Manager of Payroll

At PARTNER, success starts with the right mindset: connection, compassion, and curiosity. Whether consulting with clients or collaborating with colleagues, these principles guide how we work. We deliver engineering, environmental, and energy consulting, plus design services across the Americas, Europe, and beyond. As a leader in Commercial Real Estate (CRE), we’re 1,600+ professionals strong in 40+ offices. Our mission is simple: create the best home for talented professionals. If you value delivering exceptional experiences through problem-solving, coordination, and a mindset of care for clients and colleagues, you’ll feel right at home. That approach has earned us recognition on ENR’s Top 500 Design Firms, Inc. 5000’s Fastest-Growing Companies, and Zweig’s Best Firms to Work For. Here, your ideas matter, your impact is real, and your work helps shape the future.Come join an all-in HR team committed to hiring great people, developing our talent and creating a culture that our people love! Partner Engineering & Science is seeking an experienced, strategic, and hands‑on Manager of Payroll to support the administration, compliance, and continuous improvement of the Company’s employee payroll programs. This role will contribute to the delivery of exceptional employee experiences while maintaining operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and fiscal responsibility. The ideal candidate is a tech‑savvy, analytical manager who combines deep functional expertise with strong business acumen. This is an in‑office position in Torrance, CA. ESSENTIAL DUTIES & TASKS Payroll Contribute to all aspects of payroll administration for a multi‑state workforce, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, compliance, and exceptional service. Establish and maintain payroll controls, processes, and audits to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. Partner closely with Finance and Accounting on payroll reporting, reconciliations, labor cost analysis, and year‑end activities. Technology & Process Improvement Champion the use of technology, automation, and data analytics to improve efficiency, accuracy, and employee experience. Partner with HRIS, Finance, and IT teams to optimize integrations between payroll, benefits, HR, and financial systems. Participate in continuous improvement initiatives and identify opportunities to streamline processes and reduce operational risk. Build strong relationships across the organization and deliver exceptional internal customer service. Act as a trusted resource for employees, managers, and executives on benefits and payroll matters. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES hands‑on doer who is comfortable executing day‑to‑day operational details while maintaining a strategic perspective. Highly tech savvy , curious, and eager to leverage automation and technology to improve outcomes. An outstanding relationship builder with strong people skills and executive presence. Detail‑oriented, analytical, and solutions‑focused. Able to thrive in a fast‑paced, growth‑oriented environment. Passionate about delivering exceptional employee experiences while protecting the Company’s operational and financial integrity. QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or related field. 5+ years of progressive experience in benefits, payroll, total rewards, or related HR leadership functions. Experience with payroll operations for a multi‑state workforce. Strong analytical, financial, and business acumen. Exceptional communication, presentation, deadline‑oriented and relationship‑building skills. Strong knowledge of benefits regulations, retirement plans, payroll laws, and compliance requirements. Experience leading vendor negotiations and managing third‑party service providers. Advanced HRIS (UKG experience strongly preferred), payroll, and benefits technology experience; highly proficient with data analysis and reporting tools. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS CPP, SHRM‑SCP, SPHR, or related certification. Experience in professional services, consulting, engineering, architecture, construction, or other multi‑state service organizations. Experience supporting a national workforce of 1,000+ employees. CRITICAL COMPETENCIES: Results Driven :Must have proven track record in Payroll. Action Oriented :Ability to work hard and get stuff done! Resilient :Handles challenges with poise and maintains positive outlook. Interpersonal Relationships :Must be a self‑starter who takes initiative to identify key areas for improvement. BENEFITS Competitive benefits package including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, vacation and sick time, and a 401(k) plan with a company match. COMPENSATION: Salary range is $100,000 to $125,000. This is what we reasonably expect to pay for the role. The pay scale for this role considers a wide range of factors when making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Please note, the disclosed pay scale estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic location where the position may be filled. You may also be eligible to participate in a discretionary incentive bonus program which is dependent on various factors, including, but not limited to individual and organizational performance. Partner Engineering & Science, Inc. is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. It is our intent to maintain a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation based on an individual’s race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender (including gender identity and gender expression), age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), reproductive health decision making, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. We will consider qualified applicants who have criminal histories in a manner consistent with the law. We collect personal information from you in connection with your application for employment with Partner Engineering and Science, Inc. For details on what personal information we collect and the purposes for which we collect it, please visit: Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor. #J-18808-Ljbffr Partner Engineering and Science Inc.