Payroll Lead

Truity Partners; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Truity Partners in Madison, WI, seeks a Payroll Lead to own payroll processing and support HRIS, timekeeping, and leave administration. You will partner with HR and Finance to ensure payroll accuracy, compliance, and timely pay across locations.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in payroll, strong knowledge of payroll regulations, and a proven ability to improve processes while maintaining strong data integrity and service to employees.

Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of payroll experience preferred.
• Strong hands-on experience with payroll processing, timekeeping, and payroll auditing.
• Experience working with HRIS, payroll, and time and attendance systems.
• Exposure to leave administration and other HR-related processes preferred.
• Multi-state payroll experience preferred but not required.
• Manufacturing payroll experience is a plus.
• Strong understanding of payroll regulations, deductions, taxes, and compliance requirements.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to identify and resolve discrepancies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to research issues independently.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with employees, managers, and internal partners.
• Self-motivated and dependable with ownership of payroll responsibilities.
• Comfortable balancing detailed transactional work with broader payroll/HRIS responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute recurring payroll processing activities, ensuring accurate, timely payments.
• Review payroll data prior to processing and research discrepancies.
• Audit timekeeping records for hours, approvals, adjustments.
• Partner with managers and employees to resolve questions.
• Maintain employee payroll data across payroll and HR systems.
• Assist HRIS administration and maintain data accuracy.
• Assist with employee leave administration and coordination with payroll.
• Review deductions, earnings, taxes for accuracy.
• Support payroll activities across locations and jurisdictions.
• Research and resolve payroll discrepancies with documentation.
• Prepare payroll reports, reconciliations for stakeholders.
• Maintain payroll records per policy and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, and operations to ensure data flow.
• Assist year-end payroll activities and reporting.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes and controls.
• Serve as payroll resource and guidance to employees and managers.
• Support additional HRIS, payroll, and employee projects as needed.

Skills

Payroll processing

Timekeeping

HRIS software

Data accuracy

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Time management

Ownership mindset

Education

Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance/HR/Business

Tools

HRIS software

Timekeeping systems

Payroll software

Job description

Our client is an organization in the Madison area looking for a Payroll Lead. Our client is looking for an experienced payroll professional who can take ownership of payroll processing while supporting HRIS, timekeeping, leave administration, and other payroll-related activities. This individual will serve as a key resource for employees and internal partners while ensuring payroll information is accurate, timely, and compliant.

The Payroll Lead will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and execute recurring payroll processing activities, ensuring employees are paid accurately and timely.
• Review payroll data prior to processing and research discrepancies or unusual activity.
• Perform detailed audits of employee timekeeping records to verify hours, approvals, adjustments, and other payroll information.
• Partner with managers and employees to resolve timekeeping and payroll-related questions.
• Maintain employee payroll information and ensure changes are accurately reflected within payroll and HR systems.
• Support HRIS administration and maintain accurate employee data across applicable systems.
• Assist with employee leave administration and ensure appropriate coordination between leave, timekeeping, and payroll records.
• Review payroll deductions, earnings, taxes, and other employee-level transactions for accuracy.
• Support payroll activities for employees across multiple locations and jurisdictions as applicable.
• Research and resolve payroll discrepancies while maintaining clear supporting documentation.
• Prepare payroll reports, reconciliations, and other information for internal stakeholders.
• Maintain payroll records in accordance with company policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and operational teams to ensure payroll-related information flows accurately between departments.
• Assist with year-end payroll activities and other required reporting.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, system utilization, and overall efficiency.
• Serve as a knowledgeable payroll resource and provide guidance to employees and managers as questions arise.
• Support additional HRIS, payroll, and employee-related projects as business needs evolve.

The Payroll Lead will possess the following:

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Associate or bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of payroll experience preferred.
• Strong hands-on experience with payroll processing, timekeeping, and payroll auditing.
• Experience working with HRIS, payroll, and time and attendance systems.
• Exposure to leave administration and other HR-related processes preferred.
• Multi-state payroll experience preferred but not required.
• Manufacturing or other complex workforce payroll experience is a plus.
• Strong understanding of payroll regulations, deductions, taxes, and compliance requirements.
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to identify and resolve payroll discrepancies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to independently research issues.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to meet recurring payroll deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively assist employees, managers, and internal business partners.
• Self-motivated and dependable with the ability to take ownership of payroll responsibilities.
• Comfortable balancing detailed transactional work with broader payroll, HRIS, and employee support responsibilities.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The compensation philosophy reflects the Company's reasonable expectation at the time of posting. Actual compensation is influenced by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, skills, experience level, and overall qualifications. This role may also be eligible to participate in a discretionary incentive program and company-sponsored benefits, subject to the rules governing those programs.