Manager, Payroll Operations

Payroll Manager

Be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of talent at New York Life. As part of Human Resources, you'll contribute to a comprehensive strategy that attracts, develops and retains top talent. Whether it's identifying future leaders, crafting engaging learning experiences, enhancing offerings that support our people or fostering a workplace culture where everyone feels they belong, your work directly empowers individuals and fuels the company's growth. Join us and play a vital role in making New York Life an employer of choice for generations to come.

Position Summary

The Payroll Manager is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of New York Life's biweekly payroll for approximately 13,000 employees. This role leads the day-to-day payroll operation, supervising two New York Life employees and coordinating the work of two offshore resources to ensure payroll is processed in a timely, accurate, and compliant manner.

The Payroll Manager oversees payroll operations within SAP Employee Central Payroll (ECP), ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. The role establishes team priorities, maintains operational controls, delivers a high level of customer service, and supports payroll system enhancements through testing for SAP releases, configuration changes, and new wage type implementations.

What You'll Do:

• Manage the end-to-end processing of biweekly payroll for approximately 13,000 employees using SAP Employee Central Payroll (ECP).
• Supervise, coach, and develop two New York Life employees while coordinating the work and deliverables of two offshore resources.
• Establish team priorities, manage the payroll calendar, and ensure all payroll processing activities, approvals, and regulatory deadlines are completed accurately and on time.
• Ensure payroll is processed accurately, timely, and in compliance with company policies and all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Oversee payroll operations including biweekly payroll processing, overtime validation, employee terminations and final pay processing, direct deposit administration, garnishment administration, unemployment claims processing, payroll adjustments, and off-cycle payrolls.
• Review payroll results, identify discrepancies, resolve issues, and approve payroll prior to completion.
• Monitor the Payroll team mailbox to ensure employee inquiries, service requests, and payroll transactions are assigned, tracked, and resolved accurately, professionally, and within established service level expectations.
• Monitor payroll metrics and operational controls to ensure compliance with service level agreements (SLAs), audit requirements, established payroll procedures, and internal controls.
• Partner with HR Central, HRIS, Benefits, Finance, Tax, Technology, and other business partners to resolve payroll issues, implement process improvements, and support business initiatives.
• Participate in testing for SAP Employee Central Payroll (ECP) releases, enhancements, configuration changes, and new wage type implementations by developing test scenarios, validating results, documenting defects, and supporting user acceptance testing (UAT).
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, strengthen controls, increase operational efficiency, and enhance the employee experience.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience preferred.
• Five or more years of progressive payroll operations experience, including processing payroll for a large employee population.
• Prior experience supervising employees and/or managing offshore resources.
• Experience with SAP Employee Central Payroll (ECP) or SAP Payroll.
• Strong working knowledge of end-to-end payroll processing, overtime administration, employee terminations and final pay requirements, direct deposit administration, garnishments, unemployment administration, and payroll tax and regulatory compliance.
• Experience supporting payroll system testing, system upgrades, and user acceptance testing.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to build effective working relationships across the organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.
• Experience with SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central.
• Experience working in a large, complex corporate environment supporting high-volume payroll operations.
• Knowledge of payroll controls, audit practices, and continuous process improvement methodologies.

Pay Transparency

Salary Range: $81,000-$104,000

Overtime eligible: Exempt

Discretionary bonus eligible: Yes

Sales bonus eligible: No

Actual base salary will be determined based on several factors but not limited to individual's experience, skills, qualifications, and job location. Additionally, employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition to base salary, employees may also be eligible to participate in an incentive program.