Finance Operations and Payroll Manager

ContractStaffingRecruiters.com; Middletown (CT); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

ContractStaffingRecruiters.com seeks a Finance Operations and Payroll Manager to support the Senior Controller and CFO in payroll accounting, multi-state tax compliance, and core financial controls across a multi-entity US structure. You’ll own payroll-related accounting, compliance, and system integration, collaborating across teams and geographies.

The ideal candidate has 6–10+ years in accounting with strong payroll and tax, IFRS/US GAAP knowledge, and ERP/HRIS implementation exposure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business.
• CPA or equivalent qualification preferred.
• 6–10+ years of accounting experience with payroll and tax.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS and US GAAP.
• Experience in a multi-entity or manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading ERP and payroll/HRIS implementation projects.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end processes and controls across Payroll, Accounts Payable, and Travel & Expense.
• Execute and manage payroll cycles, including data extraction, validation, and submission to external payroll providers.
• Manage payroll-related activities including 401(k), withholdings, garnishments, benefits, and workers’ compensation claims.
• Review and approve payroll journals, accruals, and related outputs to ensure reporting integrity.
• Reconcile payroll-related & payable-related balance sheet accounts and resolve variances in a timely manner.
• Ensure compliance with multi-state payroll tax, filings, and statutory requirements.
• Enforce discipline and control across AP and T&E, including approvals, coding accuracy, and policy adherence.
• Standardize and improve processes to ensure scalability, consistency, and audit readiness.
• Partner with the Accounting Lead to ensure alignment between transactional processes and accounting outputs.
• Lead Finance input into payroll, AP, and HRIS/ERP systems to ensure processes are embedded and controlled.
• Identify and remediate control gaps, inefficiencies, and risks.
• Escalate control breaches, compliance risks, or irregularities to the Senior Controller and CFO.

Skills

Payroll management

Multi-state tax compliance

IFRS & US GAAP

Cross-functional collaboration

Process improvement

ERP/HRIS implementations

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or business

CPA or equivalent qualification

Tools

ERP systems

Payroll/HRIS software

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a Finance Operations and Payroll Manager to support the Senior Controller and CFO in managing payroll accounting, multi‑state tax compliance, and other key financial controls (payables & T&E) across a multi‑entity US structure. The position sits within Finance as a control function, with ownership over payroll‑related accounting, compliance, core finance and systems integration. The ideal candidate will feel inspired by the company's mission, be informed about what’s happening around the company, and be empowered to engage with others according to our values across a range of company‑wide platforms. As the Finance Manager, you are expected to have impeccable communication, project‑management and problem‑solving skills, the ability to work strategically, creatively, autonomously and collaboratively across multiple teams and geographies, and the ability to take on additional responsibilities as the need arises. Our ideal candidate will be customer‑focused, detail‑oriented, and have a strong sense of urgency.

Responsibilities

• Own end‑to‑end processes and controls across Payroll, Accounts Payable, and Travel & Expense.
• Execute and manage payroll cycles, including data extraction, validation, and submission to external payroll providers.
• Manage payroll‑related activities including 401(k), withholdings, garnishments, benefits, and workers’ compensation claims.
• Review and approve payroll journals, accruals, and related outputs to ensure reporting integrity.
• Reconcile payroll‑related & payable‑related balance sheet accounts and resolve variances in a timely manner.
• Ensure compliance with multi‑state payroll tax, filings, and statutory requirements.
• Enforce discipline and control across AP and T&E, including approvals, coding accuracy, and policy adherence.
• Standardize and improve processes to ensure scalability, consistency, and audit readiness.
• Partner with the Accounting Lead to ensure alignment between transactional processes and accounting outputs.
• Lead Finance input into payroll, AP, and HRIS/ERP systems to ensure processes are embedded and controlled.
• Identify and remediate control gaps, inefficiencies, and risks.
• Escalate control breaches, compliance risks, or irregularities to the Senior Controller and CFO.

Qualifications

A bachelor's degree (accounting or business‑related) and a relevant professional qualification, such as CPA (K), CIMA, ACCA, or ACA. 6–10+ years’ experience in accounting, with strong payroll and tax. Excellent knowledge of IFRS, US GAAP and local accounting standards. Experience in a multi‑entity or manufacturing environment preferred. Experience leading system implementation projects (ERP + payroll/HRIS implementation exposure).