Payroll Manager

Our client is a multi-state manufacturer with a union and non-union workforce, supported by an established Finance organization. They offer a process-oriented environment where payroll, tax, compliance, and accounting intersect, and an opportunity to own a high-impact function with direct influence on accuracy, controls, and the employee experience.

Compensation: $80,000 – $90,000 / Annually, plus an 8% bonus

The Payroll Manager oversees accurate and timely payroll processing for a multi-state workforce that includes union and non-union, hourly and salaried employees. This role manages payroll compliance, payroll tax administration, reconciliations, workers' compensation reporting, audit support, and benefit-related payroll reconciliations, and supervises one Payroll Associate. Success in this role requires strong technical payroll knowledge, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to troubleshoot complex payroll, tax, unemployment, and compliance matters.

As a Payroll Manager, you will:

• Oversee full-cycle payroll for a multi-state workforce of hourly, salaried, union, and non-union employees
• Provide oversight, ensuring processing is accurate, timely, and compliant with federal, state, local, and union requirements, and reviewing inputs, deductions, earnings codes, garnishments, and taxes
• Supervise and develop the Payroll Associate, providing training and support, maintaining payroll calendars, checklists, and controls, and serving as a resource for subsidiary payroll questions and inquiries
• Manage payroll tax and compliance across federal, state, and local jurisdictions, including quarterly Form 941 reconciliations, year-end W-2 review and tax balancing, and resolution of tax notices, filing discrepancies, and state unemployment insurance issues such as rate notices and wage reporting
• Monitor regulatory change across payroll tax laws, wage and hour requirements, unemployment rules, and state-specific payroll requirements
• Administer union and multi-state payroll, ensuring union rules, deductions, benefits, and reporting are properly applied, and reviewing union-related calculations such as dues, fringe benefits, and contract-specific earnings in line with applicable collective bargaining agreements
• Manage workers' compensation reporting and related payroll classifications, monitoring coding, rates, and wage reporting for accuracy and supporting audits, reporting requests, and reconciliations in partnership with HR, Finance, and insurance providers
• Own payroll accounting and reconciliations, preparing or reviewing general ledger entries, accruals, and clearing accounts, and reconciling payroll registers to funding, tax filings, benefit deductions, 401(k) contributions, and workers' compensation reporting
• Reconcile benefits and 401(k) activity, reviewing benefit deductions and employer contributions, preparing 401(k) reconciliations across deferrals, match, loan repayments, and funding, and partnering with HR, Finance, providers, and third-party administrators to resolve differences
• Support audits and internal controls, maintaining documentation for procedures, reconciliations, approvals, and compliance controls, supporting internal, external, tax, workers' compensation, benefit, and 401(k) audits, and identifying process improvements that strengthen accuracy and efficiency

As a Payroll Manager, you have:

• 5+ years of payroll experience, preferably in a multi-state environment
• Strong command of multi-state payroll compliance, payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, benefits deductions, and retirement plan payroll activity
• High attention to detail with strong reconciliation skills and the ability to identify, research, and resolve payroll discrepancies
• Proven ability to manage deadlines within a recurring payroll cycle
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work cross-functionally with HR, Finance, Operations, benefit providers, tax agencies, and external auditors, while maintaining confidentiality and handling sensitive information appropriately
• Strong Excel and payroll system skills, with a process-oriented mindset for improving controls, documentation, and workflows

Preferred:

Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field

Work Details

• Work Location: This position is onsite, five days per week, at our client's office on Industrial Parkway in Cleveland, OH, and requires that qualified talent be located within commuting distance.
• Placement Type: Direct Hire
• Estimated Schedule: Full-time

Employment Requirements

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship
• Successful completion of background checks, assessments, or screenings as required by our client

About Willory

Willory is the only staffing and consulting firm solely focused on HR and payroll. We connect exceptional talent with forward-thinking organizations, building relationships that advance careers and strengthen teams. Our purpose is to empower people — including the professionals who join our own team. If you are ready to grow in a role where your expertise in talent acquisition directly fuels the success of HR and payroll professionals across the country, we would love to hear from you.