Payroll Lead

PetSafe Brands, formerly known as Radio Systems Corporation, is headquartered in Knoxville, TN—a city known as “The Marble City” and "Scruffy City." Knoxville is home to the 1982 World’s Fair, 21 craft breweries, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Outdoor activities include hiking, tubing, running, and biking in the Urban Wilderness. The area offers an excellent public-school system, no state income tax, low property taxes, and a low cost of living. Downtown Knoxville hosts summer events like Music and Shakespeare on the Square and Family Movie Nights.

About the Company

PetSafe Brands is the world leader in pet products through brands like Pet Safe®, SportDOG®, Invisible Fence®, Kurgo, and Premier Pet. We create products ranging from leashes and harnesses to water fountains and litter boxes, aiming to touch over 21 million pets, people, and communities annually. Our culture emphasizes enthusiasm, resilience, adaptability, and teamwork as we strive to be our community’s employer of choice. Our purpose: We exist to unleash freedom for pet parents by keeping their pets happy, healthy, and safe.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end payroll operations for U.S. and Canada, including preparation, review, approval, funding, payment distribution, and post-payroll reconciliation.
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, provincial, and local payroll laws, including wage and hour requirements, payroll taxes, garnishments, deductions, unemployment, and year-end reporting.
• Validate payroll-related changes (new hires, terminations, compensation adjustments, bonuses, benefits, deductions, garnishments).
• Partner with Finance on payroll-related journal entries, account reconciliations, deduction payments, general ledger reporting, and variance analysis.
• Serve as the functional lead for payroll systems, reporting tools, user access controls, system testing, upgrades, implementations, and data integrity.
• Establish and maintain payroll policies, procedures, documentation, internal controls, and audit-ready records.
• Coordinate internal and external payroll audits, including preparing documentation, resolving findings, and supporting corrective actions.
• Develop and deliver payroll reports, analytics, and dashboards for HR, Finance, management, and stakeholders.
• Research and resolve payroll discrepancies, teammate inquiries, tax notices, system issues, and reconciliation differences.
• Supervise and develop payroll staff by assigning work, setting expectations, monitoring priorities, and ensuring coverage.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, Operations, Legal, leadership, vendors, and auditors to support payroll administration and compliance.
• Identify and implement improvements to enhance payroll accuracy, efficiency, controls, system functionality, and teammate experience.
• Protect the confidentiality and security of payroll, compensation, tax, teammate, and company information.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive payroll administration experience, including multi-state payroll and support for 1000+ associates.
• Thorough knowledge of payroll processing, payroll tax, wage and hour requirements, garnishments, deductions, unemployment, year-end processing, and compliance.
• Working knowledge of payroll accounting (journal entries, reconciliations, general ledger reporting, variance analysis).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (advanced Excel); experience with payroll/HCM systems and reporting tools preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise discretion, and handle sensitive information.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and prioritization skills with high attention to detail.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills for diverse audiences (teammates, leaders, vendors, agencies).
• Ability to work independently, manage deadlines, lead a team, and collaborate with stakeholders.

Accountabilities

• Ensure accurate, timely, secure, and compliant payroll processing for all assigned populations.
• Maintain effective payroll controls, reconciliations, records, documentation, and audit readiness.
• Support continuous improvement of payroll processes, systems, reporting, compliance, and teammate service.

Relationships

Reports to the Human Resources Senior Director. Collaborates with HR, Finance, Operations, Legal, leadership, teammates, payroll vendors, tax agencies, and auditors.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package: medical, dental, vision, and 401K match.
• Rich wellness program with onsite health clinic and workout facility.
• Dog-friendly workplace.
• Collaborative, creative, and team-oriented environment with opportunities for growth and risk-taking.