Senior Manager Payroll

Sunrise Senior Living•Mclean, VA

About The Position

The Senior Manager Payroll oversees payroll processing function, ensuring accurate, timely and compliant payroll processing for U.S. and Canadian team members. The Senior Manager Payroll also partners closely with Human Resources (HR), Finance, third-party payroll vendors and executive leadership to align payroll operations with business objectives. Lastly, this role serves as the escalation point for complex payroll matters, ensuring effective risk management, strong internal controls and seamless team member experience.

Requirements

Proven Workday hands-on expertise that includes implementing initiatives to optimize Workday functionality and processes
Demonstrated leadership in payroll operations, with the ability to develop and implement payroll optimization that aligns with business objectives
Advanced knowledge of payroll systems, tax regulations, and compliance requirements for U.S. and Canadian payrolls, including multi-state/provincial complexities
Proven ability to lead, mentor and develop a high-performing payroll team, fostering continuous learning and professional growth
Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills to resolve complex payroll and compliance issues efficiently
Strong interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments (e.g., HR, Finance, etc.) and interact professionally with both external vendors and internal stakeholders
Proven ability to identify opportunities for process optimization and automation within the payroll department to improve operational efficiency, reduce errors and enhance service delivery
Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or related field; Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) preferred
Minimum of 7-10 years’ experience managing multi-state/provincial payroll operations across the U.S. and Canada, with at least 3 years in a leadership role
At least 3 years of experience with Workday Payroll as part of the overall Workday Human Capital Management suite that includes in-house Payroll processing and optimization
Strong understanding of tax laws, compliance requirements, and payroll best practices in a highly regulated environment
Demonstrated advanced proficiency in Excel (e.g., pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, macros, etc.) with at least intermediate level proficiency in other Microsoft Office suite applications
Process improvement mindset, with experience leading payroll transformation initiatives, system implementations, and/or automation projects
Proven ability to communicate complex payroll policies and procedures effectively across all levels of the organization
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, meeting strict deadlines while maintaining the highest levels of accuracy

Responsibilities

Utilize Workday expertise to oversee the payroll processing function, ensuring a proactive approach to payroll management across the U.S. and Canada
Collaborate to develop and execute payroll strategies and initiatives to enhance efficiency and drive continuous improvement while also ensuring enterprise-wide compliance with all payroll-related laws, tax regulations, wage & hour laws and company policies
Identify opportunities to enhance payroll efficiency, automation and accuracy by leveraging technology, standardizing procedures and implementing best practices
Partner with Payroll leadership team and third party provider on payroll tax compliance efforts, ensuring accurate tax filings, deductions and reconciliations across multiple jurisdictions
Oversee payroll audits, reconciliations and reporting to ensure data integrity and accuracy
Conduct risk assessments and ensure strong internal controls, identifying areas for improvement in payroll processes, compliance and financial reporting
Ensure payroll systems are optimized, maintained and integrated with HRIS and time-tracking systems, support system updates and improvements as needed
Develop and manage relationships with payroll vendors and service providers, ensuring high-quality service delivery, adherence to SLAs and timely issue resolution
Provide leadership with timely updates concerning new payroll policies, industry trends and regulatory changes to ensure Sunrise consistently follows industry best practices
Partner with HR, Finance and Legal leadership teams to support cross-functional initiatives, mergers/acquisitions and policy implementations impacting payroll
Maintain compliance in assigned required training and all training required by state/province or other regulating authorities as applicable to this role to ensure that Sunrise standards are always met
Perform other duties as assigned