Payroll Manager

Sr. Payroll Consultant
Description
Role Overview: The client has an urgent need for an experienced Payroll Manager / Senior Payroll Consultant to step in quickly and stabilize day-to-day payroll operations while the organization works through an acquisition, payroll harmonization, and Dayforce transition. This person will support a green payroll team, keep payroll moving accurately and on time, review payroll outputs, help troubleshoot issues, and provide experienced guidance during a high-change period. This is primarily a contract opportunity with potential to convert, but the immediate priority is getting a strong payroll resource in place quickly.
Expected Duration: Approximately 6-7 months, with potential for longer-term need or conversion
Location: Mostly remote; may require periodic onsite meetings in Auburn Hills, MI, especially early in the engagement or during project milestones
Travel: Under 10%; potential for limited domestic or international travel in the future, but most work should be remote
Systems: Dayforce strongly preferred; UKG, ADP, Workday, or Ceridian experience may be considered if Dayforce becomes a roadblock
Payroll Scope: Primarily U.S. and Canada payroll operations; global payroll awareness is preferred but may be flexible for the contract role
Employee Population: Approximately 3,800 employees across U.S. and Canada payroll today; global population around 5,300 and growing
Payroll Team: Eight payroll team members reporting into this role
Key Responsibilities:
Keep day-to-day payroll operations moving accurately and on time during a period of acquisition integration and team transition
Review payroll results prepared by payroll specialists, including payroll registers, exceptions, deductions, taxes, funding, and gross-to-net calculations
Provide direction and support to an eight-person payroll team that is still developing broader payroll knowledge
Help troubleshoot payroll issues related to timekeeping, pay codes, overtime, union rules, employee data, deductions, taxes, and payroll corrections
Support weekly union payroll, biweekly payroll, and semi-monthly payroll while the organization works toward payroll frequency harmonization
Partner with HR, HRIS, Finance, plant leadership, and payroll team members to resolve payroll issues quickly
Assist with payroll harmonization as the company works to move one population into another Dayforce environment
Help create consistent payroll processes across legacy company groups
Support payroll testing, reporting, troubleshooting, and transition activities as needed
Ensure compliance with multi-state payroll requirements and union payroll rules
Provide experienced payroll judgment and recommendations rather than waiting for step-by-step direction
Help stabilize the team, identify process gaps, and escalate risks before they create payroll issues
Remote except for maybe one day/week
M-F 8am - 5pm
Skills
Payroll, Dayforce, Payroll processing, Data entry, Adp
Top Skills Details
Payroll,Dayforce,Payroll processing,Data entry,Adp
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Must-Have Qualifications:
Strong payroll experience with legitimate progressive payroll experience; payroll must be the core of their career, not primarily HR or benefits
Multi-state U.S. payroll experience required
Dayforce payroll experience strongly preferred; client may flex to Ceridian, UKG, ADP, or Workday if the candidate is otherwise strong
Experience reviewing payroll, validating accuracy, identifying discrepancies, and ensuring payroll is completed on time
Ability to support a green payroll team and provide hands-on guidance, coaching, and day-to-day leadership
Experience with hourly and salaried payroll populations
Union payroll experience strongly preferred; client has 10+ unions / CBAs
Strong compliance knowledge around payroll tax, wage and hour requirements, deductions, garnishments, overtime, pay practices, and payroll controls
Ability to work in a high-change, high-volume environment and jump in quickly with minimal ramp-up
Nice-to-Have Qualifications:
Global payroll exposure; Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, and Canada experience would be especially helpful
Payroll harmonization, acquisition integration, or M&A experience
HRIS implementation, payroll system migration, testing, or configuration exposure
Manufacturing payroll experience
CPP certification
Experience supporting payroll process improvement, documentation, and standardization
Experience working with multiple legal entities, locations, pay groups, and payroll frequencies
Experience Level
Expert Level
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Auburn Hills, MI.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $50.00/hr.
Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully remote position.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 16, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing\u00AE Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.