Payroll Manager

Vida HR•Colorado Springs, CO

13d•$78,000 - $88,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Vida HR is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead a team responsible for multi-state payroll processing across a diverse portfolio of client organizations. This is a working-manager role combining people leadership, payroll operations, client escalations, implementation support, and process improvement. The Payroll Manager maintains a small portfolio of assigned payrolls, generally not exceeding approximately 20% of the Payroll Specialist position's regular workload, and provides additional processing support for temporary coverage. The role partners closely with the Director of HCM Solutions, who provides isolved and technical training and supports system configuration and platform-related improvements.

Requirements

At least seven years of hands-on payroll processing experience, including high-volume and multi-state payrolls.
At least two years of direct supervisory or people-management experience.
Demonstrated ability to lead payroll operations while personally processing payroll and resolving complex issues.
Working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll requirements, wage and hour considerations, garnishments, payroll taxes, and year-end processes.
Strong client-service judgment, attention to detail, organization, and written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to prioritize competing deadlines, make sound decisions, and remain calm and accountable when resolving urgent payroll matters.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel.

Nice To Haves

Experience processing payroll in an HRIS; strong isolved experience is highly preferred.
Experience working in an HRO, PEO, payroll service bureau, or other multi-client environment.
Fundamental Payroll Certification or Certified Payroll Professional designation preferred; if not currently certified, willingness to obtain an agreed-upon certification within one (1) year of hire.
Associate's or bachelor's degree in business, accounting, human resources, or a related field; equivalent experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

Lead, support, and hold accountable the Lead Payroll Specialist and Payroll Specialists through clear expectations, regular one-on-one meetings, coaching, feedback, and performance management.
Partner with the Lead Payroll Specialist to coordinate daily workflow, reinforce department procedures, and support consistent service delivery.
Participate in hiring and onboarding and recommend staffing or workload changes when needed.
Identify development needs, coach team members on performance and client service, and coordinate isolved and technical training with the Director of HCM Solutions.
Coordinate daily payroll operations and ensure client payrolls are completed accurately and on time.
Assign and balance payroll workloads based on complexity, volume, team capacity, and service needs.
Monitor payroll schedules, deadlines, exceptions, and service risks and intervene when a payroll is at risk of delay or error.
Maintain a limited portfolio of assigned payrolls that generally does not exceed approximately 20 percent of the position's regular workload.
Provide additional payroll-processing coverage during vacations, leaves, vacancies, peak periods, and other temporary business-continuity needs.
Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for various payroll processes to ensure consistent, efficient, and accurate payroll processing.
Identify and implement opportunities to improve payroll efficiency, reduce manual work, strengthen controls, and make effective use of isolved and related technology.
Participate in payroll-readiness reviews for new clients and confirm that documented payroll requirements and processing inputs are ready for the first live payroll.
Process and oversee the first two to three live payrolls following implementation to identify gaps and stabilize the payroll process.
Document client-specific payroll requirements and complete a structured handoff to the assigned Payroll Specialist after the stabilization period.
Communicate setup concerns and recurring issues to the implementation team and Director of HCM Solutions; system configuration remains with the appropriate HCM or implementation resource.
Serve as the escalation point for complex payroll questions, significant service concerns, recurring errors, and sensitive client situations rather than routine client inquiries.
Investigate issues thoroughly, coordinate corrective action, communicate clearly with affected clients, and confirm resolution.
Review significant or recurring errors, identify the cause, and implement practical corrective and preventive actions.
Maintain and improve payroll procedures, checklists, controls, and documentation in partnership with the team and Director of HCM Solutions.
Monitor a focused set of department measures, including payroll timeliness, material errors, adjustments, workload, and client-impacting escalations.
Recognize potential compliance concerns and escalate them to the appropriate internal or external resource.
Partner with Client Services, Human Resources, Benefits, Finance, and HCM team members to resolve cross-functional payroll matters.
Maintain appropriate confidentiality, security, and access controls for payroll and employee information.