Payroll Manager

Position Overview

Our company is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead multi-state payroll operations while serving as the primary administrator of the company's HRIS platform. This individual will own payroll compliance, payroll tax administration, system optimization, reporting, and process improvement initiatives while leading a small team and partnering closely with HR and Finance leadership.

This is a highly visible role that combines deep payroll expertise with HR technology administration and process leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage full-cycle payroll processing across multiple states.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• Oversee payroll tax filings, reconciliations, registrations, and year-end activities.
• Manage garnishments, child support orders, and court-ordered deductions.
• Conduct payroll audits and resolve payroll discrepancies.
• Develop and maintain payroll controls, policies, and procedures.
• Serve as the organization's payroll compliance expert.
• Act as primary administrator of the HRIS platform.
• Manage system configuration, security roles, workflows, and integrations.
• Lead HRIS upgrades, implementations, testing, and enhancement projects.
• Partner with HR and Finance to ensure data integrity and reporting accuracy.
• Identify automation opportunities and process improvements.
• Supervise, coach, and develop payroll team members.

Ideal Candidate Background

• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience.
• 3+ years processing multi-state payroll.
• 3+ years of HRIS administration experience.
• Strong knowledge of payroll tax compliance and wage-and-hour regulations.
• Experience managing payroll for a mid-to-large employee population.
• Experience handling multi-jurisdiction tax registrations and garnishments.
• Supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Strong analytical and systems-thinking capabilities.
• Experience with payroll implementations or system conversions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or related field.
• Manufacturing industry experience.
• ADP expertise.
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation.

Selling Points

• High-impact role with ownership of both payroll operations and HR technology.
• Opportunity to lead payroll modernization and automation initiatives.
• Strong cross-functional exposure with HR and Finance leadership.
• Direct influence on compliance, efficiency, and employee experience.
• Leadership responsibilities with team development opportunities.

Candidate Targets

Strong backgrounds may come from:

• Manufacturing companies
• Distribution organizations
• Multi-state employers
• ADP Workforce Now environments
• Payroll Managers
• Senior Payroll Managers
• Payroll & HRIS Managers
• Payroll Operations Leaders
• Senior Payroll Specialists ready for management

Recruiter Intake Questions

1. How many employees are you currently processing payroll for?
2. How many states are included in your payroll operation?
3. What payroll system(s) have you used? ADP?
4. Have you administered an HRIS platform?
5. Have you managed payroll tax filings and registrations?
6. Have you handled garnishments and multi-state compliance?
7. Have you supervised payroll staff?
8. Have you led a payroll conversion or HRIS implementation?
9. What is your current compensation and target compensation?
10. Why are you considering a move?

Based on the scope, I would benchmark this role around $110K–$145K base salary, with stronger candidates (ADP, manufacturing, CPP, large multi-state payroll) potentially commanding $150K+ depending on market and location.