Accounting Payroll Manager
About The Position
The Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) is seeking an Accounting Payroll Manager for its Financial Operations group, which facilitates transactional and accounting activity at NLR. The manager leads accurate, timely, and compliant multi-state payroll operations, supervises and develops payroll staff, and serves as the organization’s payroll subject matter expert. The role ensures compliance with federal, state, and local requirements, GAAP, Department of Energy contractual requirements, and NLR policies and procedures. The position strengthens payroll controls and improves processes, systems, and automation. It partners with Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, vendors, and organizational leadership to provide efficient and responsive service. The role also researches complex payroll matters, analyzes regulatory and statutory standards and their impact on financial reporting, and recommends how to apply those standards to new or unusual transactions. Other accounting and Financial Operations duties may be assigned, and the manager may act as a management delegate on a short-term basis.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field; degree must be completed before employment begins.
- At least 14 years of progressively responsible payroll experience.
- Demonstrated experience with multi-state payroll, compliance, tax reporting, audits, and payroll system administration.
- People leadership or supervisory experience, or experience directing or being responsible for the work of others in an individual-contributor role.
- Extensive knowledge of payroll laws, tax requirements, accounting principles, internal controls, and financial reporting.
- Proficiency with payroll and HRIS platforms, payroll accounting, Excel, and financial systems; experience with Workday Payroll and Timekeeping or a comparable enterprise system.
- Strong leadership, team development, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.
- Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to collaborate across departments, influence stakeholders, and deliver customer-focused continuous improvement.
- Demonstrated knowledge of legal and ethical management issues and practices and in-depth knowledge of the relevant field.
- Previous management and budget adherence experience may be required.
- Excellent organization, project management, budgeting, interpersonal, and communication skills.
- Proven problem-solving and negotiation skills; ability to make appropriate decisions about work activities and projects.
- Ability to effectively lead and direct personnel with diverse skills, work styles, and values.
Nice To Haves
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.
- Experience leading payroll transformation, automation, or process improvements and managing outsourced payroll or vendor relationships.
- Experience supporting complex payroll structures or multiple jurisdictions.
Responsibilities
- Direct accurate and timely multi-state payroll processing, resolve complex issues and escalations, and ensure compliance with tax filings, W-2s, statutory reporting, registrations, and organizational requirements.
- Supervise, lead, coach, and develop payroll staff while fostering accountability, collaboration, customer service, and continuous improvement.
- Strengthen payroll processes, systems, automation, policies, procedures, and controls by analyzing performance, identifying risks, and implementing improvements and corrective actions.
- Oversee payroll accounting, including journal entries, accruals, general ledger activity, reconciliations, close support, variance analysis, and management recommendations.
- Manage payroll providers, banking partners, benefits vendors, and other third parties, ensuring effective governance and service delivery.
- Partner with HR, Finance, IT, vendors, and payroll staff to resolve system issues and support implementations, upgrades, integrations, testing, and configuration improvements.
- Coordinate payroll-related audits, maintain supporting documentation, address findings, and ensure effective risk management and compliance.
- Perform other accounting and Financial Operations duties as assigned.
- Act as a management delegate as needed on a short-term basis.
- Research complex technical payroll issues, analyze regulations and statutory standards and their financial reporting impact, and recommend how to apply those standards to new and unusual transactions.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- Short- and long-term disability insurance.
- Pension benefits.
- 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match.
- Life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.
- Personal time off (PTO) and sick leave.
- Paid holidays.
- Tuition reimbursement, subject to eligibility; limited-term positions are not eligible.
- Potential eligibility for performance-, merit-, and achievement-based awards with a monetary component; awards are not guaranteed.
- Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
