Payroll Supervisor

Job Title: Payroll Lead

Location: Burlington, MA

Schedule: Hybrid schedul: Onsite 3 days per week T,W,TH and Remote: M/F

Contract Length: 6 - 12 month - intent to convert to full-time

Pay Rate: $69.90 - 80.28 per hour on W2

Russell Tobin is seeking a Payroll Lead – North America to serve as the functional lead and subject matter expert for payroll processes during a large-scale HR and payroll transformation initiative.

This role will be responsible for ensuring that payroll design, configuration, testing, deployment, and operational processes align with business requirements, regulatory obligations, and payroll best practices across the United States and North America.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience managing multi-state U.S. payroll operations, deep knowledge of Workday Payroll, and expertise in payroll tax compliance, garnishments, wage and hour regulations, and year-end payroll activities. This individual will act as the primary liaison between payroll operations, HR, technology teams, and the global program to ensure successful implementation and ongoing compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the North America payroll subject matter expert (SME) and Payroll Workstream Lead for payroll transformation and implementation activities.
• Partner with global program teams to ensure payroll design and system configuration align with North American business requirements, labor regulations, and operational processes.
• Lead payroll-related requirements gathering, process design, testing, validation, deployment, and post-go-live support activities.
• Provide expertise in multi-state payroll processing, including state-specific wage and tax requirements.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including wage and hour laws, tax withholding requirements, garnishments, and statutory reporting obligations.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, Tax, Legal, and IT stakeholders to support payroll process optimization and issue resolution.
• Review and validate payroll system configurations, earnings and deduction codes, tax setups, and payroll calculations.
• Support payroll integration design and testing between Workday and related HR, Finance, and third-party systems.
• Oversee payroll compliance activities, including tax filings, year-end processing, W-2 reporting, and audit support.
• Identify payroll risks, compliance concerns, and operational gaps, providing recommendations and corrective actions.
• Develop payroll process documentation, controls, standard operating procedures, and training materials.
• Support change management and stakeholder communications related to payroll process and system changes.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex payroll issues and provide guidance on best practices and compliance requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 7 years of progressive payroll experience, including leadership responsibility for complex payroll operations.
• Hands-on experience with Workday Payroll, including payroll configuration, testing, implementation, or optimization.
• Extensive experience managing multi-state U.S. payroll operations.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations.
• Experience managing payroll garnishments, wage attachments, tax withholding requirements, and year-end payroll activities.
• Deep understanding of wage and hour compliance requirements, including FLSA regulations.
• Experience supporting large employee populations in complex operational environments.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to translate payroll requirements into system and process solutions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience serving as a Payroll Lead or Payroll Workstream Lead during a Workday implementation or HR transformation initiative.
• Knowledge of Massachusetts payroll and wage laws, including state-specific compliance requirements.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, retail, consumer products, distribution, or multi-location workforce environments.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation preferred.
• Experience with payroll audits, SOX controls, and compliance reviews.
• Familiarity with global payroll programs and multinational deployment initiatives.

Key Areas of Expertise

• Workday Payroll
• Multi-State U.S. Payroll Operations
• Payroll Tax Compliance
• Wage & Hour Compliance (FLSA)
• Garnishments & Wage Attachments
• Year-End Payroll Processing (W-2, Tax Reporting)
• Payroll Transformation & Implementation
• Payroll Testing & Validation
• Payroll Controls & Audits
• Payroll Process Design
• Cross-Functional Stakeholder Management
• North America Payroll Operations

Must be authorized to work in the United States

Why Join?

This role offers the chance to impact financial performance, gain exposure to strong leadership principles, and grow professionally—all with competitive pay and potential for long-term engagement.

Russell Tobin and it's affiliates offers eligible employee’s comprehensive healthcare coverage (medical, dental, and vision plans), supplemental coverage (accident insurance, critical illness insurance and hospital indemnity), 401(k)-retirement savings, life & disability insurance, an employee assistance program, legal support, auto, home insurance, pet insurance and employee discounts with preferred vendors.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Russell Tobin and it's affiliates are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of the race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, reproductive health decision making, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Fair Chance Employment

Russell Tobin and it's affiliates are a Fair Chance employer. We consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable state and local Fair Chance laws and ordinances, including, the California Fair Chance Act and all applicable local Fair Chance ordinances.

Accommodations

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, or to perform the essential functions of this role, please contact us.

Only applicable for San Francisco Candidates: Under the San Francisco Lactation in the Workplace Ordinance, we will provide written notice of lactation accommodation rights, and this notice will automatically be given upon hiring, any inquiry of parental leave or lactation accommodation.