Payroll Tax Risk and Controls Manager

Strada Global•,

About The Position

The Payroll Tax Risk and Controls Manager is responsible for building, implementing, and overseeing operational controls across the Payroll Tax Filing organization. This role will lead internal audits, risk assessments, control testing, and compliance initiatives to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll tax operations for clients. This individual will create scalable control frameworks, identify operational gaps, monitor high-risk processes, and partner with leadership teams to improve service quality, reduce client risk, and strengthen accountability across teams. The role will also support SOC compliance initiatives, audit readiness, process governance, and continuous improvement efforts. The ideal candidate has experience in payroll tax operations, internal audit, risk management, compliance, or operational controls within a payroll, tax, finance, or professional services environment.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in payroll tax filing, payroll operations, compliance, audit, risk management, or operational controls
Experience creating or managing internal controls frameworks in a service-based or operational environment
Strong understanding of payroll tax filing processes, tax notices, amendments, agency compliance, and operational workflows
Experience conducting audits, control testing, process reviews, or compliance assessments
Knowledge of SOC controls, operational risk management, or governance frameworks
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify trends and operational risks
Experience managing remediation efforts and driving process improvements
Ability to work across multiple teams and influence operational change
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Advanced Excel and reporting skills preferred
Experience working in high-volume, deadline-driven operational environments

Nice To Haves

Experience within payroll services, HCM, tax filing, or professional services organizations
Experience supporting SOC 1 or SOC 2 audits
Familiarity with process improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement frameworks
Experience with operational KPI reporting and service delivery metrics
Experience working with enterprise payroll platforms and tax filing systems
Prior experience in a consulting or advisory environment is a plus
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
CPA preferred but not required
Six Sigma certification preferred
Certified Risk and Compliance Management Professional (CRCMP)

Responsibilities

Design and implement a comprehensive controls framework for Payroll Tax Filing operations
Establish control standards, audit procedures, and monitoring processes across teams
Conduct internal operational audits to identify gaps, risks, and process failures
Perform recurring control testing to ensure procedures are operating effectively
Develop risk mitigation plans and partner with operational leaders on corrective actions
Monitor high-risk client accounts and operational trends to identify recurring issues
Support SOC audit activities, documentation, evidence gathering, and remediation tracking
Create reporting dashboards and metrics related to compliance, audit findings, operational health, and control effectiveness
Review workflows and identify opportunities for automation, standardization, and process improvement
Ensure teams are following documented procedures, escalation protocols, and compliance requirements
Partner with leadership to establish governance standards and accountability measures
Lead root cause analysis efforts for operational failures, missed filings, notices, penalties, or client escalations
Develop and maintain process documentation, control narratives, and standard operating procedures
Provide recommendations to improve operational accuracy, client satisfaction, and service delivery consistency
Collaborate cross-functionally with payroll, tax filing, compliance, implementation, client services, and technology teams