Citywide Payroll Operations Leader

Seattle Office of City Finance; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 107,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

The Seattle Office of City Finance is seeking a dynamic Citywide Payroll Operations Manager to lead end-to-end payroll for all City employees, collaborating with more than 40 departments and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations.

The ideal candidate will strengthen HRIS/Workday and PeopleSoft, supervise payroll staff, and drive process improvements in a hybrid in-office plus remote environment with a strong emphasis on accuracy and customer service.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field (or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience).
• 5 years of hands‑on payroll processing experience.
• 3 years of management or supervisory experience with proven team leadership.
• Knowledge of payroll, labor distribution, accounting principles, IRS tax table, and other federal withholding regulations is required.

Responsibilities

• Drive timely and accurate payroll delivery by proactively maintaining and updating the payroll system, ensuring departments quickly correct payroll errors, and authorizing manual check requests in compliance with established controls.
• Create, refine, and enforce payroll procedures aligned with City personnel policies and strictly adhering to Federal and State regulations, while reviewing and approving GL entries, journal entries, and account reconciliations to ensure accuracy and strong internal controls.
• Support year-end processes by reviewing Wage & Tax Registers, validating W-2 and 1099‑R accuracy, helping manage citywide year-end tasks, and responding promptly and effectively to tax agency inquiries.
• Lead or contribute to special projects, internal and external audits, and bargaining unit–related processes as part of maintaining high‑quality payroll operations and compliance.

Skills

Payroll processing

Team leadership

Data analysis

Excellent communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field

Tools

Workday

PeopleSoft

Excel

Access

Job description

The Seattle Office of City Finance is seeking a dynamic Citywide Payroll Operations Manager to lead end-to-end payroll for all City employees, collaborating with more than 40 departments and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations.

The ideal candidate will strengthen HRIS/Workday and PeopleSoft, supervise payroll staff, and drive process improvements in a hybrid in-office plus remote environment with a strong emphasis on accuracy and customer service.