Contract Payroll Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Professional Search Group OC is partnering with a growing and well-established organization to identify an experienced Contract Payroll Manager for a temporary opportunity. Reporting directly to the Controller, this role will oversee all aspects of payroll administration, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing, regulatory compliance, payroll system integrity, and leadership of the payroll function.

This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional with extensive California payroll expertise, strong leadership skills, and experience managing complex payroll environments, including union and certified payroll.

Contract Payroll Manager Responsibilities

• Manage full-cycle payroll processing, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll for all employees.
• Process wages, overtime, bonuses, deductions, garnishments, union payments, payroll adjustments, and final paychecks.
• Administer union benefit contributions and support certified payroll requirements.
• Ensure compliance with California wage and hour laws, union agreements, and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Conduct payroll audits, resolve discrepancies, and support internal and external audit requests.
• Maintain payroll system accuracy through testing, data validation, documentation, and process improvements.
• Supervise, mentor, and train payroll staff while promoting compliance and best practices.
• Collaborate with Human Resources, Finance, and IT on employee changes, payroll reconciliations, journal entries, and system updates.
• Assist with ESOP administration, payroll reporting, and preparation of required payroll analyses.
• Support special payroll, accounting, and cross-functional projects as needed.

Contract Payroll Manager Requirements

• Degree, certification, or equivalent professional training in Payroll, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience.
• 3+ years of payroll leadership or supervisory experience.
• Strong knowledge of California wage and hour laws is required.
• Experience with union payroll and certified payroll is highly preferred.
• Experience processing payroll in large, multi-employee environments.
• Experience with Paylocity and Sage Intacct is a plus.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate across Payroll, Human Resources, Finance, and Operations.

If you're looking for your next payroll leadership opportunity, Professional Search Group OC is excited to connect you with an organization that values accuracy, compliance, and operational excellence.

Apply today to learn more about this Contract Payroll Manager opportunity through Professional Search Group OC .