Payroll Manager - Finance Department

Salary : $89,814.40 - $114,982.40 Annually
Location : Leonardtown, MD
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 202200492
Department: Finance
Opening Date: 06/10/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


Job Summary


Oversees County's payroll operations to ensure accurate and timely employee compensation while maintaining compliance with all relevant laws and regulations; manages the day-to-day processing of payroll changes; collaborating with HR; work with other departments to gather and validate payroll information; develop and implement payroll policies; manage payroll systems; supports annual audit and single audit; prepares monthly and quarterly reports; provides data driven recommendations; performs other duties as assigned.

The hiring salary for this position is $89,814 - $114,982 annually ; full salary range for this position is $89,814 - $154,690 annually.

Essential Functions

1. Manage day-to-day operations, including processing payroll, managing timekeeping, and ensuring timely and accurate payments.
2. Supervise, train, and mentor payroll specialists and other payroll staff.
3. Maintains payroll staff efficiency by planning, monitoring, and appraising job results.
4. Ensure accuracy and compliance with applicable laws, regulations and company policies while processing payroll implementing necessary changes to ensure compliance and best practices.
5. Comply with federal, state, and local legal requirements by studying existing and new legislation and advising management on upcoming changes.
6. Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, and participating in professional societies.
7. Work closely with Human Resources and Finance teams to coordinate on compensation, benefits, and other payroll-related matters.
8. Collaborate with other departments to gather and validate payroll information, such as new hires, terminations, promotions and salary changes.
9. Manage end-to-end payroll processing, including collecting, calculating and inputting payroll data for all employees.
10. Process adjustments for new hires, terminations, promotions, and other changes to employee records.
11. Develop and implement new policies and procedures to improve the efficiency of the payroll function.
12. Monitor and resolve payroll discrepancies, investigating and resolving issues promptly and accurately.
13. Update payroll records by reviewing and approving changes in exemptions, insurance coverage, savings deductions, and job titles, and department/ division transfers.
14. Maintain confidentiality and data security standards for all payroll-related information.
15. Prepare and analyze payroll and tax reports, conducting audits to ensure accuracy.
16. Generate payroll reports, including tax filings, benefits deductions and other required reports, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
17. Determines payroll liabilities by verifying the calculation of employee federal and state income and social security taxes, and employer's social security, unemployment, and workers compensation payments.
18. Administer and maintain payroll systems, ensure data integrity and implement system upgrades and enhancements.
19. Utilizes technology effectively in performance of job duties
20. Exercises professional judgment and discretion when handling information processed in performance of job duties
21. Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Ability to gain advanced knowledge of St. Mary's County Government policies and procedures;
2. Ability to act as a representative of St. Mary's County Government to the public;
3. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
4. High level of integrity and ability to handle sensitive and confidential information;
5. Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with employees at all levels of the organization;
6. Excellent understanding of financial principles and the ability to reconcile payroll with financial records;
7. Expert knowledge and understanding of payroll laws, tax regulations, and payroll software;
8. Ability to supervise and motivate assigned staff;
9. Ability to prioritize and multitask;
10. Ability to review and analyze existing information and make informed and sound decisions; ability to use available resources to research information;
11. Ability to keep accurate records;
12. Ability to keep abreast of current regulations and laws;
13. Ability to effectively utilize relevant technology, including the County's administrative and financial systems

Education and Experience

1. Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, human resources or related field;
2. Three years or more of experience in payroll management;
3. Experience in handling payroll audits, inspections and compliance assessments;
4. Relevant professional certification in payroll management, such as Certified Payroll Professional (CPP);
5. Expert in using Microsoft Excel.

Additional Requirements:
Must successfully pass background investigation with favorable results;
Must pass a pre-employment drug test.

Physical and Environmental Conditions:
Work requires no unusual demand for physical effort.

Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices or meeting rooms, e.g., use of safe workplace practices with office equipment, and/or avoidance of trips and falls.
We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plan, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, identity theft protection, sick-leave transfer, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

Regular Part-time employees who work an average of 20 or more hours per week over the course of a year, receive benefits on a pro-rated basis.

To learn more details, visit our benefits page at the following link: