Payroll Manager

Job Description Position Overview Our company is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead multi-state payroll operations while serving as the primary administrator of the company's HRIS platform. This individual will own payroll compliance, payroll tax administration, system optimization, reporting, and process improvement initiatives while leading a small team and partnering closely with HR and Finance leadership. This is a highly visible role that combines deep payroll expertise with HR technology administration and process leadership. Key Responsibilities Manage full-cycle payroll processing across multiple states. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations. Oversee payroll tax filings, reconciliations, registrations, and year-end activities. Manage garnishments, child support orders, and court-ordered deductions. Conduct payroll audits and resolve payroll discrepancies. Develop and maintain payroll controls, policies, and procedures. Serve as the organization's payroll compliance expert. Act as primary administrator of the HRIS platform. Manage system configuration, security roles, workflows, and integrations. Lead HRIS upgrades, implementations, testing, and enhancement projects. Partner with HR and Finance to ensure data integrity and reporting accuracy. Identify automation opportunities and process improvements. Supervise, coach, and develop payroll team members. Ideal Candidate Background 5+ years of progressive payroll experience. 3+ years processing multi-state payroll. 3+ years of HRIS administration experience. Strong knowledge of payroll tax compliance and wage-and-hour regulations. Experience managing payroll for a mid-to-large employee population. Experience handling multi-jurisdiction tax registrations and garnishments. Supervisory or team leadership experience. Advanced Excel skills. Strong analytical and systems-thinking capabilities. Experience with payroll implementations or system conversions. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or related field. Manufacturing industry experience. ADP expertise. CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation. Selling Points High-impact role with ownership of both payroll operations and HR technology. Opportunity to lead payroll modernization and automation initiatives. Strong cross-functional exposure with HR and Finance leadership. Direct influence on compliance, efficiency, and employee experience. Leadership responsibilities with team development opportunities. Candidate Targets Strong backgrounds may come from: Manufacturing companies Distribution organizations Multi-state employers ADP Workforce Now environments Payroll Managers Senior Payroll Managers Payroll & HRIS Managers Payroll Operations Leaders Senior Payroll Specialists ready for management Recruiter Intake Questions How many employees are you currently processing payroll for? How many states are included in your payroll operation? What payr