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Payroll Manager

The Payroll Manager directs a team of payroll professionals to deliver payroll service to the organization. They are also responsible for end-to-end payroll functions and managing payroll risks and audits.
HR Role family: Solution architect
Salary range: $68,000 - 84,000Gross salary range estimation based on US salary benchmark data collected in 2022
Work experience: 3-7 yearsAverage minimum year of (relevant) work experience required for this role.

Key Responsibilities

Oversee and manage payroll operations, including ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
Improves workflows and processes by enabling the implementation of payroll and HR data management systems such as the HRIS
Report on payroll efficiencies, insights and drives continuous improvement of a cost-effective payroll service

Skills & Competencies

Analytics Translation
Benefits and Rewards
Builds Trust
Compensation
Delivers through technology
Driven Results
Employee Health
HR Operations and Administration
Manages Conflict
Safety and Wellbeing
Sets direction
Understands Customers

Career paths

Path 1
Path 2
Path 3
Path 4
Payroll Manager
Director Total Rewards
Payroll Manager
Benefits Manager
Director Total Rewards
Payroll Manager
Benefits Manager
Shared Services Manager
Head of Digital HR
Head of Employee Experience
Payroll Manager
HR Operations Manager
Shared Services Manager
Shared Services Executive

Training programs

Certificate Program

HR Generalist

Beginner | 32 hours

Gain the skills you need to hire, engage, and develop your company’s most valuable asset — its people.

Certificate Program

Digital HR Strategy

Entry-Level | 7 hours

Gain the skills and knowledge you need to create an effective digital HR strategy.

More details & resources

Job Description Template: Payroll Manager

The Payroll Manager is responsible for ensuring timely and accurate payroll processing for a large organization, including compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Payroll Manager is also responsible for managing a team of payroll specialists.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Oversee and manage payroll operations, including ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
  • Manage and mentor a team of payroll specialists
  • Develop and implement policies and procedures for payroll operations
  • Ensure timely and accurate processing of new hires, terminations, promotions, and other payroll-related changes
  • Prepare and analyze payroll reports, including payroll tax reports and W-2s
  • Collaborate with HR, finance, and other departments as needed to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing
  • Monitor and implement changes in payroll laws and regulations to ensure compliance
  • Provide excellent customer service to employees and respond to payroll-related inquiries and issues
  • Perform other related duties as assigned

Requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in payroll processing, with at least 2 years in a supervisory role
  • In-depth knowledge of payroll laws and regulations
  • Experience with payroll software and HRIS systems
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
  • Strong attention to detail and accuracy
  • Excellent customer service skills

Detailed Responsibilities & Tasks

  • Oversee and manage payroll operations, including ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
  • Manage and mentor a team of payroll specialists
  • Develop and implement policies and procedures for payroll operations
  • Ensure timely and accurate processing of new hires, terminations, promotions, and other payroll-related changes
  • Prepare and analyze payroll reports, including payroll tax reports and W-2s
  • Collaborate with HR, finance, and other departments as needed to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing
  • Monitor and implement changes in payroll laws and regulations to ensure compliance
  • Provide excellent customer service to employees and respond to payroll-related inquiries and issues
  • Perform other related duties as assigned

Detailed Skills Description

  • Payroll Management: A strong understanding of payroll laws and regulations, and experience with payroll processing and management.
  • Attention to Detail: The ability to pay close attention to detail is essential in a payroll management role to ensure that all payroll-related tasks are carried out accurately and efficiently.
  • Time Management: The ability to manage time effectively is crucial in a payroll management role, as payroll processing involves strict deadlines that must be met.
  • Communication: Effective communication skills are necessary to liaise with other departments, employees, and external vendors on payroll-related issues.
  • Analytical Skills: The ability to analyze payroll data and identify trends or discrepancies is important in ensuring that payroll processes are efficient and accurate.
  • Problem-Solving Skills: The ability to identify and resolve payroll-related issues is critical in a payroll management role.
  • Leadership Skills: The ability to lead and manage a team of payroll administrators is essential to ensure that the payroll department operates efficiently and effectively.
  • Technology Skills: Knowledge of payroll software and other relevant technologies is important for streamlining payroll processes and staying up-to-date with new technologies and trends in payroll management

KPIs for this role

  • Timely and accurate processing of payroll: Ensuring payroll is processed accurately and on time is the primary responsibility of a payroll manager. KPIs in this area could include payroll accuracy rate, percentage of on-time pay runs, and average time to resolve payroll issues.
  • Compliance with payroll laws and regulations: A payroll manager must ensure that the organization's payroll practices are compliant with all relevant laws and regulations. KPIs in this area could include the number of compliance audits passed, number of compliance violations identified and resolved, and number of legal claims or fines related to payroll.
  • Employee satisfaction with payroll: A payroll manager should strive to ensure that employees are satisfied with their pay and payroll-related services. KPIs in this area could include employee satisfaction survey scores, number of employee payroll-related complaints, and average time to resolve employee payroll issues.
  • Process improvement: A payroll manager should continuously evaluate and improve the organization's payroll processes to increase efficiency and accuracy. KPIs in this area could include the number of process improvements implemented, percentage reduction in payroll errors, and percentage reduction in payroll processing time.
  • Cost control: A payroll manager should also focus on managing payroll costs and ensuring that the organization's payroll practices are cost-effective. KPIs in this area could include total payroll processing costs, cost per payroll transaction, and percentage reduction in payroll processing costs.
  • Team management: A payroll manager is also responsible for managing and developing their payroll team. KPIs in this area could include employee retention rate, team productivity, and employee engagement scores