AVP of Payroll

Mariner Finance•Nottingham, MD

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Provide strategic and operational leadership for Mariner’s payroll function, with accountability for the accuracy, timeliness, compliance, efficiency, and overall effectiveness of payroll operations. Establish payroll priorities and lead initiatives across operations, technology, compliance, reporting, audits, controls, and process improvement while partnering with senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to mitigate risk, support business objectives, and continuously enhance the employee payroll experience.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management, Finance, Accounting, or a related field of study. Four (4) years of college coursework or four (4) years of additional experience can be substituted for a bachelor’s degree.
Minimum of eight (8) years of progressive payroll experience, including extensive experience processing multi-state payroll in a high-volume environment with complex compensation structures.
Demonstrated experience administering payroll for a large (1,500+ employee) workforce with a high degree of accuracy and compliance.
Demonstrated experience leading a payroll function with accountability for operational performance, process improvement, technology initiatives, and successful execution of payroll priorities.
Minimum of two (2) years of people leadership experience, including responsibility for team performance, goal alignment, coaching, development, and accountability.
Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll laws, tax regulations, and compliance requirements, with the ability to apply them to complex payroll scenarios.
Demonstrated ability to translate organizational objectives into functional priorities, operating plans, process improvements, and measurable outcomes.
Strong executive communication skills with the ability to advise, influence, and articulate complex payroll, regulatory, operational, and technology matters clearly to senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.
Experience establishing and using performance metrics, service levels, and operational data to evaluate functional performance and drive continuous improvement.
Advanced knowledge of payroll systems and HRIS platforms, with demonstrated experience leading system optimization, integrations, and resolution of complex system issues.
Experience managing payroll audits (internal and external), ensuring audit readiness, and maintaining effective controls.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess organizational risk, business impact, and implement effective solutions.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet critical deadlines in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives, drive outcomes, and build strong working relationships across HR, Finance, IT, and vendor partners.
Demonstrated commitment to data integrity, sound controls, and maintaining confidentiality while handling sensitive information with discretion.
Proficient in Microsoft Office.

Nice To Haves

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.
Experience with Dayforce, UKG, or similar enterprise payroll platforms.
Financial services or highly regulated industry experience.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee the end-to-end payroll function, executing the full-cycle, multi-state payroll processing, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant processing of biweekly payroll for all team members.
Partner with senior leadership to establish payroll strategy and priorities, translating organizational objectives into short- and long-term operating plans, standards, and initiatives that support business needs, mitigate risk, and enhance the employee experience.
Lead and develop the payroll team, aligning individual and team goals with functional priorities and promoting accountability, professional development, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Own payroll cycle execution and controls, ensuring appropriate validation, balancing, reconciliation, approval, and confirmation are completed each pay cycle.
Lead the administration and strategic optimization of payroll systems and technology, establishing priorities and overseeing enhancements, integrations, testing, upgrades, controls, and issue resolution to ensure operational continuity, compliance, scalability, and alignment with evolving business needs.
Develop, document, and continuously improve payroll processes and internal controls to increase efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.
Audit payroll transactions including earnings, deductions, taxes, garnishments, bonuses, incentive payments, referrals, and off-cycle payments, resolving discrepancies promptly.
Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local payroll, wage and hour, tax, and reporting requirements.
Serve as the organization's subject matter expert on payroll laws, tax regulations, and payroll best practices, proactively communicating regulatory changes and business impacts.
Ensure consistent team adherence to regulatory requirements, internal processes, and company policies.
Partner with senior leadership and Human Resources, HRIS, Finance, Accounting, Benefits, Compensation, Legal, and external vendors to influence decisions, advance organizational initiatives, and ensure payroll considerations are incorporated into business plans and changes.
Lead payroll-related audits including external financial audits, Workers' Compensation audits, retirement plan audits, tax audits, and regulatory requests, ensuring ongoing audit readiness and timely response to requests.
Own and execute year-end payroll activities, including W-2 processing, ACA filings, reconciliations, and other required tax and regulatory reporting.
Research and resolve complex payroll issues, tax notices, garnishments, and employee inquiries while delivering exceptional customer service.
Establish and monitor payroll performance metrics, service levels, and trends, maintaining accountability for and identifying opportunities to improve the accuracy, timeliness, compliance, efficiency, and overall effectiveness of payroll operations.
Establish and monitor payroll controls to safeguard confidential employee information and reduce organizational risk.
Develop business continuity and succession plans for payroll operations.
Manage relationships with payroll software providers and third-party vendors to maximize system capabilities and service quality.
Support mergers, acquisitions, organizational changes, and new business initiatives impacting payroll operations.
Responsible for managerial matters such as performance appraisals and goal setting, promotions, salary recommendations, and terminations in accordance with the company hiring process, personnel policies, and budget requirements.
Perform additional duties as needed to support payroll operations and business needs.