Payroll Manager

Job Title: Payroll Manager

Department: Payroll

Job Summary:

The Payroll Manager will oversee and manage the organization’s payroll functions, ensuring pay is processed weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly with speed, accuracy, and absolute confidentiality. This role is responsible for directing payroll operations, implementing efficient processes, and ensuring strict compliance with company policies, union-specific collective bargaining agreements, Service Contract Act (SCA) regulations, and government contract guidelines.The ideal candidate possesses exceptional analytical math skills, advanced Excel proficiency, and a proven track record of leading payroll functions in complex regulatory environments. Please note that as part of our interview process, candidates will be asked to complete an advanced Excel proficiency assessment.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Oversees the daily workflow and performance of the payroll department and payroll staff (including Payroll Specialists).

• Recruits, interviews, hires, and trains payroll staff.

• Provides constructive and timely performance evaluations.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Department Leadership: Directs, guides, and supervises payroll staff to ensure accurate, timely processing of employee paychecks, deductions, earnings, and regular updates to payroll records.

• Compliance & Auditing: Overlooks and conducts rigorous internal audits of payroll data to guarantee absolute compliance with union agreements, SCA regulations, and federal/state government contracting laws.

• Data & System Management: Maximizes the use of payroll systems and utilizes Excel to manage, calculate, and verify extensive payroll data, ensuring all system changes are thoroughly vetted.

• Financial Reporting: Prepares, reviews, and presents comprehensive payroll reports, including summaries of earnings, tax deductions, leave (including compassionate leave), and non-taxable wages for executive leadership.

• Liability Calculation: Approves and verifies payroll liabilities, including employee federal and state income taxes, social security taxes, and employer payments for social security, unemployment, and worker's compensation.

• Dispute Resolution: Serves as the escalation point for complex payroll discrepancies, employee queries, and cross-departmental financial reconciliations.

• Year-End Operations: Oversees the accurate processing, verification, and timely issuance of annual W-2 forms and relevant tax filings.

• Process Improvement: Continually assesses and updates internal payroll procedures, workflows, and policies to enhance efficiency and security.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Advanced Excel Skills: Must have an expert understanding of Excel functions (e.g., pivot tables, V-lookups, X-lookups, complex formulas, and data modeling) to calculate, audit, and analyze financial metrics.

• Communication & Presentation: Proficient in written and oral communication; able to present financial reporting clearly to executive leadership and handle employee relations diplomatically.

• Mathematical & Financial Acumen: Exceptional ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide into all units of measure using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals from a corporate financial perspective. Ability to calculate and analyze figures such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, margins, percentages, and ratios.

• Leadership & Conflict Resolution: Proven interpersonal skills, active listening, and conflict resolution tactics necessary to manage a team and build strong cross-functional relationships.

• Organization & Drive: Exceptional organizational skills with a proven capability to multi-task, prioritize high-stakes deadlines, and successfully manage multiple corporate accounts/contracts in a high-paced, occasionally stressful environment.

• Technical Literacy: High proficiency in Microsoft Office productivity suite and specialized payroll/HRIS software.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field required.

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation preferred.

• At least five (5) years of payroll experience required, with a minimum of two (2) years in a supervisory or management capacity preferred.

• Extensive, hands-on experience navigating the Service Contract Act (SCA), Union Workforces, and government contracting rules is highly preferred.

• Deep knowledge of multi-state and federal employment laws, payroll taxes, corporate travel expenses, and reimbursement structures.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

• Occasional periods of prolonged exposure to loud noises.

• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds at times.

• Ability to stand, walk, and reach with arms and hands as necessary.

• Ability to hear and see to position and safety requirement levels.

• Occasional exposure to elements such as heat, cold, noise, dust, dirt, and chemicals.

Special Qualifications/Requirements

• Must be able to successfully pass as required a federal, state, or local government's background investigation.

• Bilingual preferred (Spanish).

Disclaimer

The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time; or the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.

The contractor will not discharge or, in any other manner, discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(cc)