Payroll Lead

IEEE; Piscataway Township (NJ); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

IEEE is seeking a Payroll Lead in New Jersey to manage end-to-end payroll for about 1,500 employees across multiple states and international payrolls. The role requires independence, ownership mindset, and strong analytics to modernize processes.

Responsibilities include ensuring compliance across jurisdictions, owning 401(k) plan administration, and guiding timekeeping, year-end tasks, and system upgrades with a focus on AI-driven improvements.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including multi-state US payroll processing.
• Experience processing or coordinating international payroll through third-party providers.
• Experience with retirement plan payroll administration, including contribution funding, reconciliation, and recordkeeper coordination.
• Experience providing work direction, training, or mentoring to other payroll staff.
• Experience creating and maintaining written process documentation.
• Experience with time and attendance system administration and leave of absence payroll processing preferred.
• Experience supporting payroll system implementations, conversions, or upgrades preferred.

Responsibilities

• Run the full payroll operation end to end, from bi-weekly multi-state domestic payroll to monthly international payrolls across six countries, coordinating with in-country providers.
• Own 401(k) and retirement plan administration, including contribution funding, recordkeeper reconciliations, and leadership projections.
• Lead internal payroll systems, including timekeeping, year-end activities, upgrades, testing, and analytics/AI improvements.
• Maintain process documentation to keep the function audit-ready.

Skills

Leadership

Ownership mindset

Analytical skills

Training/mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

Excel

Timekeeping systems

Payroll systems

Job description

Payroll at IEEE runs across seven countries and 1,500 people. We are looking for a Payroll Lead who can work independently and lead payroll processes from start to finish. Our ideal candidate will help modernize processes through analytics and the smart use of AI.

This is the senior working role on the team and involves:

• Running the full operation, from bi-weekly multi-state payroll to monthly international payrolls across roughly 1,500 employees;
• Keeping payroll compliant across every jurisdiction, from multi-state tax and wage rules to garnishments and regulatory notices; and
• Owning 401(k) and retirement plan administration, where accuracy carries real stakes.

The right person has 7+ years of multi-state payroll experience and is both ownership-minded and solutions-focused. ADP Workforce Now experience is required, and a CPP is preferred.

This is a hybrid role expected to be in the office up to 3 days a week.

Key Responsibilities

• Run the full payroll operation end to end, from bi-weekly multi-state domestic payroll to monthly international payrolls across six countries, working directly with in-country providers ensuring compliance across the board
• Own 401(k) and retirement plan administration, including contribution funding, recordkeeper reconciliations, and projections for senior leadership
• Serve as the working lead on internal payroll systems, from timekeeping and year-end to upgrades, testing, and the analytics and AI improvements that modernize functionality
• Own the process documentation that keeps the whole function audit-ready, limiting points of failure

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent work experience required

Work Experience

• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including multi-state US payroll processing required
• Experience processing or coordinating international payroll through third-party providers required
• Experience with retirement plan payroll administration, including contribution funding, reconciliation, and recordkeeper coordination required
• Experience providing work direction, training, or mentoring to other payroll staff required
• Experience creating and maintaining written process documentation required
• Experience with time and attendance system administration and leave of absence payroll processing preferred
• Experience supporting payroll system implementations, conversions, or upgrades preferred

Licenses and Certifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) preferred

Skills And Requirements

• Advanced proficiency with payroll systems, preferably ADP Workforce Now, including reporting and system configuration awareness.
• Advanced Excel skills, including reconciliation of large data sets; proficiency with Word, PowerPoint, and process documentation tools.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, local, and international payroll regulations, filing and compliance requirements, and employee benefit program rules including 401(k), DCR, and leave administration.

Other Requirements

As defined in IEEE Policies, individuals currently serving on an IEEE board or committee are not eligible to apply.

PLEASE NOTE: This position is not budgeted for employer-sponsored immigration support, this includes all persons in F (both CPT and OPT), J, H, L, or O status.

For information on work demands and conditions required for this position, please consult the reference document, ADA Requirements. This position is classified under Category I - Office Positions.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Disclaimer: This job description is proprietary to IEEE. It outlines the general nature and key features performed by various positions that share the same job classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties and qualifications required of all employees assigned to the job. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or re-assign duties to this job at any time due to reasonable accommodations or other business reasons.