Hybrid Payroll Manager: Multi-State Compliance

Kennedy/Jenks Consulting; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

Health savings account

401(k)

Bonus programs

Tuition reimbursement

Employee ownership opportunity

Professional registration support

Business travel assistance

Paid time off and holidays

Employee assistance program

Wellbeing programs

Job summary

Kennedy Jenks in Portland, OR is seeking a Payroll Manager to oversee multi-state payroll operations, compliance, and process improvement across the firm. You will ensure accurate, on-time payroll and maintain strong internal controls in a hybrid office/remote environment.

You’ll lead payroll processing, compliance with wage-and-hour rules, reconciliations, and system administration for HRIS/ERP. Collaboration with HR and Finance, audits, and documentation are key parts of the role.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive payroll administration experience, including 2+ years in a Payroll Manager, Lead Payroll Specialist, or senior payroll role.
• Strong knowledge of multi-state payroll processing, payroll tax compliance, wage and hour requirements, payroll reconciliation, deductions, garnishments, benefits, and leave administration.
• Ability to work effectively with employees, managers, HR, Finance, auditors, and external partners while handling sensitive and confidential information.
• Strong analytical and attention-to-detail skills with the ability to investigate discrepancies, manage competing deadlines, and improve processes.
• Experience with payroll, HRIS, and ERP systems and advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including PivotTables, lookup functions, data validation, reconciliation analysis, and exception reporting.
• Organized, proactive, dependable, and comfortable taking ownership of complex processes and sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Lead payroll processing: Oversee accurate and timely multi-state payroll processing, including deductions, garnishments, benefits, leave, adjustments, and off-cycle payments.
• Ensure compliance: Manage payroll tax compliance and monitor applicable wage and hour requirements, including FLSA and prevailing wage requirements.
• Maintain payroll controls: Reconcile payroll and related accounting entries, investigate discrepancies, and maintain quality assurance and internal control procedures.
• Manage systems and processes: Administer payroll, HRIS, and ERP systems and identify opportunities to improve workflows, automation, and data accuracy.
• Support audits and documentation: Coordinate payroll audits and maintain process documentation, SOPs, training materials, and other resources that support consistent payroll practices.
• Partner across the organization: Collaborate with Human Resources, Finance, managers, employees, and external partners to resolve payroll issues and support business needs.

Skills

Multi-state payroll processing

Payroll tax compliance

Wage and hour requirements

Payroll reconciliation

Deductions and garnishments

Benefits and leave administration

Excel (PivotTables, lookups)

HRIS and ERP systems

Attention to detail

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/HR/Business Admin

Tools

Payroll software

Advanced Excel

Job description

Kennedy Jenks in Portland, OR is seeking a Payroll Manager to oversee multi-state payroll operations, compliance, and process improvement across the firm. You will ensure accurate, on-time payroll and maintain strong internal controls in a hybrid office/remote environment.

You’ll lead payroll processing, compliance with wage-and-hour rules, reconciliations, and system administration for HRIS/ERP. Collaboration with HR and Finance, audits, and documentation are key parts of the role.