Payroll Manager

About the role

We’re seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to own end-to-end payroll operations for a complex, multi-unit organization operating across multiple legal entities. This is a high-impact, highly visible role reporting directly to the VP Finance, with responsibility not only for accurate, compliant payroll processing, but also for strengthening controls, improving workflows, and leading a strategic payroll consolidation initiative to unify payroll infrastructure across entities.

Responsibilities

• End-to-end bi-weekly payroll processing (hands-on processing, not oversight only)
• Manage payroll across multiple legal entities and multiple EINs
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, including multi-state considerations
• Handle payroll tax compliance and coordination with tax agencies as needed
• Year-end processing (W-2s) and payroll close activities
• Excel and data reconciliation (auditing, tie-outs, discrepancy resolution)
• Prepare payroll support for financial audits and workers’ compensation audits
• Document processes, organize workflows, and communicate effectively with stakeholders
• Manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Requirements

• 5+ years of payroll management experience with direct payroll processing responsibility
• Proficiency with a major payroll platform such as ADP, Paychex, Paylocity, UKG, or equivalent
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) strongly preferred

Nice to Have Skills

• Restaurant or hospitality payroll exposure, including:
  • Hourly and tipped employees
  • Tip credit considerations, tip pooling, split shifts, and restaurant overtime practices
• Experience with process automation and standardizing payroll best practices across locations/entities
• Prior involvement in enterprise change initiatives (system changes, workflow redesign, consolidation work)