Senior Payroll Manager

General Summary

The Senior Payroll Manager leads the day-to-day operations of the payroll department and serves as the Director of Payroll’s primary operational partner and backup. This role directly manages a team of 2–4 payroll professionals and is responsible for accurate, timely payroll processing, escalated issues, reconciliations, controls, and critical deadlines across a complex, multi-jurisdictional workforce.

The ideal candidate is an experienced, hands-on payroll leader who develops people, spots risks early, investigates problems thoroughly, and follows issues through to resolution. This person can make sound decisions independently and keep the Director informed of matters that require leadership attention.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage, coach, and develop 2–4 payroll team members, including assigning work, setting priorities, reviewing performance, and providing regular feedback.
• Oversee end-to-end payroll operations to ensure employees are paid accurately and on time.
• Serve as the Director of Payroll’s primary operational backup, coordinating payroll activities and maintaining continuity during absences or periods of high volume.
• Review payroll results, reconciliations, and exception reports to identify errors, unusual activity, and compliance concerns before payroll is finalized.
• Provide hands-on support with complex earnings, deductions, taxes, retroactive payments, adjustments, and off-cycle payments when needed.
• Lead the investigation and resolution of escalated payroll questions and discrepancies, working with HR, Finance, Operations, HRIS, and third-party providers.
• Oversee payroll across multiple states and jurisdictions, including employees covered by collective bargaining agreements.
• Assess the payroll impact of new policies, pay practices, system changes, and employee or organizational changes.
• Maintain payroll calendars, procedures, review practices, and internal controls; ensure the team meets all required deadlines.
• Review reports, reconciliations, and documentation supporting audits, year-end activities, and payroll accounting.
• Identify recurring issues and lead improvements to payroll processes, system configuration, reporting, and controls.
• Coordinate payroll testing for system changes and validate results before implementation.
• Build the team’s knowledge through training, documentation, and consistent payroll practices.
• Communicate significant issues to the Director of Payroll, including the cause, employee or financial impact, proposed resolution, and any decision needed.
• Handle sensitive payroll and employee information with sound judgment and discretion.
• Perform other payroll-related duties as business needs require.

Knowledge, Experience, and Skills

• Strong understanding of end-to-end payroll processing, payroll taxes, wage and hour requirements, deductions, benefits, and payroll accounting.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and develop employees, delegate work effectively, and hold the team accountable for accuracy and deadlines.
• Experience overseeing complex, multi-state payroll and reviewing results for accuracy.
• Ability to resolve escalated issues, prioritize competing deadlines, and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Judgment about when to act independently and when to escalate an issue.
• Ability to communicate complex payroll matters clearly to employees, business partners, and leadership.
• Strong reconciliation, analytical, and Excel skills; experience using payroll reporting or query tools.
• Experience with third-party payroll and HRIS systems. UKG experience is preferred.
• Union payroll and Health, Welfare, and Pension experience preferred.
• Experience supporting audits, internal controls, system testing, and process improvements.

Work Experience

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible payroll experience, including hands-on payroll processing, review, and resolution of complex issues.
• Experience directly managing payroll employees.
• Experience with large, complex, multi-state payroll preferred.

Education, Licenses, and Certifications

Required: High school diploma or equivalent and an active Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.

Compensation Range: $120,000 to $130,000 USD

Physical, Environmental and Sensory Requirements

• Work environment is a typical office setting.
• Physical demands include intermittent sitting, standing, and walking, and occasional bending reaching and lifting.
• Limited exposure to elements such as heat, cold, noise, dust, dirt, chemicals, etc. but generally not to the point of being disagreeable.

This job description is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.