Payroll Manager

About the role

The Payroll Manager oversees and manages the organization’s payroll functions, ensuring pay is processed weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly with speed, accuracy, and absolute confidentiality. This role is responsible for directing payroll operations, implementing efficient processes, and ensuring strict compliance with company policies, union-specific collective bargaining agreements, Service Contract Act (SCA) regulations, and government contract guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the daily workflow and performance of the payroll department and payroll staff (including Payroll Specialists).
• Recruits, interviews, hires, and trains payroll staff.
• Provides constructive and timely performance evaluations.
• Directs, guides, and supervises payroll staff to ensure accurate, timely processing of employee paychecks, deductions, earnings, and regular updates to payroll records.
• Overlooks and conducts rigorous internal audits of payroll data to guarantee absolute compliance with union agreements, SCA regulations, and federal/state government contracting laws.
• Maximizes the use of payroll systems and utilizes Excel to manage, calculate, and verify extensive payroll data, ensuring all system changes are thoroughly vetted.
• Prepares, reviews, and presents comprehensive payroll reports, including summaries of earnings, tax deductions, leave (including compassionate leave), and non-taxable wages for executive leadership.
• Serves as the escalation point for complex payroll discrepancies, employee queries, and cross-departmental financial reconciliations.
• Approves and verifies payroll liabilities, including employee federal and state income taxes, social security taxes, and employer payments for social security, unemployment, and worker's compensation.
• Oversees the accurate processing, verification, and timely issuance of annual W-2 forms and relevant tax filings.
• Continually assesses and updates internal payroll procedures, workflows, and policies to enhance efficiency and security.

Requirements

• Advanced Excel Skills: Must have an expert understanding of Excel functions (e.g., pivot tables, V-lookups, X-lookups, complex formulas, and data modeling) to calculate, audit, and analyze financial metrics.
• Communication & Presentation: Proficient in written and oral communication; able to present financial reporting clearly to executive leadership and handle employee relations diplomatically.
• Mathematical & Financial Acumen: Exceptional ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide into all units of measure using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals from a corporate financial perspective. Ability to calculate and analyze figures such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, margins, percentages, and ratios.
• Leadership & Conflict Resolution: Proven interpersonal skills, active listening, and conflict resolution tactics necessary to manage a team and build strong cross-functional relationships.
• Organization & Drive: Exceptional organizational skills with a proven capability to multi-task, prioritize high-stakes deadlines, and successfully manage multiple corporate accounts/contracts in a high-paced, occasionally stressful environment.
• Technical Literacy: High proficiency in Microsoft Office productivity suite and specialized payroll/HRIS software.

Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field required.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation preferred.
• At least five (5) years of payroll experience required, with a minimum of two (2) years in a supervisory or management capacity preferred.
• Extensive, hands-on experience navigating the Service Contract Act (SCA), Union Workforces, and government contracting rules is highly preferred.
• Deep knowledge of multi-state and federal employment laws, payroll taxes, corporate travel expenses, and reimbursement structures.

Benefits

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.