Sr Payroll Manager (930955)

Equus•Louisville, KY

21d

About The Position

The Senior Payroll Manager oversees end-to-end payroll operations for a multi-state, multi-entity organization, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing. This role serves as the subject-matter expert and functional owner for the Payroll system, leading system implementations, configurations, integrations, audits, and ongoing enhancements. The position also manages payroll-related projects, including acquisitions, system upgrades, and process improvements, and leads and develops payroll staff while partnering with HR and Finance leadership.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, HR, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
At least 7 years of progressive payroll experience, including multi-state payrolls.
Hands-on expertise with payroll systems such as ADP, Ceridian, or UKG.
Experience with payroll implementations and system configuration.
Strong payroll compliance knowledge and project management experience.
Advanced Excel and analytical skills.

Nice To Haves

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP).
Experience supporting payroll for large or complex organizations.

Responsibilities

Oversee full-cycle payroll processing for salaried, hourly, exempt, and non-exempt employees across multiple states and payroll schedules.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage-and-hour laws, tax regulations, garnishments, and reporting requirements.
Review and approve payroll audits, variance analyses, off-cycle payrolls, and year-end activities, including W-2s, corrections, and amendments.
Establish, document, and enforce payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls.
Resolve complex payroll issues, including retroactive pay, corrections, tax discrepancies, and regulatory inquiries.
Own the Payroll system, including payroll, tax, time and attendance, and integrations.
Lead system configuration and maintenance for pay codes, earnings and deductions, tax setup, workflows, approvals, and security roles.
Partner with the Payroll system vendor and internal stakeholders to troubleshoot issues, implement enhancements, and resolve service challenges.
Conduct system audits to ensure configuration aligns with payroll policies and compliance requirements.
Lead or support payroll implementations, including acquisitions, new company setups, system conversions, and parallel payroll testing.
Manage payroll configuration changes driven by regulatory updates, benefits changes, and organizational restructuring.
Develop testing plans, validate results, coordinate go-live activities, and ensure documentation and post-implementation stabilization.
Manage payroll-related projects from initiation through completion, including scope, timelines, risks, and deliverables.
Collaborate with HR, Finance, Benefits, IT, and external vendors on payroll initiatives.
Identify and implement payroll process improvements through automation and system optimization.
Maintain project documentation and status reporting for leadership.
Manage, coach, and develop payroll staff, supporting accuracy, coverage, and performance accountability.
Mentor staff on advanced payroll topics, compliance matters, and system functionality.
Serve as a strategic payroll partner to HR and Finance leadership.