Senior Manager, Payroll Tax and Compliance

Waste Management, Inc. (WM)•Houston, TX

29d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Payroll Tax and Compliance leads the development and execution of the organization's payroll tax strategy, ensuring full compliance with federal, state, local, and international payroll tax regulations while supporting broader payroll and finance objectives. This role balances strategic leadership with deep technical expertise, overseeing payroll tax operations for a large, complex workforce and serving as a trusted advisor to Payroll, Finance, HR, and leadership. The Senior Manager of Payroll Tax proactively identifies risk, drives continuous improvement, and ensures payroll tax processes are scalable, compliant, and aligned with enterprise priorities

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience, in Accounting, Tax, Business Administration or similar area of study,
8 years previous experience.
3 years of people leadership experience
Deep expertise in payroll tax regulations, compliance, and reporting.
Advanced proficiency with Oracle HCM, ADP Smart Compliance, and payroll tax reporting tools.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex payroll tax data and communicate insights clearly.
Proven leadership, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to anticipate risk, propose solutions, and drive informed decision-making across the organization.

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree or equivalent experience, in Accounting, Tax, Business Administration or similar area of study,
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Certified Protection Professional (CPP)

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a forward-looking payroll tax strategy that aligns with organizational objectives and the overall payroll operating model.
Serve as a strategic partner to Payroll Operations, Accounting, HR, and Legal, contributing insights to executive-level discussions impacting payroll, tax, and workforce initiatives.
Identify emerging payroll tax risks, legislative changes, and compliance trends; proactively assess impacts and recommend mitigation strategies.
Lead and influence cross-functional initiatives related to payroll transformations, system implementations, integrations, and process redesign.
Oversee end-to-end payroll tax operations, ensuring accurate and timely calculation, withholding, filing, and remittance of all payroll taxes.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, and applicable international payroll tax laws, regulations, and reporting requirements.
Provide subject matter expertise on complex taxable transactions, including equity compensation (e.g., RSUs, stock options), supplemental wages, fringe benefits, and multi-state taxation.
Manage the year-end payroll tax process, including W-2/W-2c reporting, reconciliations, and coordination with internal and external auditors.
Oversee payroll tax audits, notices, and inquiries, ensuring timely resolution and effective communication with regulatory agencies.
Establish and maintain strong payroll tax governance, internal controls, and documented procedures to support compliance and audit readiness.
Define and monitor payroll tax key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and operational excellence.
Lead root cause analysis for payroll tax issues and implement corrective and preventive actions.
Ensure payroll tax policies and procedures are regularly reviewed, updated, and communicated to stakeholders
Act as the payroll tax lead for payroll and tax systems, including Oracle HCM, ADP Smart Compliance, and related tools.
Partner with Payroll Operations, Integrations, and Reporting teams to ensure accurate data inputs, system configuration, and reporting integrity.
Drive continuous improvement through automation, standardization, and optimization of payroll tax processes.
Leverage data analytics to identify trends, anomalies, and opportunities to improve compliance and efficiency.
Lead, develop, and mentor payroll tax team members, fostering a culture of accountability, compliance, and continuous improvement.
Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, payroll vendors, and third-party service providers.
Serve as an escalation point for complex payroll tax matters, providing clear guidance and resolution