Payroll & Accounting Manager

Position: Payroll & Accounting Manage

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: In-Person - Grand Junction, CO

Pay: $65,000 - $80,000 per year

Position Summary:

Evergreen Administrative Services is seeking an experienced Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) to lead payroll operations across our client portfolio. This role owns the accuracy and integrity of payroll from end to end, overseeing multi-client processing, daily account reconciliations, tax compliance and remittance, and new client onboarding while staying hands-on with direct processing when needed. We're looking for someone who brings both deep payroll expertise and the structure and judgment to manage it at scale.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee multi-state, multi-client payroll processing across weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly cycles, stepping in to directly process payroll as needed
• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned to support the overall success of the Evergreen team
• Provide guidance and mentorship to payroll team members as needed
• Stay current on payroll legislation, IRS guidance, and Colorado law changes, applying updates across client accounts proactively
• Partner closely with the HR team to ensure seamless payroll processing through the full employee lifecycle, from onboarding through offboarding and final pay
• Drive process improvement and efficiency initiatives across payroll and accounting workflows
• Lead system upgrades, integrations, and testing of payroll software, partnering with vendors and internal teams as needed
• Generate and review standard and ad hoc payroll and accounting reports for management, clients, finance, and HR
• Maintain strict confidentiality of all payroll, employee, and client data in accordance with company policies and applicable privacy regulations
• Lead resolution of payroll discrepancies before payroll is finalized, identifying root causes and communicating resolutions to clients
• Oversee preparation, reconciliation, and timely filing of payroll tax returns and required reports, including 941s, W-2s, and 1099s, and ensure timely remittance of all associated tax payments
• Ensure ongoing compliance with federal and state payroll regulations, including Colorado's FAMLI, HFWA, and wage and hour laws — proactively identifying and resolving gaps before they become issues
• Oversee calculation and processing of all payroll deductions, including federal, state, and local tax withholdings, benefits premiums, 401(k) contributions, and voluntary deductions
• Manage daily account reconciliations across client accounts, ensuring accuracy between payroll, the general ledger, and bank activity
• Oversee onboarding of new clients into the payroll system, ensuring accurate configuration of pay policies, deductions, and tax settings
• Serve as the senior point of contact for payroll and accounting matters across assigned client accounts, resolving escalated inquiries and discrepancies

Requirements

• Minimum 3 years of hands-on payroll processing experience — PEO or multi-client experience strongly preferred
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) strongly preferred
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state payroll tax compliance, wage and hour laws, and reporting requirements
• Experience processing multi-state payroll
• Proficiency with payroll software platforms — experience with Prism, Worklio, ADP, Paylocity, MasterTax, Vertex, or similar systems preferred
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, reconciliation).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong attention to detail with a track record of high accuracy under deadline pressure
• Experience with benefits deduction reconciliation and year-end payroll processes
• Familiarity with Colorado-specific requirements including CO FAMLI, and Colorado HFWA
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with the utmost discretion
• Excellent communication skills — able to clearly explain payroll matters to clients and employees

Benefits based on eligibility

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Supplemental Insurance
• 401k with matching contribution
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays

Evergreen provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.