Payroll Manager

Kennedy Jenks is seeking a Payroll Manager in Portland, Oregon to oversee accurate, compliant, and efficient payroll operations across our teams, functions, and business priorities. This is an opportunity where you are accountable for multi-state payroll processing, compliance, controls, reconciliations, and continuous process improvement.

You’ll play a key role in ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time, payroll processes remain compliant and well-controlled, and payroll systems and workflows continue to evolve with the needs of the business.

As a Payroll Manager, you’ll contribute across key focus areas such as payroll operations, compliance, and process improvement.

• Lead payroll processing:
  Oversee accurate and timely multi-state payroll processing, including deductions, garnishments, benefits, leave, adjustments, and off-cycle payments.
• Ensure compliance:
  Manage payroll tax compliance and monitor applicable wage and hour requirements, including FLSA and prevailing wage requirements.
• Maintain payroll controls:
  Reconcile payroll and related accounting entries, investigate discrepancies, and maintain quality assurance and internal control procedures.
• Manage systems and processes:
  Administer payroll, HRIS, and ERP systems and identify opportunities to improve workflows, automation, and data accuracy.
• Support audits and documentation:
  Coordinate payroll audits and maintain process documentation, SOPs, training materials, and other resources that support consistent payroll practices.
• Partner across the organization:
  Collaborate with Human Resources, Finance, managers, employees, and external partners to resolve payroll issues and support business needs.

• End-to-end ownership:
  You will own critical payroll processes and controls that directly impact every employee across the organization.
• Multi-state complexity:
  You’ll manage payroll requirements across multiple states and navigate evolving tax, wage, and compliance requirements.
• Cross-functional impact:
  You’ll serve as a payroll subject matter expert, partnering closely with HR and Finance to ensure payroll data and processes work effectively across systems and functions.

• Relevant experience: 5+ years of progressive payroll administration experience, including 2+ years in a Payroll Manager, Lead Payroll Specialist, or senior payroll role.
• Functional expertise:
  Strong knowledge of multi-state payroll processing, payroll tax compliance, wage and hour requirements, payroll reconciliation, deductions, garnishments, benefits, and leave administration.
• Communication and collaboration:
  Ability to work effectively with employees, managers, HR, Finance, auditors, and external partners while handling sensitive and confidential information.
• Problem-solving and execution:
  Strong analytical and attention-to-detail skills with the ability to investigate discrepancies, manage competing deadlines, and improve processes.
• Tools and systems:
  Experience with payroll, HRIS, and ERP systems and advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, lookup functions, data validation, reconciliation analysis, and exception reporting.
• Work style:
  Organized, proactive, dependable, and comfortable taking ownership of complex processes and sensitive information.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Experience:
  
  5+ years of progressive payroll experience with multi-state payroll processing required.
• Areas of Knowledge:
  Multi-state payroll tax compliance, FLSA and wage and hour requirements, payroll accounting and reconciliation, internal controls, and quality assurance.
• Certif…