Payroll Manager

Legence; Beltsville (MD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) Plan with Company Match

Health & Welfare Benefits

Life and Disability Insurance

Time Off

Expenses reimbursement

Job summary

Legence, headquartered in Beltsville, MD, is seeking a Payroll Manager to direct in-house payroll for about 2,000 employees. The position is based in the Bowers office and emphasizes leadership, compliance, and cross-functional collaboration with payroll, IT, and finance teams.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years of multi-state payroll experience, strong knowledge of payroll laws, and proven supervisory capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Accounting, or HR, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years in multi-state payroll with strong payroll law knowledge; supervisory experience required.
• Experience managing payroll for 1,000+ employees; union experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage in-house payroll operations for up to 2,000 employees.
• Lead a payroll team of 4–6 employees.
• Support payroll processing including check/ACH distribution and tax payments.
• Manage W-2s and other required reports; handle union reporting/payments.
• Drive automation with payroll and IT to deliver efficient solutions.
• Validate payroll audits and controls; document processes for improvements.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and development plans to team members.
• Develop reports and metrics for trend analysis and remediation.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Customer focus

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business/Accounting/HR

Tools

Dayforce

ADP

Great Plains (GP)

Sage

Deltek

Spectrum Systems

Job description

About Legence

Legence (Nasdaq: LGN) is a leading provider of engineering, consulting, installation, and maintenance services for mission‑critical systems in buildings. The company specializes in designing, fabricating, and installing complex HVAC, process piping, and other mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems—enhancing energy efficiency, reliability, and sustainability in new and existing facilities. Legence also delivers long‑term performance through strategic upgrades and holistic solutions. Serving some of the world’s most technically demanding sectors, Legence counts over 60% of the Nasdaq‑100 Index among its clients.

Position Overview

The Payroll Manager will direct and manage all aspects of in-house payroll operations for one business unit, ensuring the accurate, timely, and compliant processing of payroll for up to 2,000 employees. The ideal candidate will possess the ability to support team members with day-to-day work while harmonizing payroll operations, aligning with the company’s overall payroll goals. The candidate will work in the Bowers office in Beltsville, MD.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage payroll team of 4-6 employees
• Support payroll processing for up to 2,000 employees
• Support full in-house payroll including check/ACH distribution, tax payments, tax registrations, managing deductions, processing W2s and other required reports
• Support union reporting and payment requirements
• Drive automation within the payroll team by partnering with payroll and IT teams to deliver quality solutions in a timely manner
• Assist the Director of Payroll in validating or establishing payroll audits and controls
• Assist the payroll team in documenting processes and identifying opportunities for improvement or automation
• Provide leadership to support and execute business process-related goals
• Work with finance or payroll team as needed to resolve payroll GL posting questions
• Provide professional and technical coaching, mentoring, and development plans to team members
• Develop technical reports, metrics, and specifications for trend analysis and remediation

Desired Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a Business, Accounting, or Human Resources discipline or an equivalent combination of training and experience
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in multi-state payroll with strong payroll law knowledge; Prior supervisory experience is required
• Experience managing payroll with a minimum of 1,000 employees; Union experience preferred
• Proficiency with Excel, data analysis, build/write formulae, and test data
• Strong systems background and experience with software implementations; Experience with Dayforce, ADP, GP, Sage, Deltek, or Spectrum Systems preferred
• Ability to work collaboratively with payroll and project teams during payroll system upgrades and implementations
• Proven leadership and influencing skills to successfully lead projects and teams
• Must have a customer focused attitude with strong communication skills, verbal and written

Salary Range: $110,000 to $120,000 (This role is also eligible for an annual performance‑based bonus. Bonus eligibility and payout are determined by role, individual performance, and company performance, and are not guaranteed.)

Benefits Overview

401(k) Plan with Company Match: Currently match contributions dollar‑for‑dollar up to 4% of eligible pay; immediate vesting.
Health & Welfare Benefits: Employer provided medical, dental, vision, prescription drug, Employee Assistance Program and accident & illness coverage.
Life and Disability Insurance: Employer provided basic life insurance and AD&D valued at 50K coverage amount with the option for voluntary buy up for additional coverage.
Time Off: Flexible non‑accrual vacation; company holidays per policy. (For California employees, this is separate from California paid sick leave, if applicable.)
Expenses: Business travel and related expenses reimbursed per company policy.

Reasonable Accommodations

If you need assistance or accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact us [e-mail] or your dedicated recruiter with the job title and requisition number.

Employment Eligibility

Candidates must have current work authorization in the U.S.; visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Third-Party Recruiting Disclaimer

Legence and its affiliates do not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies; any such submissions without a prior signed agreement authorized by Legence Holdings LLC's CHRO or Director of Talent Acquisition will not incur fees and are considered property of Legence.

Pay Disclosure & Considerations

Where pay ranges are indicated, please note that a successful candidate’s exact pay will be determined based relevant job‑related factors, including any of the following: candidate’s experience, skills, and qualifications, as well as geographic and market considerations. We are committed to ensuring fair and competitive compensation for all employees and comply with all applicable salary transparency laws.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Legence and its affiliate companies are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), marital or familial status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, other non-merit-based factors, and any other characteristic protected under applicable local, state or federal laws and regulations.
EEO is the Law