Payroll Manager

Job Overview An MRA member is seeking a Payroll Manager to oversee and execute accurate, compliant, and timely payroll operations for a multi-state workforce within a mid-sized organization. This role serves as the subject matter expert for payroll compliance across federal, state, and local jurisdictions and ensures payroll practices align with applicable wage and hour laws, tax regulations, and reporting requirements. The Payroll Manager collaborates with Human Resources, Benefits, Finance, Accounting, IT, and other departments to ensure seamless payroll processing, accurate benefit deductions, proper taxation, and reliable data integration between systems. This position supports process improvement, audits, and employee service while maintaining confidentiality and high accuracy. Location: onsite in the west suburbs of Milwaukee, WI. Salary range: $90,000 - $95,000 annually. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Payroll Operations & Compliance: Manage end-to-end payroll processing for a multi-state employee population, including exempt, non-exempt, commissioned, and incentive-based pay. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll laws, including wage and hour rules, paid leave requirements, garnishments, and state-specific tax regulations. Maintain accurate payroll tax setup, withholding, filing, and reconciliation across multiple jurisdictions. Oversee year-end payroll activities, including W-2 issuance, audits, and reconciliation. Monitor regulatory changes impacting payroll and proactively implement required updates. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Benefits and HR to ensure accurate benefit deductions, retro adjustments, and payroll-benefits reconciliation. Collaborate with Finance and Accounting on payroll funding, general ledger reconciliation, accruals, and financial reporting. Work with HR on new hires, terminations, job changes, and leave activity to ensure payroll accuracy. Coordinate with IT and vendors on payroll system integrations, upgrades, and issue resolution. Process Improvement & Vendor Management: Evaluate and improve payroll processes to increase efficiency, accuracy, and compliance. Serve as primary contact for Payroll functions in UKG and third-party tax vendors. Support payroll audits, internal controls, and documentation requirements. Develop and maintain payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls. Employee Support & Reporting: Act as escalation point for payroll-related inquiries, discrepancies, and corrections. Provide guidance to employees and managers regarding payroll practices, pay statements, and deductions. Prepare payroll reports and analytics for leadership and cross-functional partners. Maintain payroll records in compliance with retention and privacy requirements. Leadership & Oversight: Train, mentor, and support payroll staff or cross-functional partners involved in payroll processes. Ensure payroll workflows are well documented and business-continuity plans are in place. Promote a collaborative, service-oriented approach across departments. Competencies Multi-State Payroll Expertise - In-depth knowledge of payroll processing across multiple states, including taxation, wage laws, and compliance requirements. Compliance & Risk Management - Strong understanding of FLSA, state wage and hour laws, payroll tax regulations, garnishments, and reporting requirements. Attention to Detail - Exceptional accuracy in payroll processing, audits, reconciliations, and reporting. Collaboration & Communication - Clear communicator who works effectively with HR, Benefits, Finance, Accounting, vendors, and employees. Confidentiality & Integrity - Handles sensitive employee and payroll data with discretion and high ethical standards. Problem Solving - Proactively identifies payroll issues and implements timely, compliant solutions. Technology Proficiency - Strong user of payroll platforms, HRIS systems, and Excel for reconciliation, audits, and reporting, preferably in UKG. Time Management - Effectively manages competing deadlines in a strict payroll calendar environment. Leadership & Accountability - Demonstrates ownership of payroll outcomes while fostering teamwork and cross-departmental alignment. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Ability to analyze payroll data, identify discrepancies, assess impact of regulatory changes, and recommend improvements. Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax and wage laws. Advanced Excel skills for reconciliation and reporting. Understanding of commission, incentive, draw, and bonus structures. Familiarity with internal and external payroll audits, document retention, and SOX-related payroll controls. Working knowledge of FMLA, state-specific paid leave programs, disability programs, and their payroll implications. Knowledge of data protection standards related to payroll data, including privacy laws and internal security protocols. Understanding of payroll treatment for onboarding, offboarding, severance, retro pay, and corrections. Knowledge of vendor contracts, SLAs, and escalation paths related to payroll and tax services. Skilled in building audit-ready reports, dashboards, and ad hoc analyses to support leadership decision-making. Strong ability to identify root causes of payroll discrepancies and implement sustainable corrective actions. Ability to train HR, managers, or payroll staff on payroll practices, system usage, and compliance requirements. Skilled in reconciling payroll registers to funding, tax filings, benefit invoices, and general ledger accounts. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field; or equivalent experience. 5–7 years of progressive payroll experience, including multi-state payroll processing for a mid-to-large organization. 2–3 years in a payroll leadership, supervisory, or lead role preferred. Experience with payroll systems such as UKG is preferred. Experience with other systems like ADP, Paycom, Workday, or similar platforms is required. Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) preferred Experience using Microsoft Office products (i.e. Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint). This is an onsite role working in an office environment located in the west suburbs of Milwaukee, WI. The pay range for this position is $90,000 - $95,000 annually. #J-18808-Ljbffr