Payroll Manager, Projects & Transformation (Oracle)

Gallagher•Rolling Meadows, IL

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Payroll Manager, Projects & Transformation partners directly with the Americas Payroll lead, manage payroll-related projects, support Oracle Payroll initiatives, and drive continuous improvement across the payroll function. This is a hands-on role within a lean team, requiring the successful candidate to personally execute many project deliverables while collaborating with HR, HRIS, IT, Finance, Benefits, and other business partners. Approximately 60–70% of the role is dedicated to enterprise and cross-functional projects, while 30–40% focuses on improving payroll operations through process standardization, governance, compliance, and automation. This role will be hybrid and based in our headquarters in Rolling Meadows, IL.

Requirements

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) required.
Deep experience with Oracle Payroll / Oracle Cloud HCM required.
7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including payroll projects and process improvement.
Experience leading business requirements, testing (SIT/UAT), and payroll implementations.
Strong knowledge of payroll operations, compliance, governance, and controls.
Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Nice To Haves

The ideal candidate is a hands-on payroll professional who enjoys leading projects while remaining actively involved in execution.
They are comfortable working independently in a small team, have deep Oracle Payroll expertise, excel at functional testing and process improvement, and can translate strategic direction into practical, scalable payroll solutions.

Responsibilities

Lead payroll-related enterprise and cross-functional projects.
Partner with HR, HRIS, IT, Finance, Benefits, and vendors on payroll initiatives.
Gather and document business requirements.
Develop and execute functional test plans, SIT, UAT, payroll validation, and defect resolution.
Support Oracle Payroll enhancements and optimization.
Challenge technical assumptions to ensure practical business solutions.
Personally execute project deliverables in a lean team environment.
Review existing payroll processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
Design and implement standardized payroll procedures.
Partner with the Americas Payroll Lead on governance and compliance reviews.
Develop operational controls and process documentation.
Identify automation opportunities that improve efficiency and reduce risk.
Support continuous improvement initiatives across the payroll function.

Benefits

Medical/dental/vision plans, which start from day one!
Life and accident insurance
401(K) and Roth options
Tax-advantaged accounts (HSA, FSA)
Educational expense reimbursement
Paid parental leave
Digital mental health services (Talkspace)
Flexible work hours (availability varies by office and job function)
Training programs
Gallagher Thrive program – elevating your health through challenges, workshops and digital fitness programs for your overall wellbeing
Charitable matching gift program