Executive Administrator - Payroll Operations

Orion Associates, Incorporated; Golden Valley (MN); On-site; USD 94,500 - 115,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

401K plan with employer matching

Paid Time Off including volunteer hours

Childcare at Corporate Office

Fun company events

Job summary

A management services company in Golden Valley, MN is seeking an Executive Administrator of Payroll Operations. This senior-level role involves providing leadership and strategic oversight across payroll operations. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of progressive payroll experience and 5 years in a supervisory role. Responsibilities include ensuring compliance with federal and state tax obligations, overseeing payroll tax filings, and collaborating with the CFO on financial strategy. Competitive salary and benefits are offered, including hybrid work options.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive payroll or payroll operations experience.
• 5+ years of experience leading or supervising payroll leadership.
• Deep knowledge of payroll tax compliance, audits, and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and governance for payroll operations.
• Ensure compliance with payroll tax obligations.
• Collaborate with CFO on financial strategy.

Skills

Payroll operations experience

Leadership experience

Payroll tax compliance knowledge

Strategic planning skills

Exceptional communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field

Job description

Executive Administrator - Payroll Operations

Job Description

Posted Monday, February 9, 2026 at 7:00 AM

About the Organization

Orion Associates is a management services company supporting mission-driven human services organizations, including Meridian Services, Orion ISO, and Zenith Services. Our organizations operate across multiple entities and states, requiring strong operational leadership, coordination, and compliance. We have served individuals and families for more than 20 years and are proud to be recognized as a Minnesota Business Top 100 Best Companies to Work For.

Executive Administrator of Payroll Operations

Orion Associates / Meridian Services / Zenith Services

Location: Golden Valley, MN
Schedule: Full-time, Monday–Friday with flexibility in set hours; hybrid option available after 90 days
Reports to: Chief Financial Officer
Supervises: Payroll Directors and payroll leadership teams
Salary: $105,000 annually plus benefits

Position Summary

The Executive Administrator of Payroll Operations provides senior-level leadership and strategic oversight of payroll operations across multiple entities and jurisdictions. This role is responsible for ensuring the accurate, timely, and compliant processing of payroll and related tax obligations in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
The position directly oversees Payroll Directors and provides leadership, guidance, and accountability for payroll teams, establishing consistent standards, controls, and performance expectations. The Executive Administrator partners closely with cross-functional stakeholders to support effective payroll execution, risk management, and continuous improvement.
In addition to payroll operations, this role contributes to broader organizational initiatives by supporting clear communication, education, and consistent implementation of established policies and expectations across departments. The Executive Administrator also provides operational expertise and insight in executive-level discussions to support informed decision-making and organizational effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership, strategic direction, and governance for enterprise-wide payroll and tax operations.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across payroll and tax functions.
• Provide executive leadership and governance for payroll tax compliance across federal, state, and local jurisdictions, including withholding, remittance, reporting, and reconciliation requirements.
• Oversee payroll tax filings, amendments, and year-end reporting (e.g., W-2, W-3, 941, 940, state and local equivalents), ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Monitor payroll performance, trends, risks, and key metrics through executive reporting and leadership reviews.
• Collaborate with the CFO to align payroll operations with broader financial strategy, cash flow planning, and organizational priorities.
• Identify and lead cost optimization initiatives related to payroll operations, vendor relationships, tax strategies, and process efficiencies, while maintaining compliance and service quality.
• Identify and lead opportunities to enhance payroll efficiency, scalability, and automation through process redesign and technology optimization.
• Drive standardization and best practices across payroll platforms, vendors, and operating models.
• Evaluate and implement solutions that strengthen data integrity, reporting, and compliance while improving the employee experience.
• Partner with internal leaders to address workforce or operational changes that impact payroll and tax processes.
• Manage relationships with external vendors, tax agencies, auditors, and regulatory bodies.
• Provide executive oversight of payroll- and tax-related budget planning, forecasting, and long-term financial modeling, ensuring alignment with organizational financial strategy and workforce planning.
• Ensure payroll-related financial reporting is accurate, timely, and supports executive decision-making.

Qualifications

Required

• 7+ years of progressive payroll or payroll operations experience
• 5+ years of experience leading or supervising payroll leadership (e.g., directors, managers, or supervisors)
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field.
• Deep knowledge of payroll tax compliance, multi-state payroll, audits, and regulatory requirements.
• Proven ability to lead complex organizations, influence senior stakeholders, and manage risk at scale.
• Strong strategic planning, financial acumen, and organizational leadership skills.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building capabilities.
• Demonstrated commitment to operational excellence, integrity, and continuous improvement.

Preferred

• Master’s degree or advanced professional certification (e.g., CPP, CPA).
• Extensive executive-level experience leading large-scale payroll and tax operations.

Orion Associates Benefits and Perks Include

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance offered
• Paid Time Off including 16 hours of Paid Volunteer Time
• 401K plan with employer matching after 1 year
• Supplemental Insurance and Pet Insurance offered
• Childcare at Corporate Office for Employees
• Pet-Friendly Corporate Offices
• Fun events including: Annual Company Picnic, Wednesday Snack Days at Corporate Office, Annual Summer Bags Tournament, and more!
• MERSC Discounts at MN Events and Businesses

Orion Associates has been recognized for its commitment to a healthy workplace and commitment to volunteerism by many organizations including Minnesota Business, Twin Cities Business Journal, INC Magazine, Forbes and others. Voted TOP 100 Workplaces in the Twin Cities by Star Tribune and Minnesota Business!

Orion Associates is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified candidates are encouraged to Apply Today!