Payroll Manager - Cox Farms

BrightFarms Inc•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

Cox Farms, which operates throughout North America, is part of the Cox Enterprises family of businesses and a pioneering leader in the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) industry. Backed by Cox Enterprises’ long-standing commitment to building stronger businesses and a better world, Cox Farms is dedicated to revolutionizing food production through sustainable and innovative technology. Our cutting-edge facilities leverage advanced agronomic, production, and greenhouse systems to deliver fresh, high-quality produce to consumers year-round—minimizing environmental impact while maximizing resource efficiency.

Requirements

5-7 years of experience in payroll operations, with demonstrated expertise in US and Canadian payroll
3+ years leading or managing a payroll team with direct accountability for results
Strong knowledge of multi-state/province tax rules, garnishments, statutory deductions, and year-end requirements
Familiarity with ADP, Workday Payroll, or comparable enterprise payroll systems
Proven ability to manage payroll independently, identifying and resolving issues without escalation
Demonstrated experience coaching, mentoring, and building strong working relationships with direct reports, including managing performance issues in partnership with HR
Clear, concise, and professional written and verbal communication skills across all levels of the organization; correspondence, reports, and documentation are well-structured and error-free without requiring editing support
Hands-on proficiency running and building reports independently

Nice To Haves

10+ Experience managing multi-state and multi-province payroll within a single payroll cycle
Experience working with ADP, Workday Payroll, or comparable enterprise payroll systems
Experience building SOPs and internal controls in a growing organization

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end payroll processing across North America and is accountable for accuracy, timeliness, and compliance
Serve as the organization's payroll subject matter expert providing guidance on tax rules, garnishments, statutory deductions, and year-end filings (i.e. W-2, T4, RL-1)
Identify and resolve discrepancies independently and with urgency; communicate resolutions in a timely manner with a customer-service approach
Own the payroll systems and vendor relationship across North America, including report configuration, testing, and troubleshooting
Partner with Finance, HR, and external vendors to ensure seamless payroll integration and data integrity
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing payroll team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Set clear performance goals and provide regular feedback and coaching to team members
Promote cross-training and knowledge sharing to build team resilience and adaptability
Identify and implement process enhancements to improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, and employee experience
Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure operational excellence
Apply performance standards, peer-review practices, and escalation paths for Payroll teams
Develop and maintain Payroll policies and processes including but not limited to policies on time off, sick leave, and error correction
Partner with HR/Employee Relations on all formal performance-related conversations, coaching plans, and documentation
Track commitments made to the team (assignments, follow-ups, open issues) and close the loop timely and reliably
Leverage technology and automation to streamline payroll operations and reporting
Ensure compliance with all payroll-related audits, filings, and remittances (e.g., IRS, CRA, state/provincial agencies)
Lead internal controls and risk mitigation strategies related to payroll and tax compliance
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of payroll legislation, tax laws, and regulatory changes
Independently drive continuous improvement of payroll processes by identifying inefficiencies and implementing solutions
Monitor regulatory changes across North America and implement required updates proactively
Manage audits, tax filings, and government remittances; maintain compliance with internal controls and data privacy requirements
Build scalable processes that support business expansion without degradation in accuracy or compliance
Lead payroll readiness for organizational changes (M&A, new provinces/states, headcount growth)
Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll-related inquiries and escalations
Collaborate with internal stakeholders to support business initiatives, workforce changes, and compliance requirements
Provide strategic insights and reports to senior leadership on payroll trends, risks, and opportunities
Communicate payroll matters to the Head of Total Rewards and other stakeholders clearly and proactively
Produce all written communication — including emails, reports, policy documentation, and correspondence with employees, vendors, and government agencies — at a professional, polished standard appropriate to a management-level role, free of grammatical and structural errors
Produce accurate payroll reporting and analysis that supports business continuity needs