Payroll Lead

PetSafe Brands•Knoxville, TN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Payroll Lead is responsible for overseeing the organization’s payroll to ensure accurate, timely, secure, and compliant payroll administration for U.S. and Canada operations. This position provides leadership for payroll processing, payroll tax compliance, reporting, reconciliations, audits, system administration, internal controls, and payroll-related policy and procedure administration. The Payroll Lead partners with Human Resources, Finance, Operations, leadership, external vendors, tax agencies, and auditors to support regulatory compliance, data integrity, operational efficiency, and a positive teammate experience. This role is expected to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and confidentiality in all payroll matters.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and relevant payroll leadership experience may be considered.
Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive payroll administration experience, including multi-state payroll experience and payroll support for 1000+ associates.
Thorough knowledge of payroll processing, payroll tax, wage and hour requirements, garnishments, deductions, unemployment, year-end processing, audits, and payroll compliance practices.
Working knowledge of payroll accounting activities, including journal entries, account reconciliations, general ledger reporting, and variance analysis.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including advanced Excel skills; experience with payroll/HCM systems, reporting tools, and business intelligence platforms preferred.
Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise discretion, apply sound judgment, and handle sensitive information appropriately.
Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, prioritization, and follow-through skills with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate payroll information clearly and professionally to teammates, leaders, vendors, agencies, and auditors.
Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and deadlines, lead a team, and collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

experience with payroll/HCM systems, reporting tools, and business intelligence platforms preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee end-to-end payroll operations for U.S. and Canada payrolls, including payroll preparation, review, approval, funding, payment distribution, and post-payroll reconciliation.
Maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, provincial, and local payroll laws and regulations, including wage and hour requirements, payroll taxes, garnishments, deductions, unemployment, and year-end reporting.
Validate payroll-related changes and transactions, including new hires, terminations, compensation changes, bonuses, benefits, deductions, garnishments, and other adjustments.
Partner with Finance to complete payroll-related journal entries, account reconciliations, deduction payments, general ledger reporting, and variance analysis.
Serve as the functional lead for payroll systems, reporting tools, user access controls, system testing, upgrades, implementations, data integrity, and process changes.
Establish and maintain payroll policies, procedures, standard work instructions, checklists, documentation, internal controls, and audit-ready records.
Coordinate internal and external payroll audits by preparing documentation, responding to requests, resolving findings, and supporting corrective actions as needed.
Develop and deliver payroll reports, analytics, and dashboards for Human Resources, Finance, management, and other authorized stakeholders.
Research and resolve payroll discrepancies, teammate inquiries, tax notices, system issues, and reconciliation differences in a timely and professional manner.
Supervise and develop payroll staff by assigning work, setting expectations, monitoring priorities, providing guidance, supporting cross-training, and ensuring appropriate coverage.
Collaborate with Human Resources, Finance, Operations, Legal, leadership, vendors, government agencies, and auditors to support payroll administration, compliance, reporting, and service delivery.
Identify and implement improvements that enhance payroll accuracy, efficiency, internal controls, system functionality, reporting, and teammate experience.
Protect the confidentiality and security of payroll, compensation, tax, teammate, and company information.
Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.