Payroll & Expense Manager (Arlington)

This role is based in Arlington, VA. On-site presence is required.

About the Company

Join a leading independent power producer at the forefront of renewable energy development. With a footprint across Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky, our client develops, constructs, and operates utility-scale solar energy projects. As a subsidiary of a publicly traded Israeli clean energy firm with over 1GW commissioned and a 7GW pipeline globally, the company is shaping the future of sustainable power in the U.S. and beyond.

We are seeking an experienced, detail-oriented, and hands-on Payroll & Expense Manager to take full ownership of payroll operations and corporate credit card expense management for the company's U.S. business.

The successful candidate will manage end-to-end payroll processing through Paylocity, ensuring accurate and timely payments, regulatory compliance, effective internal controls, and reliable payroll reporting and reconciliations.

The role also oversees corporate credit card expense reporting, reconciliations, policy compliance, and accurate accounting treatment. This position requires strong accountability, attention to detail, independent problem-solving, and effective collaboration across Finance, HR, and other business functions.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

Payroll Management

• Own and manage end-to-end biweekly payroll processing across three U.S. entities, currently covering approximately 120 employees, using Paylocity.
• Review and validate payroll inputs, including new hires, terminations, compensation changes, bonuses, deductions, benefits, and payroll adjustments.
• Manage payroll calculations, off-cycle payments, final paychecks, corrections, and employee payroll records.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including wage and hour requirements, tax withholding, and reporting obligations.
• Coordinate with Paylocity and external providers on payroll processing, tax filings, year-end reporting, and issue resolution.
• Manage year-end payroll activities, including W-2 preparation, payroll reconciliations, and coordination with Finance and HR.
• Prepare payroll reports, reconcile payroll registers to accounting records, and coordinate accurate payroll expense recording.
• Support payroll audits, internal control reviews, and compliance inquiries.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee payroll questions and resolve issues promptly.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen payroll processes, controls, automation, and operational efficiency while maintaining confidentiality of employee information.

Corporate Credit Card & Expense Management

• Own corporate credit card expense reporting and reconciliation processes across three main corporate credit cards.
• Monitor expense report submissions, receipts, and supporting documentation.
• Review expenses for accuracy, appropriate coding, approvals, and compliance with company policies.
• Coordinate with cardholders and department managers to resolve outstanding transactions and documentation issues.
• Perform or oversee monthly credit card reconciliations and resolve discrepancies.
• Partner with Accounting to ensure accurate and timely recording of expenses in the general ledger.
• Maintain expense policies, approval requirements, and internal controls.
• Prepare periodic reports on outstanding expenses, policy exceptions, and compliance trends.
• Recommend and implement improvements to expense management processes and systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant payroll experience, including direct responsibility for U.S. payroll processing.
• Strong understanding of U.S. payroll regulations, payroll taxes, deductions, and federal and state compliance requirements.
• Experience with payroll accounting, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial data analysis.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to meet critical deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate with employees, management, and external providers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Paylocity or a comparable payroll platform.
• Experience processing payroll across multiple U.S. states.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.
• Experience with Oracle or another enterprise ERP system.
• Experience working within a growing, multi-entity organization.
• Familiarity with payroll and expense-related internal controls and audit requirements.