Payroll Manager

This contract Payroll Manager role serves as a payroll subject matter expert and a key member of the Finance team in a growing organization. You will lead and support end-to-end payroll operations, business and tax processes, and vendor and partner management, while also contributing to broader finance and accounting activities. The ideal candidate combines strong hands-on payroll processing and accounting experience with a customer-centric mindset, delivering accurate, compliant, and timely payroll services in a fast-paced environment.

• Facilitate day-to-day payroll operations, including handling escalations, approvals, issue resolution, and employee communications.
• Manage payroll vendor activities such as payroll processing, month-end, quarter-end, and year-end or annual tasks.
• Prepare and review payroll data files for each payroll cycle to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Prepare and process leave of absence calculations and other complex wage calculations.
• Prepare and process month-end and quarter-end payroll journal entries and support payroll-related accounting activities.
• Manage tax notices, registrations, wage orders, government correspondence, and provide support for payroll-related audits.
• Demonstrate a hands-on, "roll up your sleeves" approach with a strong sense of urgency, effectively balancing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Assist with vendor and stakeholder management by preparing requested statistical and financial payroll reports, data, and estimates.
• Provide superior customer service to employees and internal stakeholders on payroll systems, functions, issues, and questions.
• Troubleshoot payroll systems and payroll vendor interface files, identifying and resolving issues promptly.
• Partner closely with Accounting, HR, and Finance teams to support policies, projects, and operational initiatives.
• Manage year-end and annual payroll audits, reporting, and ad hoc payroll and finance analyses.
• Support additional finance responsibilities as needed, including data analysis and reporting.
• Own payroll operations with limited guidance, ensuring consistent accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery.

• Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of payroll experience.
• Direct, hands-on payroll processing experience, not limited to oversight or approvals.
• Ability to explain payroll processing workflows in detail, including end-to-end processes and controls.
• Strong understanding of month-end payroll activities beyond running reports, including reconciliations and journal entries.
• Familiarity with payroll-related accounting activities, including accruals, reconciliations, and general ledger impacts.
• Experience performing or supporting leave of absence calculations and payroll compliance processes.
• Knowledge of California state tax and wage and hour laws.
• Experience with multi-state payroll; exposure to global payroll is a plus.
• Working knowledge of Ultimate Software/UKG HRIS and/or other payroll software.
• Knowledge of payroll accounting to ensure accurate general ledger and tax reporting.
• Proficiency in reconciliation, analysis, month-end close, leave of absence processing, journal entries, and accruals.
• Experience with systems such as UKG, Kronos, Paycom, or similar payroll platforms.
• Ability to provide superior customer service and support to employees and internal stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks and adapt to a changing, fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality, security, and integrity of payroll data.
• Strong attention to detail, high level of organization, and ability to meet time-sensitive deadlines.
• Capability to take ownership of payroll operations with minimal oversight.

• Strong preference for candidates who can balance hands-on payroll processing with audit and approval ownership as a second-level reviewer.
• UKG experience is preferred; experience with ADP, Paylocity, or Paycom with strong audit and reporting skills is also valuable.
• Background in biotech, life sciences, or similar environments is a plus but not required.
• Experience working within a payroll model where the vendor supports file uploads while the internal team owns validation, auditing, and reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across Finance and HR in a lean team environment.
• Strong analytical skills for preparing statistical and financial payroll reports and estimates.
• Comfort working…