Job Description

Senior Payroll Manager

Location: Irvine, CA (On-Site)
Compensation: $115,000–$130,000 Base Salary + Comprehensive Benefits
Schedule: Full-Time, In Office
Reports To: Director of HR & Payroll

Senior Payroll Manager – Multi-State Payroll, Payroll Tax & Compliance

Our client, one of the nation’s fastest-growing home improvement companies, is seeking an experienced Senior Payroll Manager to lead payroll tax and compliance operations for a large, multi-state workforce.

This is a hands-on payroll leadership role for someone with deep experience in multi-state payroll, payroll tax compliance, payroll operations, and team management.

You’ll lead Payroll and Tax team members while remaining actively involved in complex payroll issues, federal and state tax compliance, agency notices, state registrations, payroll controls, Paychex administration, and process improvement.

As the organization continues to grow nationally, you’ll help strengthen the payroll systems, processes, and controls required to support a workforce of 1,000+ employees across multiple states.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and develop Payroll and Tax team members, including workload management, coaching, training, performance, and cross-training.
• Oversee multi-state payroll tax and compliance across federal, state, and local jurisdictions.
• Serve as the first point of escalation for complex payroll, payroll tax, and compliance issues.
• Resolve payroll tax notices, agency correspondence, account discrepancies, unemployment matters, local taxes, garnishments, wage requirements, and final-pay issues.
• Partner with Paychex and government agencies to resolve filings, registrations, notices, and payroll system issues.
• Support payroll processing and troubleshooting during deadlines, high-volume periods, and complex situations.
• Manage payroll registrations and state agency accounts as the company expands into new states.
• Oversee compliance with Paid Sick Leave, Paid Family & Medical Leave, state retirement programs, and other state-mandated programs.
• Monitor federal, state, and local payroll regulatory changes and coordinate required updates.
• Strengthen payroll controls, procedures, compliance calendars, documentation, and audit readiness.
• Identify opportunities to automate processes, reduce manual work, improve accuracy, and increase payroll efficiency.
• Participate in Paychex optimization, HRIS enhancements, payroll implementations, and other process improvement initiatives.
• Partner cross-functionally with HR, Finance, Benefits, Legal, Operations, IT, and external vendors.

What We’re Looking For

• 8+ years of progressive payroll experience.
• Experience managing or supervising payroll and/or payroll tax professionals.
• Strong multi-state payroll and payroll tax compliance experience.
• Experience supporting payroll operations for a large, multi-state employee population.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements.
• Experience resolving payroll tax notices, agency issues, registrations, and complex payroll discrepancies.
• Experience managing state payroll registrations and supporting expansion into new states.
• Strong understanding of payroll controls, compliance procedures, and payroll best practices.
• Ability to lead a team while remaining hands-on in day-to-day payroll operations.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work on-site in Irvine, California.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.
• Paychex Flex experience.
• Experience with comparable payroll, HRIS, or human capital management systems.
• Experience supporting organizations with 1,000+ employees across multiple states.
• Experience with state-mandated leave, retirement, and payroll programs.
• Experience improving payroll processes, controls, systems, and documentation.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to take meaningful ownership of payroll compliance within a large and rapidly growing organization.

You’ll lead an established team while helping build stronger payroll processes, controls, systems, and operating standards for continued national expansion.

For an experienced payroll leader, this role offers the opportunity to combine team leadership, multi-state payroll, payroll tax expertise, compliance, systems improvement, and hands-on operational ownership in a highly visible position.

Compensation: $115,000–$130,000 base salary and comprehensive benefits.

Work Location: Irvine, CA. This position is full-time and on-site.