Senior Payroll Lead in Sonoma, California

Senior Payroll Lead

We are partnering with a growing organization seeking an experienced Senior Payroll Lead to take ownership of its payroll function. This is a senior-level, hands-on role with responsibilities comparable to a Payroll Manager, but structured as an individual contributor position. The Senior Payroll Lead will oversee the end-to-end payroll process, serve as the primary internal payroll resource, and partner closely with Accounting, Finance, HR, and external providers.

The ideal candidate has strong multi-state payroll experience and is comfortable independently managing payroll in a fast-paced environment.

What You'll Own

Manage the full payroll cycle, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time. Review payroll data, deductions, benefits, bonuses, commissions, and other compensation-related items.

Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including wage and hour requirements, payroll taxes, garnishments, and year-end reporting.

Partner closely with Accounting on payroll journal entries, general ledger reconciliations, accruals, and month-end and year-end close activities.

Serve as the internal subject matter expert for payroll systems and processes. Identify opportunities to improve workflows, controls, reporting, and overall payroll efficiency.

Work closely with HR, Benefits, Finance, Accounting, and external payroll providers to resolve issues and ensure accurate employee information.

Act as a senior point of contact for complex payroll questions while handling sensitive and confidential information with discretion.

What We're Looking For

• 6+ years of progressive payroll experience
• Strong experience managing end-to-end payroll processes
• Multi-state payroll experience strongly preferred
• Strong knowledge of payroll taxes, wage and hour regulations, and payroll compliance
• Experience with payroll systems such as ADP, Workday, UKG, Paylocity, or similar platforms
• Experience with payroll accounting, reconciliations, and general ledger activity
• Strong Excel and analytical skills
• Ability to independently own the payroll function and manage competing deadlines
• Strong communication skills and ability to partner across Accounting, Finance, and HR
• Bachelor's degree preferred
• CPP certification is a plus

The Opportunity

This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced payroll professional who wants Payroll Manager-level ownership and visibility while remaining a hands-on individual contributor. The position will have significant autonomy and the opportunity to influence payroll processes, systems, and controls as the organization continues to grow. Compensation:
Competitive base salary plus bonus and benefits. Compensation will vary based on experience and location.