Manager, Payroll & Accounts Payable

Cars Commerce Inc.; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 104,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision

New Hire Home Office Stipend

Generous PTO

Paid Holidays, Floating Holiday, VOL/“

Recharge Day

Job summary

Cars Commerce Inc. is seeking a seasoned Payroll and Accounts Payable Manager to own end-to-end payroll and AP processes in a remote-first environment.

This role partners with Accounting, Treasury, and cross-functional teams to ensure accurate expense coding, timely payments, and strong internal controls compliant with GAAP/SOX. You will lead process improvements, supervise staff, and drive system integrations (PeopleSoft, SAP Concur, Workday) to streamline workflows while delivering

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive payroll experience with managerial responsibility.
• Experience with accounts payable and internal controls (GAAP/SOX).
• Experience automating processes and documenting policies.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end payroll processing and reconciliation, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Manage accounts payable processes, vendor communications, and payments.
• Maintain strong internal controls and collaborate with Treasury and FP&A teams.

Skills

Payroll management

Accounts payable

SOX/compliance

Process automation

Team leadership

Interpersonal skills

Education

College degree in Finance/Accounting

Tools

PeopleSoft

SAP Concur

Workday

ADP CPP

Job description

Be essential at Cars Commerce At Cars Commerce, we’re fanatical about simplifying everything about car buying and selling. We do right by our customers and consumers to better connect the industry with simplified and tierless technology to enhance, measure and drive local automotive retail. Whether through our No.1 most recognized marketplace, Cars.com, our industry-leading digital experience, Dealer Inspire, our trade and appraisal technology, AccuTrade, our reputation-based digital wholesale auction marketplace, Dealerclub, or our new Cars Commerce Media Network, Cars Commerce is essential for success in the automotive industry. No one ever travels alone here: at its core, Cars Commerce is collaboration. In fact, it’s built into the very fabric of our shared values. We like to say we Rise Together – putting people at the center of what we do, from consumer to customer to community. Life at Cars Commerce makes it easy when we share the ethos to be Open to All, encouraging open-minded communication because we know diverse thinking yields better outcomes. But critical to our success is Caring to Challenge and Taking Ownership, fueling a competitive spirit in a respectful environment where we think about tomorrow but act today. At our foundation, we have integrity, Doing the Right Thing, even when it’s hard. It’s our shared commitment to these values that makes Cars Commerce a place where growth becomes not only possible, but downright unavoidable. But don't take our word for it. We are proud to be named one of Built In's 2026 Best Places to Work in Chicago and across the U.S. Ready to make your mark? Join a team that's driving real change in the automotive industry.

ABOUT THIS ROLE:

• Responsible for the execution of certain internal controls that are integral to compliance with Sarbanes Oxley (“SOX”) requirements
• Identification and implementation of process improvements to streamline the payroll and procure-to-pay cycle
• Partner with the Accounting team to ensure accurate expense coding
• Monitor internal and external inquiries to ensure excellent customer service and timely, professional responses
• Supervise and develop team members by assigning tasks, monitoring performance and providing coaching and feedback.
• Have full understanding of integrations between ADP SmartCompliance Payment Solutions and Tax filing as well as integrations for travel, expense and invoice management software (SAP Concur) and ERP (PeopleSoft)
• Work directly with the Treasury team to initiate wire transfers AP
• Manage the end-to-end AP process, including invoice processing, payment approvals and vendor communications
• Maintain a strong internal control environment and efficient operating processes/policies related to vendor maintenance, invoice processing, expense report processing, travel processes and disbursements
• Lead procure-to-play projects such as the implementation of new software solutions and/or integration of acquired companies
• Manage daily activities, including review of daily extracted invoices to validate approvals
• Regularly reconcile vendor statements with internal records to identify and correct discrepancies
• Generate regular reports on accounts payable metrics, including outstanding balances, payment trends, and vendor performance.
• Partner and collaborate with the Treasury, Finance and Operations teams to align AP processes with company objectives, as well as cross-functional teams to facilitate financial system and reporting integrations
• Manage the Corporate Purchasing Card Program
• Ensures payments are made accurately and on time Payroll
• Manage the end-to-end Payroll process, including reconciliation to source documents, quality checks to assure accurate payroll result, oversee timekeeping and paid time off modules
• Lead quarterly and year end tax and W2 balancing processes
• Maintain a strong internal control environment and efficient operating processes/policies related to payroll processing
• Lead payroll projects such as the implementation of new software solutions and/or integration of acquired companies
• Proactively identify operational issues and inefficiencies
• Generate regular payroll reports for various teams including Human Resources, Accounting and FP&A

ABOUT YOU:

• 8+ years of progressive experience in payroll with experience as a manager required. Accounts payable experience preferred.
• Understanding of payroll and accounts payable principles, GAAP and internal controls
• Demonstrates advanced math and analytical thinking skills
• Experience with automating processes, implementing internal controls and documenting policies
• Flexibility in working hours, specifically during deadlines
• Collaborates with colleagues and has great interpersonal skills
• Energetic, hands‑on leader with experience developing a team
• Strong attention to detail and highly organized to provide accurate processing
• Excellent customer service and communication skills with the ability to effectively interact with personnel at all levels of the organization and external vendors
• Adaptable to changing priorities and evolving responsibilities
• Confidence in messaging policy compliance enforcement throughout all levels of the organization
• Experience working for a public company or SOX compliant environment
• Experience leading system migrations
• Proficient at MS Office and Google Workspace
• Preferred: College degree, Finance/Accounting emphasis Experience with PeopleSoft Financial System, SAP Concur, Workday and ADP Certified Payroll Professional (“CPP”) certification

In the spirit of pay transparency, we are excited to share the base salary range for this position. In addition to base salary, some roles are eligible for our bonus and/or equity programs, depending on level and role. Regular full‑time positions are eligible for our comprehensive benefits package. If you are hired at Cars Commerce, your final base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as skills and/or experience. If the salary range is close to what you’re seeking, then we encourage you to apply and learn more about the total compensation package for this position. Salary Range $104,100.00-130,150.00

Our Comprehensive Benefits Package includes:

• Medical, Dental & Vision
• Healthcare Plans
• New Hire Stipend for Home Office Set‑Up
• Generous PTO
• Paid Holidays, Floating Holiday, Volunteer Day, Recharge Day
• Learn more about our Benefits, Perks, & Culture on our LinkedIn Life Pages!

For US‑based Positions:

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Please note that we are unable to sponsor employment visas at this time.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

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Welcome! At Cars Commerce, we think big, push boundaries, and rise together as a team. It’s all the challenge and energy of a job in the tech industry, backed by 25 years of proven resilience and growth as a leading consumer brand. Imagine getting to work on a team with a bold mission to simplify everything about buying and selling cars. A culture that’s a unique mix of innovation and collaboration. Exciting training and development opportunities that empower you to take ownership of your career. For our employees, every day is an opportunity. We’re a remote‑first workplace that embraces diversity at every level. Inspired by our values, we intentionally create opportunities for our employees to grow and make an impact in our industry and local communities. Let’s move your career forward together.

Cars Commerce is an audience‑driven technology company empowering automotive that simplifies everything about buying and selling cars. The Cars Commerce platform includes the flagship automotive marketplace and dealer reputation site Cars.com, innovative digital marketing technology and services from Dealer Inspire, industry‑leading trade‑in and appraisal technology from AccuTrade, an exclusive in‑market media network, and powerful and predictive AI technologies that enable more efficient and profitable retail operations. Cars Commerce is the essential partner to stay one step ahead in automotive.