Payroll Manager – Non-Union Workforce

ABOUT ROCK FORCE

RockForce is the trusted team setting the stage for the greatest moments in live events. With a legacy built on the unification of nine industry leaders, we bring decades of expertise to seamlessly execute concerts, festivals, sporting events, live broadcasts, award shows, and corporate activations.

Through integrated event production, workforce solutions, innovative technologies, and payroll services, RockForce delivers precision, efficiency, and reliability at every scale.

Our people are the magic-united by passion and skill, we operate as one unstoppable force to ensure every event is executed with professionalism, care, and an unwavering commitment to safety and compliance.

Join us as we head into one of the most exciting eras in the live entertainment industry!

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Payroll Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing payroll operations for RockForce's non-union workforce across multiple entities and locations throughout the United States. This role owns the accuracy, timeliness, compliance, and overall administration of payroll processed through Paylocity.

The Payroll Manager will provide hands-on leadership to the payroll team while establishing consistent processes, controls, and accountability across RockForce's non-union payroll operations. This position will work closely with Human Resources, Finance, Operations, Benefits, and company leadership to ensure employees are paid accurately and on time and that payroll practices remain compliant with applicable federal, state, and local requirements.

This is a working manager role requiring someone who can lead the payroll function while also stepping into payroll processing, troubleshooting, reconciliation, reporting, and issue resolution when needed.

Key Responsibilities and Focus Areas

Payroll Operations

• Manage end-to-end payroll operations for RockForce's non-union employee population through Paylocity.
• Ensure payrolls are processed accurately, completely, and on schedule across multiple RockForce entities and locations.
• Review payroll prior to final submission, including regular wages, overtime, bonuses, supplemental earnings, deductions, reimbursements, and other payroll adjustments.
• Establish appropriate payroll review and approval controls to reduce errors and ensure payroll accuracy.
• Monitor payroll deadlines and ensure required information is received from HR, Operations, managers, and other stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Research and resolve payroll discrepancies, employee concerns, missing payments, incorrect deductions, and other payroll-related issues.
• Manage off-cycle and supplemental payrolls when necessary.
• Oversee final pay processing and ensure state-specific final-pay requirements are followed.
• Support year-end payroll activities, including W-2 processing and reconciliation.

Paylocity Administration & Process Improvement

• Serve as the primary payroll subject matter expert for RockForce's Paylocity environment.
• Maintain payroll configurations, earning codes, deduction codes, payroll schedules, workflows, approvals, and related payroll processes.
• Partner with HR and HRIS resources to ensure employee information flows accurately between onboarding, HR, benefits, timekeeping, and payroll.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual payroll processes and improve the use of Paylocity.
• Develop standardized payroll processes across RockForce's non-union entities.
• Troubleshoot Paylocity payroll issues and coordinate with Paylocity support when escalation is necessary.
• Participate in system implementations, integrations, testing, acquisitions, and the onboarding of new RockForce entities into established payroll processes.

Payroll Compliance & Controls

• Maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local payroll and wage-and-hour requirements.
• Monitor multi-state payroll requirements, including state and local taxation, wage deductions, garnishments, paid leave requirements, and final-pay rules.
• Partner with HR leadership on wage-and-hour matters, including overtime classifications and payroll-related compliance concerns.
• Ensure payroll tax registrations, withholding requirements, and payroll tax processes are appropriately maintained.
• Oversee garnishments, levies, child support orders, and other required deductions.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and documentation in accordance with company policy and legal requirements.
• Develop payroll audit procedures and internal controls designed to identify errors before payroll is finalized.
• Support internal and external payroll audits and provide requested documentation and reporting.
• Assist with payroll-related compliance reporting and government inquiries when necessary.

Payroll Team Leadership

• Lead, train, and provide day-to-day direction to RockForce Payroll Partners and seasonal payroll support staff.
• Establish clear responsibilities, processing timelines, quality standards, and accountability across the payroll team.
• Review team workload and allocate responsibilities based on payroll cycles and business needs.
• Provide coaching and development to payroll team members.
• Create cross-training and backup procedures to ensure payroll continuity.
• Develop standard operating procedures and payroll documentation so processes are consistent and not dependent on one individual.
• Monitor payroll team performance, accuracy, responsiveness, and completion of assigned responsibilities.

Reporting & Reconciliation

• Perform and oversee payroll reconciliations before and after each payroll cycle.
• Reconcile payroll data with HR, benefits, and Finance records.
• Prepare payroll reports for HR, Finance, senior leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Support workforce reporting related to wages, hours worked, overtime, bonuses, payroll costs, and other payroll metrics.
• Partner with Finance on payroll funding, general ledger reconciliation, payroll accounting, and related reporting.
• Identify unusual payroll trends, discrepancies, or potential compliance concerns and escalate them appropriately.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner closely with Human Resources to ensure new hires, terminations, compensation changes, status changes, leaves, benefits deductions, and other employee changes are reflected accurately in payroll.
• Work with Operations and managers to resolve timekeeping and payroll discrepancies.
• Partner with Benefits to ensure employee benefit deductions are accurate and reconciled.
• Partner with Finance regarding payroll funding, reporting, reconciliations, and financial controls.
• Communicate payroll deadlines, requirements, and process changes clearly to managers and employees.
• Provide responsive payroll support while maintaining appropriate confidentiality and discretion.

Qualifications

Required Core Competencies

• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including experience managing complex multi-state payroll.
• 3+ years of payroll leadership, supervisory, or management experience.
• Experience processing payroll for a large, geographically dispersed employee population.
• Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll and wage-and-hour requirements.
• Experience with payroll tax, garnishments, deductions, reconciliations, audits, and year-end payroll processing.
• Strong Excel skills and ability to analyze large payroll datasets.
• Demonstrated ability to establish payroll controls, processes, and standard operating procedures.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage high-volume payroll operations and strict deadlines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive employee and compensation information.

Preferred Skills

• Significant hands-on experience with Paylocity, particularly payroll administration and configuration.
• Experience supporting payroll across multiple legal entities and states.
• Experience in a high-volume, hourly, event-based, entertainment, staffing, hospitality, production, or similarly complex workforce environment.
• Experience with payroll system implementations, integrations, acquisitions, or organizational consolidations.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.

Success Measures

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Accurate and timely completion of all scheduled payrolls.
• Reduction in payroll corrections and off-cycle payments.
• Consistent payroll processes across RockForce's non-union entities.
• Timely resolution of employee payroll issues.
• Strong payroll audit results and documentation.
• Effective reconciliation between payroll, HR, benefits, and Finance.
• Increased automation and reduced manual payroll processing.
• Clearly documented payroll procedures and appropriate backup coverage.
• Development of a knowledgeable, responsive, and accountable payroll team.

Work Environment

• RockForce operates in a fast-paced, multi-state environment supporting the live entertainment and event industry. Our workforce structure and business operations require payroll professionals who are comfortable managing high transaction volumes, changing workforce needs, multiple entities, strict deadlines, and complex payroll requirements.
• The Payroll Manager will play a critical role in building a scalable payroll operation that supports RockForce's continued growth while ensuring employees are paid accurately, consistently, and on time.

Location: Nashville, TN – Hybrid 3 days in office / 2 days home

WHY ROCKFORCE

We don't just staff events - we build careers. RockForce is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing the best talent in the business. Our crews benefit from:

• Competitive Wages
• Eligible employees may participate in comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans, as well as a 401(k) plan, once qualification requirements are met.
• Opportunities for professional development and advancement

This commitment makes RockForce an employer of choice in the live event industry.

LET'S BUILD SOMETHING TOGETHER!