Manager of Payroll Operations

ICON; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

ICON is seeking a Manager, Payroll Operations to own end-to-end payroll processing in Workday from timesheets to tax withholdings. You will partner with Total Rewards, People Operations, and Accounting, ensuring every pay cycle is accurate, compliant, and on time.

You will review timesheets and deductions, manage external payroll vendors, and handle payroll-related employee inquiries. This role is on-site at the Austin, TX campus and reports to the Director of Total Rewards.

Qualifications

• Prior experience paying a large non-exempt employee population.
• Proficiency with Workday Payroll and Benefits modules.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Strong understanding of employee benefits programs, retirement plans, and related compliance.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with employees at all levels.
• Able to work on-site in Austin, TX.
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail, with a focus on accuracy and data integrity.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience with retirement plan administration.
• 5+ years of experience in multi-state payroll and benefits administration.
• CPP, FPC, CEBS, or comparable certification.
• Workday Payroll or Benefits implementation or configuration experience.
• Experience in construction, manufacturing, or another industry with field-based hourly crews.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end payroll processing in Workday and ensure accuracy of inputs to the general ledger.
• Serve as the primary pay-related contact for employees and ensure timely, compliant pay cycles.
• Reconcile payroll deductions and contributions for health, retirement, and other benefits each cycle.
• Audit and reconcile carrier/recordkeeper platforms against Workday HRIS records.
• Manage retirement plan contributions, loans, deferrals, and annual plan audits.
• Ensure payroll tax compliance and prepare government reports.
• Collaborate with Accounting to reconcile payroll accounts and support month-end close.
• Develop and maintain payroll and benefits policies and procedures.
• Resolve payroll discrepancies and respond to employee inquiries promptly.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of payroll regulations and best practices.

Skills

Workday payroll & benefits

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Retirement plan administration

On-site in Austin, TX

CPP/FPC/CEBS certification

Workday implementation / configuration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, or related field

Tools

Workday Payroll & Benefits modules

Job description

• The Manager, Payroll Operations owns end-to-end payroll processing in Workday, payroll tax compliance, and the reconciliation of benefit deductions and contributions across carriers, recordkeepers, and HRIS. Accounting owns the general ledger and close; this role owns the accuracy of the payroll inputs to it
• You will work daily with Total Rewards, People Operations, and Accounting, be the first point of contact for employees on anything pay related, and be accountable for every pay cycle being accurate, compliant, and on time. This role is based on ICON’s Austin, TX campus and reports to the Director, Total Rewards
• Administer end-to-end payroll processing in Workday, including reviewing and verifying timesheets, earnings, deductions, and miscellaneous payments before each run
• Ensure every pay cycle is processed accurately and on time in accordance with federal, state, and local law and ICON policy
• Manage the relationship with ICON’s external payroll treasury vendor, including funding, tax remittance, and issue resolution
• Address and resolve payroll discrepancies, disputes, and questions promptly and accurately
• Reconcile payroll deductions and contributions for health insurance, retirement plans, and other employee benefits every cycle
• Audit and reconcile carrier and recordkeeper platforms against Workday HRIS records to ensure enrollments, rates, and contributions match
• Administer the retirement plan from the payroll side, including contribution funding, loan and deferral changes, nondiscrimination testing data, and annual plan audit requests
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, reporting requirements, and employment laws, including researching and registering new payroll tax jurisdictions as ICON expands
• Prepare, audit, and submit required government reports and filings accurately and on time
• Maintain current knowledge of payroll regulations, laws, and best practices and apply changes to ICON’s processes
• Collaborate closely with Accounting to reconcile payroll accounts and support month-end close
• Develop and maintain internal policies and procedures for payroll and benefits administration in line with industry standards
• Act as the main point of contact for employees on payroll-related inquiries
• Communicate complex payroll and benefits information to employees in clear, understandable terms
• Participate in employee education sessions on payroll and benefits topics

• Prior experience paying a large non-exempt employee population
• Proficiency with Workday Payroll and Benefits modules
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Strong understanding of employee benefits programs, retirement plans, and related compliance
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with employees at all levels
• Able to work on-site in Austin, TX
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail, with a focus on accuracy and data integrity
• 3+ years of hands-on experience with retirement plan administration
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information professionally and with a high level of integrity
• 5+ years of experience in multi-state payroll and benefits administration
• CPP, FPC, CEBS, or comparable certification
• Workday Payroll or Benefits implementation or configuration experience
• Experience in construction, manufacturing, or another industry with field-based hourly crews