Senior Payroll Manager

[solidcore]•Arlington, VA

10h•Hybrid

About The Position

[solidcore] is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Senior Payroll Manager to join our growing Payroll Department. Reporting directly to the Director of Payroll, the Senior Payroll Manager will be responsible for overseeing payroll administration, tax compliance, and financial reporting across a complex, multi-state payroll environment spanning multiple legal entities. This role serves as the subject matter expert for payroll compliance and administration, partnering closely with cross-functional teams in Finance, HR, and Legal to ensure accuracy, regulatory adherence, and data integrity across all entities. The Senior Payroll Manager will directly manage a Payroll Accountant and a Tax Specialist, providing leadership, guidance, and professional development to build a high-performing, compliance-focused team. The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise in multi-state payroll administration, a strategic mindset, and a strong track record of driving process improvements that support organizational growth and scalability.

Requirements

5+ years experience in payroll processing using Namely, Rippling, ADP, Workday or other payroll management companies.
Prior experience in multi-state payroll processing with >3,000 hourly and full time employees.
2+ years of experience leading payroll teams, with a proven ability to mentor, coach, and hold team members accountable to high standards in service, compliance, and execution.
Must possess a strong aptitude to learn and become proficient in various SAAS platforms and Alteryx.
Proficient in Microsoft Excel.
Must have excellent written and verbal communication, strong analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with proven experience managing daily payroll operations, troubleshooting issues, handling approvals and escalations, and meeting tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Quick learner and problem solver when faced with new challenges.
Maintain flexibility in a fast-paced environment.
Knowledge of finance and accounting standards and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
Strong understanding of payroll tax laws, wage and hour regulations, and tax withholding requirements, with the ability to perform root cause analysis and support tax resolution and compliance efforts.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of NetSuite and Alteryx is a plus.
Experience with system implementations is a plus.

Responsibilities

Oversee end-to-end semi-monthly payroll administration, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and adherence to established timelines across regular and off-cycle payroll cycles.
Serve as the primary liaison between Human Resources, Finance, and payroll service providers to ensure the accurate and compliant processing of salaries, benefits, garnishments, taxes, and other deductions.
Evaluate and audit outputs from payroll service providers, establishing quality control standards and driving corrective action where gaps are identified.
Lead payroll tax account management and ensure all payroll-related tax filings are reviewed, submitted accurately, and compliant with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.
Partner with the Accounting team to oversee payroll reconciliations, journal entries, and year-end audit preparation, serving as the subject matter expert for payroll-related financial reporting.
Develop and maintain policies and procedures to ensure data integrity, resolve complex payroll discrepancies, and uphold balanced accounts across all pay periods.
Collaborate closely with the Payroll Operations Manager to ensure alignment between payroll administration and day-to-day processing functions, serving as a key resource for compliance guidance, escalations, and cross-functional coordination.
Lead process improvement initiatives in coordination with the Director of Payroll, identifying opportunities to enhance system efficiency, compliance posture, and scalability in support of organizational growth.