Payroll Manager

Join Spirit HR as Our Payroll Manager! 

Are you an experienced payroll professional who enjoys leading a team, improving processes, and delivering exceptional client experience? Spirit HR is seeking a Payroll Manager to lead our payroll team and help ensure every payroll we process is accurate, timely, and handled with the highest level of care. 

In this role, you will oversee the day-to-day operations of the payroll team, including workload distribution, quality assurance, process improvement, training, and client service. You will also serve as an escalation point for payroll issues and work closely with our implementation team to ensure a smooth transition for clients. 

This is a working manager position. Along with leading the payroll team, you will maintain a reduced book of assigned client companies and process their payroll from start to finish. As Spirit HR continues to grow, this position is expected to evolve into a full-time management role. 

If you are someone who takes ownership, pays close attention to detail, looks for better ways to do things, and enjoys helping a team succeed, we would love to hear from you. 

What You’ll Do

• Lead, support, and develop the payroll team by distributing and balancing client assignments based on workload and expertise. 
• Manage and improve the implementation to payroll handoff process for new clients companies. 
• Develop, maintain, and ensure consistent use of payroll standard operating procedures.
• Establish and monitor quality assurance practices, including spot audits, error tracking, and root-cause resolution.
• Develop coverage plans to maintain payroll continuity during absences and turnover.
• Train, cross train, coach and conduct performance check-ins with payroll specialists.
• Identify and implement process improvements, automation, and AI-assisted workflows using tools such as PrismHR and Wayside.
• Serve as an escalation point for payroll questions and issues.
• Process full-cycle, multi-client payroll in PrismHR for assigned clients, including weekly, bi-weekly, and semi-monthly payrolls, as well as off-cycle payrolls, bonuses, and corrections.
• Process garnishments, manual checks, prior-wage loads, and direct deposit/ACH transactions.
• Reconcile payroll prior to transmission and validate confirmed reports.
• Ensure payroll processing complies with applicable federal, state, and local payroll, wage, and hour requirements.

What We’re Looking For

• High school diploma or GED required; bachelor's degree in accounting, business, or a related field, or comparable professional experience, preferred.
• At least 5 years of payroll processing experience, including multi-state payroll.
• At least 2 years of experience leading, supervising, or mentoring payroll staff.
• Working knowledge of garnishments, taxation of income and deductions, and federal and state payroll regulations.
• Strong leadership and supervisory skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to payroll accuracy.
• Strong PC skills and comfort adopting new technology and train others in its use.
• High degree of professionalism and ability to handle confidential information.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Multi-client payroll experience with a PEO, ASO, or payroll service bureau.
• PrismHR experience; experience with a comparable multi-client payroll platform will also be considered.
• FPC or CPP certification.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid company holidays
• 401(k) with company match
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Supportive, team-oriented work culture
• Team-building activities and company events that foster connection and culture.
• Career growth-opportunities within Spirit HR

Physical Requirments 

• Ability to remain in a stationary position for prolonged periods while working at a desk or computer.
• Ability to speak clearly and hear will enough to engage in conversation over the phone.
• Ability to use a telephone headset for extended periods of time.
• Ability to operate a computer, telephone, and other office equipment.
• Repetitive motions with hands and fingers (e.g. typing, data entry).
• Occasionally lift and move objects up to 15 pounds.
• Visual acuity to read from a computer screen, documents and small text.

About Spirit HR 

Spriit HR is a trusted PEO partner providing small and mid-sized business with comprehensive HR solutions, including payroll processing, employee benefits, compliance support and risk management. We help companies reduce administrative burdens and focus on growth while ensuring their workforce is supported and empowered.