What are the responsibilities and job description for the Payroll Manager position at Vaco by Highspring?
Title: Payroll Manager
Company Industry: Life Sciences
Compensation: 105-115k base salary DOE
Location: La Jolla, CA
Position Overview
Our client, a growing organization within the life sciences and research space, is seeking a Payroll Supervisor to lead payroll operations and oversee a small payroll team. This individual will play a key role in supporting a rapidly scaling employee population and ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing across a complex, multi-state environment.
The ideal candidate is hands-on, adaptable, and experienced managing high-volume payroll operations with strong attention to detail and a collaborative mindset.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, mentor, and oversee payroll staff, including workload management, coaching, and performance oversight
- Manage end-to-end payroll processing for salaried, hourly, and stipend-based employees
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations across a multi-state workforce
- Review payroll data including timekeeping, compensation updates, deductions, and employee changes
- Maintain payroll records and ensure integrity within payroll systems
- Partner closely with HR, Finance, Benefits, and other cross-functional teams to resolve payroll matters and support employee inquiries
- Conduct payroll audits and reconciliations to ensure accuracy and compliance
- Prepare payroll reporting and support leadership requests as needed
- Oversee payroll and tax compliance related to foreign national employees and non-employees
- Administer Glacier, including treaty application tracking, tax residency determinations, and required documentation
- Support year-end and periodic tax reporting, including 1042 and 1042-S filings
- Assist with payroll process improvements, policy development, and operational best practices
Must-Have Qualifications
- Experience processing high-volume payroll in a complex environment, ideally supporting significant organizational growth
- Strong knowledge of multi-state payroll compliance, including experience supporting employees across numerous states
- Ability to adapt quickly in a fast-paced, evolving environment with shifting priorities
- Proven ability to maintain accuracy and meet strict payroll deadlines under pressure
- Minimum 3 years of recent payroll supervisory experience, including team leadership and performance management
- Experience partnering cross-functionally with HR, Finance, Benefits, and related teams
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred
- 5 years of progressive payroll experience
- Experience with payroll systems such as Workday and/or UKG
- Advanced Excel and systems proficiency
- CPP certification preferred
- Experience supporting international or foreign national payroll processes is a plus