Payroll Compliance & Operations Supervisor

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; Vienna (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) seeks a Payroll Supervisor to lead complex payroll governance, ensure compliance with CBAs, and deliver accurate employee compensation while providing exceptional service to a large, diverse workforce.

This role partners with HR, Labor Relations, management, and legal teams; supervises staff, analyzes payroll transactions, and drives process improvements to streamline operations and strengthen internal controls.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Relations, Business Administration or a related field.
• In Lieu of Associate's degree, a high school diploma or GED with two (2) years of experience in processing, administration, analysis and/or supervision of payroll and the maintenance of payroll records using automated financial systems.
• Four (4) years of progressively responsible, direct experience in the processing, administration, analysis and/or supervision of payroll and the maintenance of payroll records using automated financial systems.

Responsibilities

• Acts as the first point of escalation for payroll-related inquiries and discrepancies, providing prompt resolution.
• Supervises, reviews work, trains, and provides guidance to lower level represented and/or non- represented staff to ensure the accuracy of all pay documents and calculations and ensures compliance with policies and procedures.
• Processes and analyzes transactions for the weekly and biweekly payrolls, balances and controls, earnings and deductions totals; inspects automated system outputs, such as registers and standard reports; determines and corrects out-of-balance conditions; and researches and prepares special reports for management.
• Develops and produces meaningful and automated performance metrics to assess payroll processes and report on successes and deficiencies, such as breaks in controls and inefficient processes, to proactively propose solutions.
• Processes sensitive and irregular payments and develops routine queries and other confidential ad-hoc reports to support such payments.
• Coordinates, develops, and maintains written standardized documentation and forms on payroll procedures and processes for reference and training materials.
• Develops and/or provides WMATA-wide and cross-departmental training on the proper accounting for financial transactions.
• Evaluates existing processes to strengthen internal controls and streamline payroll processes.
• Leverages technology to eliminate manual processing, improve customer service responsiveness, and reduce instances of pay shortages, overpayments, and calculation errors.
• Coordinates with external auditors to prepare necessary working papers, audit samples, and accounting documentation for the year-end process.
• Serves as acting Payroll Manager, including all associated responsibilities, in the absence of the Payroll Manager.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Associate's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Relations, Business Administration or a related field

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Relations, or Business Administration

Tools

ERP systems (PeopleSoft, Oracle, SAP)

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) seeks a Payroll Supervisor to lead complex payroll governance, ensure compliance with CBAs, and deliver accurate employee compensation while providing exceptional service to a large, diverse workforce.

This role partners with HR, Labor Relations, management, and legal teams; supervises staff, analyzes payroll transactions, and drives process improvements to streamline operations and strengthen internal controls.