Payroll Manager

The Payroll Manager is responsible for leading and administering full-cycle payroll operations across multiple company codes and payroll frequencies ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for all employee populations. This role supports more than 2,000 full- and part-time employees and plays a critical role in maintaining strong internal controls, data integrity, and audit readiness across all payroll-related activities. Reporting to the Director/HR Systems, Analytics, & Payroll, the Payroll Manager partners closely with Human Resources and Finance to mitigate risk, prevent errors or unauthorized transactions, and ensure payroll data is accurately reflected in ADP and properly recorded in financial systems.

The Payroll Manager conducts detailed payroll reviews prior to final approval, supports general ledger reconciliation and variance analysis, and ensures all earnings, deductions, benefits, retirement contributions, and tax with holdings are processed in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This position prepares payroll reports, performs post-payroll audits to identify and resolve discrepancies, and supports internal and external audits by providing documentation, responding to inquiries, and demonstrating adherence to established payroll controls and procedures.

In addition to operational execution, the Payroll Manager assists the Director with continuous process improvement within ADP and across upstream and downstream payroll processes, including data entry, reporting, and GL postings, to enhance accuracy and efficiency. This role requires exceptional attention to detail, strong customer service skills, and the ability to operate effectively in a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment while maintaining the highest level of confidentiality and discretion.

The Payroll Manager regularly interacts with employees at all levels and is committed to delivering a high-quality payroll experience that supports organizational compliance, operational excellence, and employee trust.

• Administer and accurately process full-cycle payroll for all full-time and part-time employees on semi-monthly and biweekly payroll schedules across 8 company codes, ensuring timeliness, accuracy, and compliance with applicable laws and internal deadlines.
• Process wage garnishments, interrogatories, levies, and other court-ordered deductions in accordance with applicable regulations, required timelines, and documentation standards.
• Manage payroll-related employee lifecycle transactions, including new hires, terminations, compensation changes, and other ancillary payroll activities, ensuring accurate data entry and adherence to established deadlines.
• Oversee end-to-end payroll operations, including timekeeping administration, payroll uploads, audits, tax filings, payroll-related check requests, and manual payroll calculations when required.
• Support the Director with payroll processing for Players, Coaches, and travel staff, ensuring accurate and timely payroll execution for specialized employee populations.
• Work with Ticket Logistics team to document and process ticket taxation spreadsheet for identified sold-out games per IRS guidelines.
• Manage and post 16+ monthly payroll-related journal entries for both semi-monthly and biweekly payrolls and 8 company codes, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timely posting to the general ledger .
• Process intercompany payroll journal entries in accordance with established accounting practices and internal controls.
• Coordinate and confirm Indiana Pacers player payroll schedules with the NBA League Office for each semi-monthly payroll cycle to ensure compliance with league requirements and payroll deadlines.
• Coordinate and confirm Indiana Fever player payroll schedules with the WNBA League Office and Fever Basketball Operations for each payroll during the WNBA season, ensuring timely and accurate processing.
• Maintain the State Wage Allocation spreadsheet for Pacers, BOOM, and Fever travel staff, ensuring accuracy of data related to multi-state work locations, and submit information to the Director for timely payroll…