Senior Payroll Manager

Senior Payroll Manager

Location: Tacoma, Washington

Position Overview

Our client, an established and growing organization with operations across multiple locations, is seeking an experienced Senior Payroll Manager to lead and enhance its payroll function. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for a payroll professional who thrives in complex, multi-state environments and brings a strong combination of technical payroll expertise, people leadership, and process improvement experience. The Senior Payroll Manager will oversee payroll operations across multiple business units, manage and develop a team of payroll professionals, and play a key role in improving payroll systems, processes, and controls.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee payroll operations across multiple business units, states, and employee populations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and regulatory compliance.
• Manage complex payroll structures involving multiple pay frequencies, union and nonunion employees, and varying compensation arrangements.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and development to payroll professionals across multiple locations.
• Drive payroll system enhancements, integrations, automation, and process improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including tax reporting, wage and hour requirements, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Collaborate with Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, and operational leadership to resolve payroll issues and maintain effective internal controls.
• Oversee payroll reconciliations, reporting, general ledger integrations, and year-end payroll activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, strengthen payroll procedures, and support continued organizational growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field required.
• 10+ years of progressive payroll experience, including extensive multi-state payroll administration.
• 5+ years of payroll management or leadership experience preferred.
• Strong experience managing complex payroll operations across multiple entities, jurisdictions, and employee classifications.
• Experience administering union payroll and collective bargaining agreements strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with payroll systems, ideally ADP, including experience with system implementations, integrations, or process improvements.
• Strong understanding of payroll taxation, regulatory compliance, payroll accounting, and internal controls.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop payroll teams.
• Excellent communication, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation preferred.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Leadership Impact: Take ownership of a complex payroll function with significant visibility across the organization.
• Strategic Initiatives: Play an integral role in payroll technology improvements, system integration, and operational efficiencies.
• Career Growth: Join an established organization offering the opportunity to expand responsibilities and influence payroll strategy.
• Collaborative Environment: Partner closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams while developing a strong