional responsibilities. · Oversee the review and approval of Forms W-2 and related year-end reporting to ensure accurate and timely completion. · Partner with internal stakeholders and vendors to manage year-end dependencies, resolve issues, and meet reporting deadlines. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Requirements: · Comprehensive knowledge of full-cycle payroll operations, payroll tax compliance, controls, audit readiness, and applicable federal, state, and local requirements. · Ability to lead payroll operations and systems initiatives, oversee vendor relationships, and implement effective process improvements. · Strong commitment to detail and accuracy in all aspects of payroll operations, processing and reporting. · Strong analytical judgment, risk assessment, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional partnership skills. · Demonstrated leadership and people-management skills, including setting priorities, coaching employees, managing performance, and maintaining accountability. · Ability to manage competing priorities and recurring deadlines while maintaining confidentiality, data security, and high standards of accuracy. · Uphold confidentiality and ensure data security for all payroll information, adhering to organizational standards and regulatory requirements. · Ability to work collaboratively with HR, finance, and other departments to gather necessary information and resolve payroll-related issues. Education and/or Experience Requirements: · Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Payroll Tax, or in any related field. Qualifying experience may be substituted with two years of related experience for each year of education. · A minimum of six (6) years of experience managing full-cycle payroll processing and tax compliance for federal, state, and local authorities. · Requires recent experience with Workday Payroll, including proficiency in processing payroll and managing payroll- related data within the system.