Payroll Supervisor

Meritage Hospitality Group is seeking a Payroll Supervisor to join the team!

What You'll Do:

The Payroll Supervisor oversees all aspects of payroll processing for a multi-state, 9,000+ employee organization, including the preparation, audit, documentation, and disbursement of hourly and salaried payroll. This position ensures all processes comply with federal, state, and local regulations. As a key member of the Human Resources Process team, the Payroll Supervisor leads payroll operations strategically and in alignment with company goals. This position builds strong business relationships with cross-functional departments. The role demands high standards of integrity, accountability, transparency, and compliance regarding internal policies and procedures, government regulations and agencies, and other external partners.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties:

• Oversees the accurate and timely processing of multi-state, multi-location payroll for hourly and salaried employees, ensuring each cycle is complete, balanced, audited, and disbursed on schedule'
• Ensures all payroll practices comply with federal, state, and local wage-and-hour, tax, and reporting requirements; maintains current knowledge of regulatory, legal, and tax changes (including multi-state minimum wage) and implements controls to keep the company compliant
• Manages the payroll tax vendor relationship and coordinates accurate, on-time quarterly and year-end tax filings, deposits, reconciliations, and corrections
• Ensures general ledger account reconciliations are complete, accurate, and timely, and serves as the payroll point of contact for internal and external audits and required government filings
• Establishes and maintains accurate, well-documented payroll processes, procedures, and controls, promoting transparency, data integrity, and audit readiness across the team
• Researches and resolves escalated payroll issues promptly, driving root-cause correction and clear, professional communication with employees and stakeholders
• Leads, develops, and holds the payroll team accountable; sets goals aligned with company objectives and provides ongoing direction, training, coaching, and performance feedback
• Drives continuous improvement of payroll processes and the quality of payroll/HRIS systems (e.g., Workday), including configuration, new functionality, and end-to-end testing prior to implementation
• Coordinates annual and discretionary pay-increase cycles in partnership with Total Rewards Supervisor and Finance
• Supports acquisition due diligence and integration by validating data and ensuring acquired employees are paid accurately and on time
• Prepares standard and ad hoc payroll reporting to support business, finance, and compliance needs
• Performs other duties as assigned

What We Expect From You

The team at Meritage is made up of dedicated, hard-working individuals who exemplify the core values of Meritage. The team has high expectations for themselves and anyone who desires to join them. They also have a lot of fun together and truly enjoy working with one another. It is a team where excellence is expected and accomplishments are celebrated. To join this team, you'll need to demonstrate the same high standards. You'll also need the following qualifications:

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Comprehensive knowledge of multi-state payroll, payroll tax, and wage-and-hour compliance
• Strong commitment to accuracy, accountability, and transparency, supported by sound internal controls and audit readiness
• High ethical standards and proven discretion in handling confidential and sensitive information
• Strong leadership skills; develops, motivates, and holds a team accountable while leading by example
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills; consistently meets deadlines in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail
• Proven ability to manage data and payroll/HRIS systems (e.g., Workday); proficient in Excel and Microsoft Office
• Strong written and verbal communication and customer-service skills, with the ability to build effective cross-functional relationships

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive payroll experience, including multi-state payroll processing
• Minimum of 2 years in a lead or supervisory capacity
• Experience supporting a large (1,000+ employee), multi-location workforce
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax and wage-and-hour regulations
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) - optional

What You Can Expect From Us

As a member of Meritage, you will enjoy the following benefits:

• Competitive base salary and bonus plans
• Health insurance, including medical, dental, vision, and HSA options
• Paid Time Off and Holidays
• 401k
• Meal discounts at all Meritage affiliated restaurants
• Plus various additional perks and benefits

Who We Are

Meritage Hospitality Group, headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI, is one of the nation's premier restaurant operators with more than 300 restaurants operating in 15 states. We are one of the largest Wendy's franchisees and just opened our first Bojangles restaurant. In addition to quick service, we have developed West Michigan casual dining concepts The Blue Porch and Morning Belle. Each of our concepts deliver a distinct dining experience for our guests and a work environment rich with opportunity for our approximately 9,000 team members.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Inclusion is at the heart of our business.