Payroll Team Lead
About The Position
The Lead Payroll Specialist serves as the functional expert and operational lead for payroll, overseeing end-to-end multi-state payroll processing, compliance, and continuous improvement. This person is the primary payroll subject matter expert, responsible for ensuring accuracy, resolving complex issues, improving processes, and partnering across HR, Finance, and leadership. The role is based in Chicago, Illinois, in a hybrid work environment, with on-site presence on Mondays and Tuesdays. The organization operates in financial services, including fintech, insurance, and investment sectors, and comprises nine companies. The schedule is Monday through Friday. This is a contract-to-hire position. The listed pay range is $38.00–$47.00 per hour.
Requirements
- 10–15 years of payroll experience, including lead experience.
- Deep expertise in multi-state payroll processing and strong command of federal and state compliance, tax regulations, and wage and hour laws.
- Strong analytical skills and proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including the ability to build and interpret payroll reports.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to explain complex payroll topics to non-payroll stakeholders.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage competing priorities under tight deadlines.
- Technology-forward mindset, with an active interest in automating, improving, and scaling payroll processes.
Nice To Haves
- Hands-on Workday Payroll experience is strongly preferred.
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation preferred.
- Experience with NetSuite or a similar general ledger system is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Own and execute biweekly multi-state payroll processing for exempt and nonexempt employees across multiple legal entities using Workday Payroll.
- Collect, audit, calculate, and enter payroll information while maintaining data integrity and accuracy.
- Serve as the primary escalation point for complex payroll questions and year-end processing, including W-2 preparation, balancing, adjustments, and amendments.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including FLSA, wage and hour laws, overtime requirements, and termination pay regulations.
- Manage payroll tax obligations, including registering in new states, closing inactive accounts, and resolving tax notices with third-party providers.
- Partner with internal teams on onboarding, offboarding, compensation changes, deductions, and benefits administration.
- Develop and maintain payroll reporting and analytics to support business and leadership needs.
- Reconcile monthly payroll bank transactions and support month-end close activities, including journal entries and general ledger reconciliations.
- Identify opportunities to automate manual payroll processes and improve operational efficiency.
Benefits
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Critical illness, accident, and hospital coverage
- 401(k) retirement plan with pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions
- Voluntary life and AD&D insurance for the employee and dependents
- Short- and long-term disability coverage
- Health Spending Account (HSA)
- Transportation benefits
- Employee Assistance Program
- Time off and leave, including PTO, vacation, or sick leave, subject to eligibility and applicable terms
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
