Payroll Manager

Payroll Manager

Title: Payroll Manager

Work Schedule: Full-time Employment Type: Permanent, Direct-Hire Job Location Type: Hybrid

A Payroll Manager who works with precision and leadership will feel right at home with this highly trusted, mission-driven organization. If you enjoy owning multi-state Payroll with real visibility, partnering closely with Finance and HR, and building a high-performing team, this is the kind of seat that elevates your career. The right Payroll Manager brings calm to complexity, protects compliance, and turns Payroll data into insights leaders actually use. If you are ready to be the go-to expert and mentor, this LHH Recruiter would love to connect.

This organization operates across five entities with multi-state employees and a strong focus on scalable operations, governance, and accurate financial reporting. The Payroll Manager will sit at the intersection of HR, Accounting, and Finance, supporting both day-to-day execution and forward-looking workforce cost planning, including journal entries and budget-to-actual visibility that Accounting leaders value. Reporting to the Director of HR, the Payroll Manager will lead a team of Payroll Specialists and Analysts. This person will get the opportunity to partner closely with Accounting and AP leadership, and will play an important role in in audits, planning, close, and system improvements.

For a Payroll Manager looking for both career momentum and lifestyle balance, the San Francisco Bay area offers a rare mix of opportunity and quality of life. You will find a deep and diverse economy with strong demand for finance and accounting leadership professionals, plus access to world-class universities, continuing education, and professional networks that support CPA and Certified Public Accountant growth. Weekends can mean coastal hikes, wine country day trips, iconic live music, and major sports and cultural events, with neighborhoods that offer everything from family-friendly communities to vibrant urban energy. Add in a climate that makes outdoor living easy most of the year, and it is an ideal place to build a long-term home base.

Primary Responsibilities

The Payroll Manager will lead a high-trust function where accuracy, confidentiality, and employee experience matter every day, while also building smarter processes for the future.

• Own end-to-end Payroll operations for five payroll cycles across multiple entities, ensuring every run is accurate, on time, and audit-ready
• Serve as the escalation point for complex Payroll questions, reconciling timekeeping, benefits deductions, garnishments, and multi-state tax items with confidence
• Drive compliance across federal, state, and local payroll requirements, including year-end readiness and filings such as W-2 and 1099 processing
• Guide retirement and benefits administration from a Payroll lens, including 401(k) coordination, annual testing support, Form 5500 review partnership, and benefits invoice reconciliation
• Deliver Payroll accounting excellence by preparing payroll-related journal entries, supporting month-end close, and collaborating with the Accounting Manager on reconciliations and controls
• Build clear reporting and analytics for leadership, including cash flow planning, fully loaded headcount cost forecasting, contractor and consulting spend tracking, and budget vs. actual insights
• Lead and develop a small team through coaching, training, competency development, and quality checks that strengthen Payroll accuracy and service levels
• Champion process improvement across HRIS and Payroll systems, partnering with vendors like Paycom and others to enhance workflows, controls, and data integrity
• Maintain strict confidentiality, ethical standards, and data security for sensitive Payroll and employee information

Preferred Experience and Qualifications

The Payroll Manager will thrive here with strong technical depth, leadership presence, and a passion for continuous improvement.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, with a growth mindset toward advanced training
• 4+ years of progressive Payroll experience, including leading or mentoring others in a Payroll Manager or similar leadership capacity
• Comfort owning California Payroll and multi-state compliance, including tax regulations, wage and hour considerations, and year-end processes
• Experience with modern HRIS and Payroll systems such as Paycom, ADP, Paycor, and accounting tools such as QuickBooks, plus strong Excel skills for analysis and reporting
• Strong Payroll accounting instincts, including journal entries, reconciliations, and collaboration with an Accounting Manager and AP leaders like an Accounts Payable Manager
• A service-oriented leadership style that builds trust with employees while partnering effectively with HR, Finance, and Accounting stakeholders
• Certifications are a plus, such as CPP, and exposure to CPA pathways or working alongside a Certified Public Accountant in a close partnership model

Benefits and Compensation

The Payroll Manager will join a people-first environment that supports performance, wellbeing, and professional growth.

• Competitive base compensation aligned to market for Payroll leadership and Payroll accounting scope
• Hybrid work model that supports focus time and collaboration time
• Comprehensive health and wellness coverage options
• Retirement plan participation with supportive administration and resources
• Paid time off and holidays designed to help you truly recharge
• Professional development support, including training that can complement CPA or Certified Public Accountant goals and elevate long-term career trajectory

Ready to explore it?

If you are a Payroll Manager who wants ownership, visibility, and the chance to shape Payroll operations across multiple entities, reach out to connect with an LHH Recruiter. Even if you are not actively applying, a quick conversation can clarify fit, comp, and career upside.