Payroll Manager

Overview

This full-time Payroll Manager role is responsible for the accurate, timely, and compliant delivery of payroll across a complex, multi-state, multi-site environment. The position serves as the primary operational owner for managed payroll and payroll-related workforce management processes. The manager will stabilize payroll operations, resolve complex issues, strengthen controls, and drive consistent payroll discipline. This role requires both strategic leadership and hands-on involvement in audits, reconciliations, troubleshooting, testing, configuration review, and issue resolution. Close partnership with HR Operations, Finance, site HR teams, and Dayforce is essential to ensure payroll and time data accuracy, root cause issue resolution, and maintenance of controls and processes.

Responsibilities

Payroll Operations

• Own and support payroll operations across multiple states and sites, ensuring accurate and timely payroll delivery.
• Lead payroll processing, audits, reconciliations, approvals, funding coordination, corrections, off-cycle activities, quarter-end, and year-end processes.
• Act as the primary escalation point for complex payroll issues; drive resolution including root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Establish and maintain strong payroll controls, documented procedures, audit processes, and accountability throughout the payroll cycle.
• Monitor payroll accuracy, exceptions, recurring errors, and operational risks; implement sustainable corrective actions rather than manual workarounds.
• Ensure payroll tax, deduction, earnings, and general ledger processes are supported and reconciled in partnership with internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Finance and HR to support payroll reporting, reconciliations, audits, and compliance.

Dayforce & Workforce Management

• Provide hands-on support for Dayforce Payroll and Workforce Management, including reporting, audits, troubleshooting, testing, and resolving complex issues.
• Ensure accurate flow of time, schedule, pay policy, and other workforce management data into payroll; resolve exceptions impacting employee pay.
• Evaluate payroll and workforce management configuration issues; coordinate changes with Dayforce and validate through testing.
• Manage the Dayforce Managed Payroll relationship, including escalations, service delivery, issue tracking, and accountability for resolution.
• Support payroll and workforce management enhancements, process improvements, testing, and future implementations or expansions.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive payroll process standardization, automation, and reduction of manual interventions.
• Identify recurring payroll issues and trends; perform root-cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Strengthen payroll controls, documentation, audit processes, and operational discipline.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, and employee experience.
• Support Dayforce Payroll and Workforce Management enhancements, testing, and process optimization.
• Partner with HR, Finance, site teams, and Dayforce to improve end-to-end payroll processes and service delivery.

Requirements

Required

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including leadership of payroll operations and/or employees.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-state U.S. payroll in a multi-site organization.
• Experience supporting payroll operations across multiple sites, legal entities, or business units.
• Hands-on experience with Dayforce Payroll and working knowledge of Dayforce Workforce Management.
• Experience working with managed payroll providers and holding vendors accountable for service delivery and issue resolution.
• Experience managing vendors and leading and developing employees.
• Strong skills in payroll processing, audit, reconciliation, controls, reporting, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis.

Preferred

• Experience with Dayforce Managed Payroll.
• Experience supporting payroll in complex or evolving organizational environments.
• Experience in manufacturing or industrial environments.
• Experience with payroll/workforce management implementation, stabilization, or transformation.
• Payroll certifications such as CPP, PCP, CPM, or other relevant credentials.

Location

This role supports multi-state payroll operations within the United States.