Payroll Lead

Aston Carter•Berwyn, IL

1d•$38 - $46•Hybrid

About The Position

The Payroll Lead oversees end-to-end payroll operations in a fast-paced financial technology environment, managing complex, multi-entity and multi-state payroll processing. This role ensures accurate and compliant payroll execution across 26 states, serves as a subject matter expert for payroll tax and compliance, and drives continuous process and system improvements within Workday. The Payroll Lead partners closely with HR, Finance, and external vendors, mentors payroll team members, and supports audits, reporting, and regulatory filings for a growing organization of approximately 1,700 employees across multiple companies.

Requirements

At least 5+ years of experience in complex payroll environments.
Strong multi-state payroll experience, including processing payroll across multiple jurisdictions.
Hands-on experience with Workday payroll as the primary payroll system.
Deep understanding of payroll tax and compliance regulations at the federal, state, and local levels.
Proven ability to troubleshoot payroll issues and drive timely, accurate resolutions.
Experience supporting multi-entity organizations, preferably with multiple operating companies under a single structure.
Detail-oriented approach with strong analytical skills for reviewing and reconciling payroll data.
Ability to manage competing priorities in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
Demonstrated process improvement mindset, with experience identifying and implementing enhancements to payroll processes.
Subject matter expertise in payroll tax and compliance sufficient to identify issues and understand their implications.

Nice To Haves

CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification highly preferred.
Experience working in financial services, such as fintech, insurance, or investment environments.
Experience supporting large-scale organizations of 1,000+ employees, ideally around 1,700 employees across multiple entities.
Familiarity with multi-company structures and intercompany payroll considerations.
Ability to partner with external vendors and service providers to optimize payroll operations.
Strong documentation skills for payroll processes, procedures, and controls.
Comfort working with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems alongside Workday payroll.
Track record of contributing to system optimization and configuration improvements within Workday.

Responsibilities

Manage full-cycle payroll processing for a multi-entity organization operating across 26 states.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations for all entities and jurisdictions.
Act as the subject matter expert for payroll tax and compliance matters, providing guidance to internal stakeholders.
Troubleshoot and resolve complex payroll discrepancies, tax issues, and system-related problems in a timely manner.
Partner with HR, Finance, and external vendors to support seamless payroll operations and resolve cross-functional issues.
Maintain, review, and audit payroll data to ensure accuracy, integrity, and consistency across systems and entities.
Support and lead process improvements and system optimization initiatives within Workday payroll.
Assist with internal and external audits, payroll reporting, and regulatory filings as needed.
Mentor and support payroll team members by sharing expertise, reviewing work, and fostering best practices.
Manage competing priorities in a high-volume environment while meeting deadlines and service-level expectations.
Identify opportunities to enhance payroll processes, controls, and documentation to improve efficiency and compliance.
Communicate clearly and professionally with employees and stakeholders regarding payroll-related inquiries and issues.