Payroll Manager

About the Position

As Payroll Manager , you will own and lead our U.S. payroll function and serve as the internal subject matter expert for Workday Payroll. In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing while managing payroll systems, controls, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Working closely with our external payroll support team, you will transition payroll knowledge and processes in-house before assuming full ownership of payroll operations, including Workday administration, reconciliations, issue resolution, compliance, and reporting.

This is a hands-on role without direct people management responsibilities, requiring both payroll expertise and a process improvement mindset. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working directly in Workday, investigating exceptions, reconciling payroll-to-GL activity, documenting procedures, and strengthening controls to build a scalable, efficient, and sustainable payroll operation. You will partner closely with HR, Finance, and Accounting to ensure payroll processes support business objectives and deliver exceptional employee experience.

Responsibilities

Payroll Operations

• Own end-to-end payroll processing for U.S. entities, ensuring accurate and timely payroll execution.
• Manage payroll reviews, approvals, off-cycle payments, corrections, and bonuses.
• Resolve payroll issues and partner with HR, Finance, Benefits, and Treasury on payroll matters.

Workday Payroll Ownership

• Serve as the Workday Payroll SME and system owner.
• Maintain payroll configurations, reports, integrations, and business processes.
• Lead troubleshooting, testing, enhancements, and payroll process automation.

Payroll Controls & Compliance

• Maintain strong payroll controls, audits, approvals, and reconciliations.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• Coordinate payroll tax filings, reporting, and issue resolution with vendors and internal teams.

Payroll-to-GL & Reconciliation

• Own payroll-to-GL reconciliations and payroll accounting accuracy.
• Investigate and resolve payroll, tax, and ledger discrepancies.
• Partner with Accounting to improve automation and efficiency of payroll journal entries.

Reporting & Analytics

• Develop and maintain payroll validation, variance, and exception reporting.
• Monitor timecard compliance and coordinate issue resolution.
• Deliver payroll metrics and reporting to HR and Finance leadership.

Documentation & Business Continuity

• Maintain payroll documentation, procedures, and the Payroll Playbook.
• Ensure payroll processes and Workday configurations are fully documented.
• Establish cross-training and backup coverage to support business continuity.

Process Improvement

• Drive payroll process optimization, automation, and scalability.
• Reduce manual work and leverage Workday functionality whenever possible.
• Manage external payroll and Workday resources as needed to support growth and specialized initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field required
• Five years of progressive payroll experience, including ownership of complex U.S. payroll operations
• Experience independently running or owning an end-to-end payroll cycle
• Experience with payroll-to-GL integrations and payroll accounting mappings

Desired Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) Designation
• Three years of hands-on experience with Workday Payroll
• Experience supporting payroll operations in a multi-entity, manufacturing, technology, or other complex business environment
• Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, organizational integrations, or business restructuring initiatives.

You Should Know

• Salary Range: $84,000 – 112,000 + benefits
• Work mode is fully onsite in San Diego, CA