Senior Manager - Corporate Payroll

The Senior Payroll Manager is a strategic and operational leader responsible for overseeing the payroll function across multiple divisions, union vs. non-union and pay cycles (weekly, bi-weekly, and semi-monthly). This role ensures the accurate, timely, and compliant processing of payroll in accordance with federal, state, and local laws, while providing a long-term vision for scalable payroll operations. The Senior Payroll Manager leads a team of professionals and serves as a subject matter expert in payroll systems, tax compliance, certified payroll, reporting (union and non-union), and integration of new acquisitions.

The ideal candidate combines deep technical payroll knowledge with a forward-thinking mindset-leveraging technology, systems optimization, and process improvements to identify efficiencies and implement robust checks and balances. This role partners closely with cross-functional leaders in HR, Finance, Legal, and IT to align payroll strategy with organizational goals.

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and implement a long-term payroll strategy aligned with business growth, compliance, and operational excellence.
• Leads the development of enterprise payroll practices and policies and delicately influences change across decentralized payroll processors and union environments.
• Works with platform businesses on the use of ERP/HRIS for payroll and related processes.
• Provide payroll insight and counsel to senior leadership on trends, system capabilities, and workforce impacts.

Payroll Operations:

• Oversee payroll operations for employees across all business units, ensuring timely and accurate processing corporate payroll, benefits, reporting and tax procedures to ensure systems are set-up appropriately and updated to reflect current employee base, including wages, union fringe calculations, paid time off, and are aligned with union agreements.
• Maintain compliance with all applicable wage, hour, and tax regulations across jurisdictions.
• Serve as a key liaison to third-party vendors (e.g., ADP, UKG), ensuring optimal service delivery.

Acquisition & Project Integration:

• Lead the payroll integration for new acquisitions, including system mapping, process standardization, and employee onboarding.
• Partner with project teams to ensure payroll readiness and success during system implementations and business transitions.
• Payroll SME and lead during phased payroll migration to corporate platforms. Influencing payroll optimization while ensuring all finance and accounting practices are aligned, timely and accurate.

Process Optimization & Technology:

• Identify and implement process efficiencies through automation, system enhancements, and integration opportunities.
• Continuously assess payroll workflows and controls, incorporating best practices and internal audit recommendations.
• Drive technology adoption and system upgrades (ERP, HRIS, timekeeping) to improve accuracy and scalability.

Compliance & Risk Management:

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax laws, as well as certified payroll, prevailing wage, and union reporting.
• Monitor and respond to legislative and regulatory updates, proactively adjusting processes as needed.
• Lead payroll and union audits and manage inquiries from internal/external auditors and regulatory bodies.

Reporting & Analytics:

• Oversee the preparation and distribution of payroll metrics, dashboards, and reports for Finance, HR, and leadership.
• Ensure accurate and timely union reporting.
• Develop KPIs to measure payroll efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and cost management.

Team Leadership:

• Manage, coach, and develop payroll team members to ensure high performance and professional growth.
• Promote a culture of accountability, service excellence, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field required.
• 7+ years' progressive U.S. payroll experience, with at least 4 years' leading a payroll team.
• Extensive experience in integrating new acquisitions, processing and administration.
• Proven track record in payroll system implementation and ERP integrations.
• Demonstrated experience in multi-state, multi-union and non-union payroll environments.
• Preferred experience with UKG and ADP WFN payroll systems.
• Certified payroll professions (CPP) strongly preferred.
• Visionary mindset with the ability to translate business goals into payroll strategy.
• Expertise in payroll tax compliance, certified payroll, and union reporting.
• Strong knowledge of ADP, UKG (UltiPro), or equivalent payroll platforms and ERP systems.
• Advanced Excel and data analysis/reporting skills.
• Ability to leverage technology and best practices to streamline and optimize payroll processing.
• High attention to detail with strong organizational and project management abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills across levels and functions.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and integrity in handling confidential data.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

This position is a largely sedentary role; however, some filing is required. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand, as necessary.

Work Environment

This job operates in both an office and a field environment. Must be able to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time.

Reasonable Accommodation

Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions unless doing so presents an undue hardship on the Company's business operations.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Employee understands the above job description and agrees to comply with and be subject to its conditions. Employee further agrees this job description does not alter his/her at-will employment status. Employee understands that the Company reserves the right to delegate, remove, expand or change any and all responsibilities. Employee acknowledges that he/she can fulfill the above duties with or without reasonable accommodation.