Payroll & Benefits Manager

Role Overview

The Payroll & Benefits Manager is responsible for overseeing the accurate, compliant, and timely execution of payroll operations across a multi-state workforce. This role ensures payroll processes are administered with precision and integrity while maintaining compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations.

This position serves as the primary owner of payroll operations within Paylocity, partnering closely with HR, Finance, and external vendors to ensure payroll accuracy, system integrity, and effective payroll-related processes. The ideal candidate is highly detail-oriented, systems-savvy, and experienced managing payroll operations in a fast-paced, multi-state environment.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll, Compliance & HRIS Administration

• Own end-to-end payroll operations in Paylocity, ensuring accurate, timely processing across all employee populations.
• Review and validate payroll inputs including earnings, deductions, taxes, bonuses, commissions, and employee status changes.
• Maintain payroll configurations (earnings/deduction codes, tax settings, pay groups) and ensure data integrity within the system.
• Audit payroll data, maintain strong internal controls, and resolve discrepancies proactively.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, tax regulations, and reporting requirements.
• Manage payroll tax setup, filings, year-end processing (including W-2s), and audit support.
• Administer payroll-related HRIS functionality, including system updates, troubleshooting, enhancements, and user support.
• Partner with Finance on payroll reconciliations, general ledger reporting, and audit documentation.
• Generate payroll reporting and analytics to support HR, Finance, and leadership decision-making.

Benefits, Retirement & Leave Administration

• Administer day-to-day benefits, 401(k), workers’ compensation, and leave of absence programs, ensuring accurate payroll integration and compliance.
• Process enrollments, life events, deferrals, remittances, and invoice reconciliations.
• Coordinate workers’ compensation and leave administration (FMLA, ADA, COBRA), including documentation, pay status tracking, and benefit continuation.
• Serve as primary contact for employee and vendor inquiries while maintaining audit-ready records and regulatory compliance.
• May support processing other HR transactions or projects  on an ad hoc basis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or related field preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience, including ownership of payroll processing.
• Hands-on experience processing payroll in Paylocity required.
• Experience managing multi-state payroll and tax compliance.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification preferred.
• Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, wage and hour laws, and payroll best practices.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong Paylocity payroll administration expertise.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Strong analytical and reconciliation skills.
• Excellent problem-solving and issue resolution abilities.
• Strong understanding of payroll compliance and tax requirements.
• Ability to manage payroll deadlines and multiple priorities.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Work schedule

• Monday to Friday

Supplemental pay

• Bonus pay

Benefits

• Paid time off
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Employee discount