Payroll Manager

Our client is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead payroll operations for a large, complex, multi-state organization supporting approximately 20,000 employees. This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for an accomplished payroll professional who combines deep technical payroll expertise with strong people leadership, compliance knowledge, and a continuous improvement mindset.

The Payroll Manager will lead a distributed team of approximately 7–8 payroll professionals across the U.S. and offshore operations while overseeing accurate, timely, and compliant end-to-end payroll delivery. This individual will also play a key role in strengthening payroll controls, improving processes, supporting system transformation initiatives, and partnering across HR, Finance, Accounting, Benefits, HR Technology, and Operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end payroll operations for a large, complex, multi-state and multi-site employee population.
• Manage, coach, and develop a distributed payroll team across U.S. and offshore/shared services operations.
• Ensure accurate and timely payroll processing while maintaining compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• Oversee payroll tax reporting, garnishments, W-2 processing, year-end activities, audits, reconciliations, and payroll controls.
• Strengthen payroll policies, procedures, internal controls, documentation, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Lead or support payroll transformation initiatives, system implementations, upgrades, conversions, and process improvements.
• Identify opportunities to automate, streamline, and improve payroll processes while reducing risk and increasing operational efficiency.
• Partner closely with HR, Finance, Accounting, Benefits, HRIS/HR Technology, and business operations teams.
• Support complex employee movement across locations, entities, companies, shifts, and job codes.
• Assist with payroll integration activities related to acquisitions, organizational changes, and business growth.
• Serve as a payroll subject matter expert and communicate effectively with employees, business leaders, and executive stakeholders.

Required Skills/Education:

• 5 years of progressive payroll leadership or payroll operations management experience with responsibility for end-to-end payroll.
• Experience managing large-scale, multi-state payroll operations, ideally supporting 10,000 employees.
• Demonstrated experience leading, coaching, and developing payroll teams.
• Strong knowledge of multi-state payroll compliance, payroll taxes, garnishments, W-2 processing, year-end payroll, audits, reconciliations, and internal controls.
• Experience with enterprise payroll and workforce management systems; UKG Pro and/or UKG Dimensions experience strongly preferred.
• Experience leading or significantly contributing to payroll implementations, system conversions, upgrades, payroll transformation, or large-scale process improvement initiatives.
• Strong understanding of payroll controls, audit readiness, compliance requirements, and payroll best practices.
• Experience partnering cross-functionally with HR, Finance, Accounting, Benefits, HRIS, IT, and Operations.
• Excellent communication and executive presence with the ability to translate complex payroll matters for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on involvement in a fast-paced, complex payroll environment.
• Healthcare or other highly regulated industry experience strongly preferred.
• M&A, acquisition integration, shared services, or offshore payroll team experience is a plus.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification is preferred.
• Experience developing SOPs, implementing continuous improvement initiatives, and strengthening payroll controls is highly desirable.

About Seneca Resources

At Seneca Resources, we are more than just a staffing and consulting firm, we are a trusted career partner. With offices across the U.S. and clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to government organizations, we provide opportunities that help professionals grow their careers while making an impact. When you work with Seneca, you’re choosing a company that invests in your success, celebrates your achievements, and connects you to meaningful work with leading organizations nationwide. We take the time to understand your goals and match you with roles that align with your skills and career path. Our consultants and contractors enjoy competitive pay, comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) retirement plans, and the support of a dedicated team who will advocate for you every step of the way. Seneca Resources is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.