Payroll Manager

Four Inc. • Herndon, VA

33d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Payroll Manager is a key member of the Finance and HR teams responsible for owning the accurate and compliant delivery of multi-state payroll, managing the company’s compensation programs, and assisting with broader total rewards administration. This individual contributor role partners with the Director of Human Resources to support total rewards strategy and program execution and collaborates with the Director of Finance to maintain payroll accuracy, financial integrity, and appropriate internal controls. The role combines strategic ownership of payroll systems and processes with hands-on execution of day-to-day payroll operations. The ideal candidate brings deep payroll expertise, strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to build and maintain efficient, repeatable processes in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in payroll administration, including multi-state payroll processing and full-cycle payroll processing.
• 5+ years of experience supporting compensation, with exposure to broader total rewards programs preferred.
• Strong knowledge of payroll, benefits, and employment laws and regulations including FLSA, ACA, COBRA, ERISA, SCA, and HIPAA.
• Experience working with HRIS and payroll systems required; Paycor and/or Workday experience, with specific emphasis on ERP implementations, is strongly preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data reporting tools.
• Demonstrated experience calculating and processing bonus and commission payments.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to partner effectively across HR, Finance, and leadership teams.
• High level of discretion and ability to manage confidential information.
• Ability to operate independently, prioritize effectively, and maintain a high standard of accuracy and follow-through. Must be able to execute tasks independently once trained.
• Exceptional attention to detail, analytical proficiency, and organization skills.
• Level-headed with sound judgment and demonstrated discretion in handling confidential information.
• An appreciation for both the strategic importance of strong HR/Payroll systems and the necessity of hands-on execution to keep those systems running.
• A desire to continue growing and learning new things.
• A collaborative, proactive mindset. Good team player.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience supporting broader benefits/total rewards programs preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage end-to-end biweekly payroll processing for approximately 100 employees, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Partner with the HR Director to ensure complex situations such as garnishments and leaves of absence (STD, LTD, parental leave, furloughs, etc.) are managed appropriately, employees are paid accurately, and benefits deductions are processed accordingly.
• Partner with the Director of Finance to support payroll reconciliations, general ledger alignment, internal controls, and audits.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local payroll regulations and wage and hour laws. Ensure compliance with specific contract standards and specialized GovCon legislation (e.g. SCA) where applicable.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for compensation and payroll-related employee inquiries and issue resolution, escalating to Director of Finance and/or Director of HR where necessary.
• Support year-end payroll processes and required compliance reporting including ACA and W-2 preparation and distribution.
• Administer accurate monthly short-term incentive, long-term incentive, commission, and other bonus programs, including eligibility tracking, payment calculations in support of accounting accruals, and payment processing. This high-visibility process will require interaction with the Controller, Director of Finance, Director of HR and potentially the Chief Executive Officer, as needed.
• Support administration of the company’s 401(k) retirement plan in partnership with HR and Finance.
• Serve as a subject matter expert during the company’s Workday implementation, and make recommendations regarding new Payroll vendor selection which is currently underway.
• Review timesheets, ensuring their accuracy by verifying changes and resolving issues.
• With the Director of HR, build and maintain market-aligned salary ranges across the organization and ensure updates are reflected in the HRIS.
• Review and process compensation changes to ensure alignment with company pay practices and established ranges.
• Prepare reports and analyze data related to payroll, benefits, and compensation programs, including internal equity reviews.
• Maintain accurate employee data across HRIS and payroll systems. Regularly perform audits and support system improvements to increase efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
• Draft and distribute employee communications related to payroll and total rewards programs. Support employee education initiatives related to payroll, benefits, wellness programs, and total rewards offerings.
• Provide operational support to the HR Director on benefits administration, including open enrollment, new hire enrollments, life event changes, employee benefit terminations, and COBRA notifications.
• Maintain confidentiality and compliance with all applicable laws and company policies.
• Participate in special projects and cross-functional initiatives as needed.
• Lead the continued scaling of Payroll and Total Rewards operations in a growing, multi-state environment.
• Support special projects as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and benefits (medical, dental, vision, 401k with match, company-paid life/short-term disability, long-term disability insurance, paid time off, all federal holidays off, etc.)
• Great company culture and perks (regular office happy hours, peer-to-peer recognition program, free building gym access, hybrid work environment, etc.)
• Opportunity to shape and improve Payroll & Total Rewards foundations in a growing organization.
• Collaborative environment with room for professional development and learning.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed