Payroll Leader - Remote - Multi-Client, High-Volume Ops

Optimum HR; Santa Ana (CA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous benefits package

Collaborative culture

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Optimum HR in Southern California is seeking a Payroll Manager to lead a payroll team across multiple clients, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant processing. The role combines leadership, project coordination, and expert payroll knowledge to support strategic decisions.

You will manage performance, balance workloads, and collaborate with other departments while adapting to a hybrid work model with occasional in-office presence in Santa Ana.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, finance, HR or related field preferred.
• High school diploma or GED required.
• FPC or Payroll Certification preferred.
• 3+ years of payroll experience, including multi‑state or multi‑client processing.
• Experience leading or managing employees and coaching performance.
• Experience with payroll and HCM systems (iSolved/PEO experience preferred).

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the payroll team with clear performance expectations.
• Oversee accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing across multiple clients.
• Balance team capacity with client workloads and deadlines.
• Serve as escalation point for complex payroll and client issues.
• Monitor payroll accuracy, deadlines, service levels, and recurring issues.
• Lead a hybrid team with effective communication and collaboration.
• Partner with other departments on payroll projects and process improvements.
• Contribute payroll expertise to management planning and staffing decisions.
• Stay current on federal/state payroll requirements and implement changes.

Skills

People leadership

Payroll expertise

Communication

Problem-solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, accounting, finance, HR or related field

High school diploma or GED

FPC or Payroll Certification

Job description

Optimum HR in Southern California is seeking a Payroll Manager to lead a payroll team across multiple clients, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant processing. The role combines leadership, project coordination, and expert payroll knowledge to support strategic decisions.

You will manage performance, balance workloads, and collaborate with other departments while adapting to a hybrid work model with occasional in-office presence in Santa Ana.