Job TitlePayroll Operations Manager
As the Payroll Operations Manager, you will own U.S. payroll operations for a multi-state manufacturing workforce: accurate and compliant processing, payroll tax, timekeeping, vendor management, internal controls, and audit readiness. You will serve as the company's subject matter expert on Workday Payroll and UKG/Kronos Workforce Management, and drives efficiency through automation, analytics, and AI-enabled tools. This is an individual contributor role with no direct reports. Works independently with guidance in only the most complex or precedent-setting matters.
Roles & Responsibilities- Deliver accurate, timely, and compliant U.S. payroll across multiple states.
- Own the payroll calendar end to end - deadlines, approvals, funding, quarter-end and year-end close, tax reconciliations, and W-2 issuance.
- Own configuration, administration, and integration of Workday Payroll and UKG/Kronos, maintaining data integrity across time, earnings, deductions, taxes, and garnishments.
- Interpret and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll and wage-and-hour requirements, including overtime, shift premiums, garnishments, and deductions affecting an hourly workforce.
- Build and maintain payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls; lead payroll audits and keep documentation audit-ready.
- Manage payroll vendors - service levels, regulatory filings, reconciliations, and issue resolution.
- Build reporting and exception dashboards that surface anomalies, trends, and compliance risk before payroll runs.
- Investigate complex payroll issues, resolve them, and correct the root cause.
- Partner with HRIS, IT, Finance, Accounting, Tax, Legal, and plant leadership on system releases, testing, integrations, acquisitions, and process changes.
- Apply automation and AI-enabled tools to improve accuracy, efficiency, and employee experience within privacy and compliance requirements.
Education- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field.
Experience- 8+ years of progressively responsible multi-state U.S. payroll and timekeeping experience, including payroll service delivery in a shared services, outsourced, or vendor-managed model.
- Hands-on Workday Payroll experience - required.
- Hands-on UKG/Kronos Workforce Management experience - required.
- Payroll tax compliance, wage and hour regulations, garnishments, deductions, reconciliations, payroll accounting, and audits.
- Payroll system implementations, upgrades, integrations, or process transitions.
- Preferred: large hourly manufacturing or industrial workforce experience; CPP certification; SOX control environment.
Functional / Technical Skills- Expert knowledge of U.S. federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
- Advanced proficiency in Workday Payroll and UKG/Kronos.
- Advanced payroll accounting - reconciliations, general ledger impacts, funding, and controls.
- Strong analytical skills; identifies anomalies and performs root cause analysis.
- Uses AI, automation, and reporting tools effectively while protecting compliance and data privacy.
- Influences stakeholders and leads cross-functional initiatives without direct authority.
- Advanced Excel and reporting capability.
- Clear communicator and project manager; works effectively across cultures, functions, and sites.
Target Hiring Range: USD 0.00 - USD 0.00
Actual compensation is commensurate with experience, skills and education.
