Payroll Manager

Workday Payroll Manager

Skills: Workday Payroll, Workday, ADP SmartCompliance, payroll accounting, payroll journal entries, general ledger reconciliation, payroll reconciliations, payroll accruals, SOX controls, federal payroll tax, state payroll tax, local payroll tax, multi-state payroll, equity transactions, W-2, W-2c, Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, G-Suite, HRIS, time and attendance, payroll audits, payroll reporting, payroll remittances, FLSA, garnishments, levies, Australia payroll, superannuation, Claude, Gemini, AI tools

• seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead end-to-end payroll operations across our domestic and Australia workforce of over 1,500 employees. In this role, you will own the accuracy and compliance of our payroll function — including equity transactions, SOX controls, and multi-state tax obligations — while driving automation initiatives and serving as the company's subject matter expert on payroll accounting, tax, and regulatory requirements. You will work closely with Finance, HR, Legal, and third-party agencies to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant payroll delivery at scale.

Key Responsibilities:

• Payroll Operations & Workday
• Prepare and process end-to-end multi-state payrolls for 1,500 employees using Workday Payroll
• Process and submit employee equity transactions and related tax withholding through Workday Payroll
• Partner with HRIS and IT teams to manage Workday system updates, testing, and enhancements.
• Manage day-to-day payroll activities and resolve payroll-related discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Serve as the primary point of escalation for Workday payroll issues and employee inquiries.
• Payroll Accounting
• Prepare and review payroll journal entries, reconciliations, and general ledger postings.
• Collaborate with the Accounting team to ensure accurate recording of payroll expenses, accruals, and liabilities.
• Support month-end and year-end close activities, including W-2 processing and payroll-related account reconciliations.
• Payroll Tax & Compliance
• Ensure accurate calculation, withholding, remittance, and reporting of federal, state, and local payroll taxes.
• Manage W-2, W-2c, and other year-end tax filings and reconciliations.
• Ensure compliance with payroll SOX controls and maintain current knowledge of applicable federal and state regulations.
• Responding to inquiries from employees, HR, Accounting, government agencies, and third-party vendors utilizing knowledge of policies, procedures, and legislation
• Conduct audits of data changes and requests to ensure compliance with company policy and practices.
• Oversee multi-state payroll tax registrations and respond to tax agency notices and audits.
• Maintain detailed payroll records and audit-ready documentation.
• Ensure the integrity and accuracy of all payroll remittances and reporting.
• Time, Attendance & Employee Data
• Manage time and attendance workflow to ensure all timesheets, time-off requests, and payroll data is received timely and accurate, complete, and compliant with state and federal standards.
• Partner with Legal and HR to ensure compliance with garnishments, levies, and other mandated deductions.
• Monitor and implement regulatory changes impacting payroll operations, including FLSA and state-specific wage and hour laws.
• Technology, Automation & AI
• Identify opportunities to streamline and automate payroll processes, reducing manual effort and error risk.
• Lead or support payroll technology projects including system integrations, upgrades, and process redesigns.
• Leverage AI tools (e.g., Claude, Gemini or similar) to enhance payroll reporting, drafting, research, and workflow efficiency
• Identify opportunities to apply AI-assisted automation to reduce manual effort in data validation, reconciliation, and exception handling

Qualifications:

• 8 years of experience processing end-to-end payroll and equity transactions
• Hands-on expertise with Workday Payroll.
• Strong knowledge of payroll accounting principles, SOX controls, and general ledger reconciliation.
• In-depth understanding of federal and multi-state payroll tax compliance and wage and hour laws.