Payroll Manager

Role Overview:
The client has an urgent need for an experienced Payroll Manager / Senior Payroll Consultant to step in quickly and stabilize day-to-day payroll operations while the organization works through an acquisition, payroll harmonization, and Dayforce transition. This person will support a green payroll team, keep payroll moving accurately and on time, review payroll outputs, help troubleshoot issues, and provide experienced guidance during a high-change period.

This is primarily a contract opportunity with potential to convert, but the immediate priority is getting a strong payroll resource in place quickly.

Expected Duration:
Approximately 6-7 months, with potential for longer-term need or conversion

Location:

Mostly remote; may require periodic onsite meetings in Auburn Hills, MI, especially early in the engagement or during project milestones

Travel:
Under 10%; potential for limited domestic or international travel in the future, but most work should be remote

Systems:
Dayforce strongly preferred; UKG, ADP, Workday, or Ceridian experience may be considered if Dayforce becomes a roadblock

Payroll Scope:
Primarily U.S. and Canada payroll operations; global payroll awareness is preferred but may be flexible for the contract role

Employee Population:
Approximately 3,800 employees across U.S. and Canada payroll today; global population around 5,300 and growing

Payroll Team:
Eight payroll team members reporting into this role

• Keep day-to-day payroll operations moving accurately and on time during a period of acquisition integration and team transition
• Review payroll results prepared by payroll specialists, including payroll registers, exceptions, deductions, taxes, funding, and gross-to-net calculations
• Provide direction and support to an eight-person payroll team that is still developing broader payroll knowledge
• Help troubleshoot payroll issues related to timekeeping, pay codes, overtime, union rules, employee data, deductions, taxes, and payroll corrections
• Support weekly union payroll, biweekly payroll, and semi-monthly payroll while the organization works toward payroll frequency harmonization
• Partner with HR, HRIS, Finance, plant leadership, and payroll team members to resolve payroll issues quickly
• Assist with payroll harmonization as the company works to move one population into another Dayforce environment
• Help create consistent payroll processes across legacy company groups
• Support payroll testing, reporting, troubleshooting, and transition activities as needed
• Ensure compliance with multi-state payroll requirements and union payroll rules
• Provide experienced payroll judgment and recommendations rather than waiting for step-by-step direction
• Help stabilize the team, identify process gaps, and escrow risks before they create payroll issues
• Remote except for maybe one day/week
• M-F 8am - 5pm

Payroll, Dayforce, Payroll processing, Data entry, Adp

Payroll,Dayforce,Payroll processing,Data entry,Adp

• Strong payroll experience with legitimate progressive payroll experience; payroll must be the core of their career, not primarily HR or benefits
• Multi-state U.S. payroll experience required
• Dayforce payroll experience strongly preferred; client may flex to Ceridian, UKG, ADP, or Workday if the candidate is otherwise strong
• Experience reviewing payroll, validating accuracy, identifying discrepancies, and ensuring payroll is completed on time
• Ability to support a green payroll team and provide hands‑on guidance, coaching, and day‑to‑day leadership
• Experience with hourly and salaried payroll populations
• Union payroll experience strongly preferred; client has 10+ unions /…