Manager Payroll Operations (US & Canada)

Intuitive; Peachtree Corners (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive seeks a Manager, Payroll Operations (U.S. & Canada) to lead end-to-end payroll for 9,000+ employees and manage a payroll team in Peachtree Corners, GA. You will ensure accurate, timely processing, regulatory compliance, and strong governance across Finance, HR, Legal, Benefits, and IT.

The role balances hands-on leadership with strategic direction, escalating complex matters, and driving improvements using data and technology, including Workday and ADP Vantage.

Qualifications

• Experience leading U.S. and Canada payroll operations.
• Strong knowledge of payroll regulations and tax filing.

Responsibilities

• Direct end-to-end payroll operations for U.S. and Canadian employees, including regular and off-cycle payrolls, new hires, terminations, leaves, retroactive pay, bonuses, commissions, equity-related earnings, deductions, garnishments, and year-end processing.
• Ensure payrolls are processed accurately, timely, and in accordance with calendars, procedures, SLAs, and funding/approval requirements.
• Partner with payroll leadership to support federal, state/provincial/local tax compliance, including W-2s, T4/RL-1, and reporting.
• Maintain compliance with wage-and-hour, payroll tax, privacy, and final-pay requirements; collaborate with Legal, Tax, HR, and external advisors.
• Own payroll reconciliations, variance analysis, funding validation, GL interfaces, and balance-sheet support.
• Maintain strong internal controls and serve as a primary contact for audits.
• Lead root-cause analysis for payroll issues and document corrective actions.
• Develop payroll metrics and dashboards covering accuracy, timeliness, case volumes, and vendor performance.
• Serve as senior escalation point for sensitive inquiries; ensure confidentiality and SLAs.
• Lead payroll technology and process-improvement initiatives involving Workday, ADP Vantage, and related platforms.
• Establish and maintain policies, SOPs, process maps, controls, calendars, and training materials.
• Recruit, coach, develop, and retain a high-performing team; manage performance and coverage.
• Support multi-year payroll strategy, operating model, and AI/automation opportunities across payroll operations.
• Protect confidential payroll data; prevent sensitive information from being entered into unapproved AI platforms.

Skills

Leadership

Payroll compliance

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Workday

ADP Vantage

Canadian payroll platforms

Job description

Job Description

Primary Function of Position:

The Manager, Payroll Operations (U.S. & Canada) leads end-to-end payroll operations for more than 9,000 employees and manages a team of payroll professionals. The role is accountable for accurate and timely payroll processing, regulatory compliance, employee inquiry and case management and internal controls, vendor performance, and continuous improvement efforts across the organization.

This is a hands‑on people leadership role that balances operational execution with strategic direction. The Manager, Payroll Operations provides escalation support for complex payroll matters, develops team capability, strengthens governance, and partners across Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Benefits, Equity Administration, IT, and Internal Audit. The successful candidate brings sound judgment, financial acumen, a strong control mindset, and the ability to translate data and emerging technology into practical improvements.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Direct end-to-end payroll operations for U.S. and Canadian employees, including regular and off-cycle payrolls, new hires, terminations, leaves, retroactive pay, bonuses, commissions, equity-related earnings, deductions, garnishments, and year-end processing.

• Ensure payrolls are processed accurately, timely, and in accordance with approved calendars, documented procedures, service-level expectations, and applicable funding and approval requirements.

• Partner with the Director, Payroll Services and Principal Payroll Tax Lead to support federal, state, provincial, and local payroll tax compliance, including accurate withholding, quarter- and year-end reconciliations, Forms W-2/W-2c and Canadian T4/RL-1 reporting, agency notices, amendments, and vendor issue resolution.

• Maintain compliance with applicable wage-and-hour, payroll tax, record-retention, privacy, escheatment, and final-pay requirements; partner with Legal, Tax, Human Resources, and external advisors on complex or emerging matters.

• Own payroll reconciliations, variance analysis, funding validation, general-ledger interfaces, balance-sheet support, and coordination with Accounting and Treasury.

• Maintain a strong internal-control environment, including segregation of duties, access reviews, change controls, evidence retention, business continuity, and SOX control execution; serve as a primary contact for internal and external audits.

• Lead root-cause analysis for payroll errors and service issues; document corrective and preventive actions, monitor recurrence, and escal​ate material risks promptly.

• Develop payroll metrics and dashboards covering accuracy, timeliness, case volumes, cycle performance, adjustments, control exceptions, vendor performance, and employee experience.

• Serve as the senior escalation point for sensitive employee and executive payroll inquiries; ensure cases are handled consistently, confidentially, and within established service levels.

• Lead payroll technology and process-improvement initiatives involving Workday, ADP Vantage, Canadian payroll platforms, time and attendance solutions, integrations, reporting, testing, and change management.

• Establish and maintain current policies, standard operating procedures, process maps, control documentation, calendars, and training materials.

• Recruit, coach, develop, and retain a high-performing team; set clear goals, allocate work, provide timely feedback, manage performance, recognize contributions, and build effective backup coverage.

• Support the Director, Payroll Services in developing and executing the multi-year payroll strategy, operating model, technology roadmap, and investment priorities. Identify and prioritize responsible AI and automation opportunities across payroll operations, such as payroll variance and anomaly detection, employee inquiry classification and routing, reconciliation support, knowledge search and management reporting.

• Protect confidential payroll and personal data by using only company-approved tools and data sets; prevent sensitive employee information from being entered into unapproved public AI platforms.