Payroll Manager

About the role

This role involves comprehensive oversight of the payroll and timekeeping process, from preparation and processing to reconciliation and reporting. The manager will be responsible for maintaining annual payroll calendars, reviewing all compensation-related transactions for accuracy, and resolving discrepancies. A key aspect is ensuring compliance with federal, state, provincial, and local regulations across different geographies.

The Payroll Manager will establish and maintain payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls, while staying current on changes to US, UK, and Canadian payroll regulations. This includes managing all payroll tax activities, such as registrations, filings, and resolving tax discrepancies. The position also requires coordinating with international payroll vendors and acting as the primary escalation point for complex payroll inquiries.

Success in this position means accurately processing payroll for a large, multi-jurisdictional workforce, ensuring all tax and regulatory requirements are met, and effectively resolving any issues. The manager will also partner with HR and Finance on various employee-related changes and support compensation processes. Mentoring one to two payroll team members and assisting with system implementations are also part of the role.

The salary for this position ranges from $135,000 to $225,000 USD annually.

Skills that matter here

• multistate payroll: This role requires managing payroll for employees across numerous US states, including California, and ensuring compliance with varied state regulations.
• international payroll: The manager will oversee payroll operations and compliance for employees in both the UK and Canada, coordinating with international vendors.
• UKG Pro: Experience with this specific payroll system, previously known as UltiPro, is necessary for managing payroll processes and system improvements.
• payroll tax: The role involves managing all aspects of payroll tax, including registrations, filings, reconciliations, and resolving discrepancies for multiple jurisdictions.
• Microsoft Excel: Advanced proficiency in Excel is required for analyzing data, auditing reports, and performing reconciliations related to payroll.
• mentorship: This position includes supervising, training, and mentoring one to two payroll team members, fostering their professional development.

Who this role suits

• A candidate with at least five years of progressive payroll experience in a corporate setting, managing payroll for 700+ employees across multiple US states, the UK, and Canada.
• Someone who thrives in a role requiring meticulous attention to detail, strong analytical skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities under pressure.
• An individual who can communicate complex payroll information clearly, maintain confidentiality, and is committed to continuous learning and mentoring others.
• A professional with a collaborative working style who can also operate independently, exercise sound judgment, and take full ownership of responsibilities.

From the employer

You Will:

• Oversee the complete payroll and timekeeping lifecycle with support from multiple payroll team members.
• Manage payroll preparation, processing, validation, reconciliation, approval, distribution, reporting, and recordkeeping.
• Establish and maintain annual payroll calendars, processing schedules, deadlines, and year-end timelines.
• Review payroll data, employee changes, deductions, benefits, taxes, earnings, bonuses, commissions, retroactive payments, and other compensation-related transactions for accuracy.
• Ensure overtime, paid time, and other wage-related payments are recorded and processed correctly in accordance with federal, state, provincial, and local requirements.
• Analyze, audit, reconcile, and resolve payroll and timekeeping discrepancies, including missed payments, incorrect payments, retroactive adjustments, tax issues, and employee data errors.
• Establish, document, and maintain payroll policies, procedures, internal controls, approval processes, and audit requirements.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable wage and hour, payroll tax, reporting, record-retention, and employment regulations.
• Research and remain current on changes to U.S., U.K., and Canadian payroll regulations, tax requirements, and employment legislation.
• Manage payroll tax activities, including tax registrations, filings, agency notices, reconciliations, and the resolution of payroll tax discrepancies.
• Oversee garnishments, levies, child-support orders, and other court-ordered or agency-required deductions.
• Audit payroll reports and complete monthly, quarterly, and year-end payroll reconciliations.
• Coordinate the preparation, review, distribution, and correction of annual payroll tax forms, including W-2s and T4s. Review quarterly tax filing package from UKG for accuracy.
• Partner with Accounting to support payroll-related general ledger entries, account reconciliations, accruals, and reporting.
• Coordinate with international payroll vendors and internal stakeholders regarding global payroll activities, vendor procurement, payroll processing, and compliance requirements.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex payroll and timekeeping questions from employees, managers, Human Resources, and Finance.
• Respond to employee inquiries in a timely and professional manner, providing detailed explanations and interpretations of payroll policies, procedures, and applicable regulations.
• Identify and resolve payroll system issues, processing errors, workflow gaps, and opportunities for process improvement.
• Partner closely with Human Resources and the broader Finance team on employee changes, compensation updates, benefits deductions, terminations, leave matters, and other payroll-related activities.
• Maintain the highest level of confidentiality when handling employee compensation, salary, tax, banking, and personally identifiable information.
• Support compensation-related processes while maintaining appropriate controls and professional discretion regarding market, promotion, and salary adjustments.
• Supervise, train, mentor, and support approximately one to two payroll team members.
• Assist with payroll system implementations, upgrades, integrations, testing, and process-improvement initiatives.
• Perform additional assignments, audits, reporting requests, and special projects as needed.
• Remain flexible and responsive to payroll deadlines and business requirements, which may occasionally require evening, weekend or holiday work.

You Have:

• Five or more years of progressive payroll experience within a corporate environment supporting at least 700 employees across multiple U.S. states, including California.
• A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, human resources, or a related field is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of multistate U.S., U.K., and Canadian payroll, employment, wage and hour, tax, and labor requirements.
• Experience supporting payroll operations across multiple U.S. states, U.K. and Canada.
• Experience processing Canadian year-end tax forms, including T4s; U.S. year-end tax forms, including W-2s; and U.K. year-end tasks.
• Experience with UKG Pro, formerly known as UltiPro.
• Experience working within a limited liability partnership, accounting firm, or professional services environment is preferred.
• Experience coordinating payroll activities with international payroll providers or vendors is preferred.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Strong customer service, time-management, and organizational skills.
• The ability to manage competing priorities, work effectively under pressure, and consistently meet payroll deadlines.
• A collaborative working style with the ability to operate independently, exercise sound judgment, and take ownership of responsibilities.
• Strong analytical, reconciliation, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• The ability to communicate complex payroll information clearly, professionally, and concisely in both written and verbal formats.
• A commitment to confidentiality, accuracy, continuous learning, and the development and mentorship of others.

What you get:

• Total rewards package: from flexible work arrangements to personalized benefit structures and financial compensation options that give you choice and flexibility.
• Well-being resources: interactive wellness platform and incentives, an employee assistance program and mental health resources, and Colleague Resource Groups (CRGs) that provide safe spaces for colleagues to share, be heard, feel valued and deepen connections.
• Balance & flexibility: 14 Firm Holidays including 2 floating, Flex PTO, paid family leave, winter break, summer hours, and remote work options, so you can balance challenging yourself with taking care of yourself.
• Professional development opportunities: A learning culture with CPA exam resources and bonuses, tuition reimbursement, a coach program, and live classes, workshops, and seminars through BPM University.