Senior Payroll Manager

Client Overview:

Our client, a well-established service organization, is seeking a Senior Payroll Manager to join its Accounting organization. The company operates across multiple locations and legal entities and is known for a collaborative, patient-focused culture built around partnership, service, and operational excellence.

Salary/Hourly Rate:

$110k - $120k plus a 10% - 15% annual target bonus, paid quarterly

Position Overview:

The Senior Payroll Manager will lead end-to-end payroll operations for over 1,000 employees in a multi-state, multi-entity environment. The employee population is primarily hourly, and payroll is processed biweekly. This role reports to the Director of Accounting and currently manages one direct report, with the opportunity to help evaluate and shape the future payroll team structure. The Senior Payroll Manager will serve as a key Workday Payroll subject‑matter expert and strategic partner across Accounting, Finance, HR, Benefits, Legal, and Operations. This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced payroll leader who enjoys balancing hands‑on payroll operations with process improvement, systems optimization, compliance, controls, and cross‑functional partnership.

Responsibilities of the Senior Payroll Manager:

• Lead end-to-end payroll processing across multiple legal entities and multiple states.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of hourly, salaried, biweekly, and off-cycle payrolls.
• Oversee payroll operations for over 1,000 employees, with a predominantly hourly workforce.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex payroll issues, corrections, and employee inquiries.
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local payroll, tax, wage and hour, and reporting requirements.
• Serve as a key subject-matter expert for Workday Payroll, including payroll processing, audits, testing, troubleshooting, and system enhancements.
• Partner with HR to maintain data integrity across Workday Payroll, Time & Attendance, and employee records.
• Support Workday releases, payroll system enhancements, testing, and automation initiatives.
• Conduct payroll audits and identify opportunities to strengthen controls, improve accuracy, and reduce manual processes.
• Record payroll activity in the general ledger and reconcile payroll-related accounts.
• Manage payroll accruals, labor cost allocations, reconciliations, and wage and salary variance analysis.
• Partner with Accounting and Finance on month-end close activities and payroll reporting.
• Provide payroll data, reporting, and analysis to support business and financial decision-making.
• Support internal and external audits, including payroll and 401(k) audits.
• Oversee payroll-related benefit deductions and partner with HR and Benefits to resolve discrepancies.
• Support retirement plan reporting, annual compliance testing, and payroll-related benefits administration.
• Lead, coach, and develop Payroll team members.
• Build effective working relationships across HR, Accounting, Finance, Legal, Benefits, and Operations.
• Develop and maintain payroll procedures, controls, documentation, and best practices.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, scalability, automation, and the overall employee payroll experience.

Required Experience/Skills for the Senior Payroll Manager:

• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience.
• Strong hands‑on experience with cloud‑based payroll systems.
• Experience managing payroll in a multi‑state environment.
• Experience supporting multiple legal entities.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• Advanced knowledge of payroll taxes, wage and hour laws, and payroll compliance.
• Experience with payroll accounting, general ledger activity, and account reconciliations.
• Experience supporting a large employee population.
• Strong Excel skills and ability to analyze complex payroll data.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to payroll accuracy.
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to partner effectively with HR, Finance, Accounting, Benefits, Legal, and business leaders.
• Ability to manage confidential and highly sensitive employee information with sound judgment.

Preferred Experience/Skills for the Senior Payroll Manager:

• Healthcare industry experience.
• Experience supporting payroll for 1,000+ employees.
• Experience managing payroll across multiple states.
• Experience working within a multi‑entity organization.
• Experience with Sage Intacct or another general ledger/accounting system.
• Experience with Workday Time & Attendance.
• Experience supporting payroll system enhancements, releases, testing, or automation initiatives.
• Experience leading or mentoring payroll professionals.
• Experience supporting internal, external, and 401(k) audits.

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field is preferred.
• Equivalent payroll experience may also be considered.

Benefits:

• Competitive benefits package including health and wellness benefits.
• Retirement offerings.
• Paid time off and additional employee benefits.
• Full benefits details will be provided during the interview process.