Payroll Manager

Job Description

Brad Stewart with Robert Half Finance & Accounting is recruiting for an experienced Payroll Manager to lead payroll operations for a local client. This position is responsible for guiding a payroll team, ensuring accurate and timely pay processing, and maintaining compliance with applicable payroll regulations across multiple states. The ideal candidate brings strong leadership skills, deep knowledge of full-cycle payroll, and the ability to support continuous improvement in payroll practices and reporting.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and support the payroll team by assigning work, monitoring productivity, and identifying opportunities to improve performance and efficiency.

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for a large employee population, ensuring accurate calculation of earnings, benefits, taxes, garnishments, and other deductions.

• Maintain payroll systems and procedures to support consistent, timely, and compliant payroll operations.

• Prepare, review, and retain payroll records and reports with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

• Guide onboarding and orientation activities for payroll staff to promote a smooth transition and strong understanding of departmental expectations.

• Serve as a coach and resource for team members by modeling high standards and encouraging ongoing development.

• Partner with leadership to recommend process enhancements and help implement operational improvements within payroll workflows.

• Provide documentation, audit support, and detailed payroll information to external auditors and other authorized parties as needed.

• Ensure payroll practices align with federal, state, and local wage and hour requirements, including multi-state compliance obligations.

• Represent the department appropriately and carry out additional related responsibilities as required.

• At least 3 years of experience in a payroll supervisory or management position.

• At least 5 years of hands-on payroll experience, including full-cycle payroll processing.

• Demonstrated experience managing multi-state payroll and applying state-specific payroll compliance requirements.

• Proficiency with ERP systems and large scale payroll platforms.

• Experience processing bi-monthly payroll for an organization with more than 500 employees.

• Strong knowledge of payroll taxes, deductions, garnishments, and employee benefit with holdings.

• Ability to produce accurate payroll reports, maintain detailed records, and support audit requests effectively.