Payroll Manager

Role Description

Ready To Own Payroll Excellence Across Full-Cycle Operations and Tax Compliance?

Payroll isn't just processing transactions—it's maintaining employee trust, regulatory compliance, and financial integrity across every pay cycle. As our Payroll Manager, you'll own end-to-end management of bi-weekly U.S. payroll for our multi-state, multi-entity organization, serving as subject matter expert and strategic partner to HR, Finance, Accounting, and external vendors. This senior individual contributor role requires advanced judgment, leadership presence, and the ability to anticipate risks while driving payroll excellence through process improvement and proactive problem-solving.

What You'll Actually Do:

• Own full-cycle payroll operations:
• Manage complete bi-weekly payroll lifecycle for U.S. employees including data validation, processing, reconciliation, review, and submission with highest standards of accuracy and timeliness.
• Process all compensation types:
• Ensure accurate processing of regular, off-cycle, termination, commission, bonus, and special compensation payments in accordance with regulatory requirements and internal controls.
• Provide payroll tax governance:
• Oversee payroll tax compliance including registrations, filings, reconciliations, and resolution of notices across multiple jurisdictions.
• Manage year-end processes:
• Lead quarter-end and year-end processes including W-2 review, annual filings, and all required tax documentation.
• Serve as subject matter expert:
• Act as primary payroll escalation point and expert resource for HR, employees, Finance, Accounting, and vendors while exercising independent judgment to resolve complex payroll and tax issues.
• Oversee time and attendance:
• Monitor time and attendance accuracy, conduct audits, and ensure compliance with state wage and hour rules while troubleshooting and resolving issues.
• Anticipate and mitigate risks:
• Proactively identify payroll risks, analyze root causes, and implement preventive measures to maintain compliance and operational excellence.
• Prepare financial reporting:
• Develop and analyze payroll, tax, and GL reports while partnering with Finance and Accounting to reconcile liabilities and address variances.
• Maintain audit controls:
• Monitor internal audit controls related to payroll and lead audit readiness and responses in partnership with Accounting and external auditors.
• Drive process improvement:
• Evaluate, design, and implement process improvements and best practices to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and compliance across payroll operations.
• Communicate with leadership:
• Convey complex payroll concepts and risk considerations clearly to leadership and stakeholders at all organizational levels.

Qualifications

• 7+ years progressive payroll experience with full-cycle payroll processing
• Demonstrated experience owning payroll outcomes in regulated, multi-state environment
• Extensive multi-state, multi-entity payroll experience
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) preferred
• Previous leadership or project leadership experience preferred
• Advanced knowledge of payroll tax and compliance regulations
• Hands-on experience with ADP Workforce Now and ADP Time & Attendance
• Expert knowledge of payroll operations and payroll tax across multiple jurisdictions
• Strong critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills with ability to anticipate issues, assess risk, and implement solutions independently
• High attention to detail with strong deadline management capabilities
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information professionally
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills for conveying complex information to diverse stakeholders

Benefits

• Competitive base salary and benefits effective day one
• Comprehensive medical and dental through our own health solutions (yes, we use what we build)
• Unlimited PTO—rest and recharge time is non-negotiable
• Mental health support, retirement planning, and financial protection
• Professional development with clear career progression and learning budgets
• Mission-driven culture where diverse perspectives drive real impact on people's health