Payroll Supervisor

Description

The Payroll Supervisor leads payroll operations and compliance initiatives to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll delivery across the organization. This role serves as a strategic partner to Human Resources, Finance, Benefits, and business leaders, driving process improvements, payroll governance, workforce experience initiatives, and payroll technology optimization. Payroll Supervisor develops and leads a high-performing payroll team while identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, strengthen controls, mitigate risk, and support organizational growth. This is a working supervisor role.

Payroll Operations Leadership

• Lead end-to-end payroll operations, ensuring timely and accurate processing of all payroll cycles.
• Establish service standards, performance metrics, and operational controls to support payroll excellence.
• Develop scalable payroll processes that support organizational growth, acquisitions, and workforce changes.
• Ensure payroll functions align with broader HR and business objectives.

Compliance, Risk Management & Governance

• Serve as a subject matter expert on federal, state, and local payroll regulations, wage and hour laws, and payroll tax requirements.
• Assess and strengthen payroll controls to minimize operational, financial, and compliance risks.
• Oversee payroll audits, tax filings, reconciliations, and regulatory reporting activities.
• Partner with Legal, HR, and Finance to proactively address compliance risks and legislative changes.

Strategic Partnership

• Collaborate with HR leadership, Finance, Benefits, Compensation, and Talent teams to support enterprise initiatives.
• Provide payroll expertise for policy development, , mergers and acquisitions, and workforce planning efforts.
• Support annual compensation cycles, incentive payments, benefit changes, and other complex payroll initiatives.
• Advise leaders on payroll impacts of organizational and workforce decisions.

Process Improvement & Technology Optimization

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on automation, standardization, and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate payroll workflows and recommend solutions that enhance accuracy, compliance, and employee experience.
• Partner with HRIS and technology teams to implement system enhancements, integrations, and upgrades. Own the vendor relationship.
• Lead testing and validation efforts for payroll system changes and new functionality.

People Leadership

• Supervise, coach, and develop payroll team members to drive performance and professional growth.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous learning, customer service, and operational excellence.
• Establish team goals aligned with organizational and departmental objectives.
• Manage staffing, workload distribution, succession planning, and employee development activities.

Analytics & Executive Reporting

• Develop and analyze payroll metrics, trends, and key performance indicators.
• Use data insights to identify risks, inform decision-making, and support strategic workforce initiatives.

Employee Experience

• Ensure a high-quality payroll service experience for employees and leaders.
• Resolve complex payroll issues and escalations with professionalism and urgency.
• Promote education and communication regarding payroll processes, pay practices, and employee self-service tools.
• Drive initiatives that improve payroll transparency, accuracy, and employee satisfaction.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field required.

Experience

• 5-7 years of progressive payroll experience.
• 2-3 years of leadership or supervisory experience.
• Experience managing complex, multi-state payroll operations preferred.
• Experience with payroll, HRIS, timekeeping, and workforce management systems
• ADP and UKG Ready previous experience beneficial.

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies

• Advanced knowledge of payroll regulations, taxation, and compliance requirements.
• Strong business acumen and ability to align payroll operations with organizational strategy.
• Demonstrated success leading process improvement and automation initiatives.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to influence cross-functional partners and drive change.
• High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information.

Preferred Certifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR preferred