Payroll Compliance Manager

Position Type Full Time

Description

NOW HIRING – Payroll Compliance Manager!

Join a role where payroll is more than processing checks. As Payroll Compliance Manager, you will serve as the expert ensuring our payroll practices remain accurate, compliant, and aligned across all 50 states. From interpreting union contracts and labor laws to strengthening internal controls and advising leadership on risk, this position plays a critical role in protecting the business and supporting employees. This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys solving complex problems, partnering across departments, and driving process improvements in a fast-paced environment. If you are highly analytical, detail-oriented, and confident navigating payroll compliance, labor relations, audits, and multi-state regulations, we want to hear from you.

About PTI – Where the RIGHT way is the SAFE way:

Professional Transportation, Inc. has been providing crew transportation services for railroads since 1980 and has an industry reputation for providing quality, reliable, and safe crew transportation services. Much like a shuttle service, PTI receives around-the-clock requests from our railroad customers to pick up and drop off train crews.

Job Summary:

Responsible for ensuring full compliance with all payroll-related federal, state, and local laws and regulations. This role provides strategic oversight of payroll compliance, union contract adherence, regulatory reporting, and audit readiness, while strengthening internal controls to mitigate risk. The position partners with Payroll, HR, and Legal to ensure payroll practices are compliant, and aligned with organizational objectives.

Why Join PTI?

• Multiple health plan options, including medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance

• Paid vacation, sick time, and holiday pay, with overtime opportunities

• 401(K) retirement plan for your future

• On-the-job training—no prior experience required!

• Discounted cell phone plans with Verizon and AT&T

• Free Planet Fitness membership (Evansville, Henderson, Owensboro locations)

• Room for advancement within a rapidly expanding company

Responsibilities:

• Payroll Compliance & Regulatory Adherence

• Ensure payroll practices comply with applicable federal, state, and local labor laws and employment regulations across all 50 states

• Maintain strong working knowledge of federal and multi-state labor laws, leveraging external resources and legal guidance as needed to ensure compliance

• Ensure compliance with four (4) Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA), including interpretation and application of wage rates, benefits, and complex pay provisions

• Monitor regulatory changes impacting payroll operations and coordinate implementation of required process or policy updates

• Maintain compliance documentation supporting payroll practices and CBA adherence

• Labor Relations & Grievance Management

• Partner with HR and Legal on grievance documentation and resolution strategies

• Investigate and resolve union grievances related to payroll and contract interpretation

• Interpret, analyze, and apply complex union contract provisions to ensure accurate payroll execution, compliance, and effective resolution of labor-related matters

• Internal Controls & Audit Ownership

• Own the design, documentation, and ongoing governance of payroll-related internal controls

• Document payroll processes, leader standard work, and standard operating procedures

• Perform periodic control testing and self-assessments to ensure operating effectiveness

• Identify control gaps or compliance risks and lead remediation efforts

• Serve as the subject matter expert on payroll compliance risk, advising leadership on regulatory exposure and mitigation strategies

• Cross Functional Partnership

• Collaborate closely with Payroll, HR, Legal, and Accounting to align payroll practices with regulatory requirements and organizational policies

• Communicate directly with field management regarding payroll related issues, policy interpretation, and compliance concerns affecting employees

• Labor Cost Analysis & Reporting

• Maintain and govern driver pay rate tables to ensure alignment with union contract provisions and compliance with wage and hour regulations

• Conduct labor cost modeling, including wage increases, contract changes, and operational scenarios

• Develop executive level analyses and recommendations to support strategic labor decisions

• Partner with Accounting and Operations to evaluate labor cost trends and identify optimization opportunities

• Process Improvement and Systems

• Lead initiatives to improve payroll processes, controls, and operation efficiency

• Support payroll system enhancements and implementations, including setup, testing, data validation, and go live support

• Ensure payroll systems are configured and maintained to support compliance with union agreements and multi-state regulations

This does not necessarily list all responsibilities, duties, requirements, or efforts associated with the job. While this list is intended to be an accurate reflection of the job, the company reserves the right to review and modify the functions, duties, and requirements of the job or to require that additional or different tasks be performed as circumstances or business needs require.

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate would have:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or a related field preferred

Experience:

• 5+ years of experience in payroll compliance, audit, or payroll operations in a multi-state environment

• Experience working with unionized workforces or collective bargaining agreements strongly preferred

• Experience performing wage and labor cost analysis

Other Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, & Competencies:\

• Strong understanding of payroll controls and multi-state labor law compliance

• Excellent documentation, organization, and cross-functional communication skills

• Strong working knowledge of payroll regulations and wage and hour laws

• Proficiency in payroll systems and HRIS platforms, with experience using systems such as Paycom, ADP, Paylocity, Paychex, UKG, Workday, or similar

• Advanced Excel skills, including the ability to analyze data, reconcile discrepancies, and maintain accurate records

• Strong understanding of payroll controls, labor law compliance, and audit processes

• Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to audit payroll data and identify variances

• Ability to handle highly confidential and sensitive information with discretion, professionalism, and integrity

• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment

• Effective problem-solving skills with the ability to investigate and resolve payroll issues efficiently

• Experience supporting multi-state payroll operations preferred

AAP/EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity Employer/Drug-Free Workplace: PTI is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We adhere to a policy of making employment decisions without regard to race, color, age, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, ancestry, medical condition, marital status, gender identity citizenship status, veteran status, disability, or veteran status. PTI has a Drug-Free Workplace Policy in effect that is strictly adhered to.