Payroll Manager

Vaco; Cary (NC); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to oversee a complex, multi-state payroll function for about 1,000 employees. The role requires handling diverse populations and compensation structures while ensuring federal, state, and local payroll compliance.

This hybrid position requires two days onsite per week, with close collaboration across Accounting and HR teams to ensure accurate processing and timely reporting.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive payroll experience.
• Experience with complex multi‑state payroll and varying populations.
• Strong knowledge of multi‑state taxation and payroll compliance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing for approximately 1,000 employees.
• Manage weekly payroll for hourly employees and biweekly payroll for salaried staff.
• Handle payroll across multiple states and ensure tax compliance.
• Coordinate with Accounting on journal entries, reconciliations and accruals.
• Identify process improvements and support payroll controls.

Skills

Multi-state payroll

Payroll compliance

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field

Tools

Payroll platforms

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to oversee a complex, multi-state payroll function for a growing organization with approximately 1,000 employees. This role will manage payroll across multiple employee populations and compensation structures while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local payroll and tax requirements.

This is a hybrid position requiring two days onsite per week.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Manager

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to oversee a complex, multi-state payroll function for a growing organization with approximately 1,000 employees. This role will manage payroll across multiple employee populations and compensation structures while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local payroll and tax requirements.

This is a hybrid position requiring two days onsite per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee end-to-end payroll processing for approximately 1,000 employees, with the ability to support continued organizational growth.
• Oversee weekly payroll for hourly employees and biweekly payroll for salaried employees, along with quarterly and annual bonus payments.
• Manage payroll for employees who live and work across numerous states, including employees who perform work in multiple states throughout the year.
• Ensure proper application of multi-state payroll taxes, state reciprocity agreements, withholding requirements, and other state-specific payroll regulations.
• Stay current on evolving federal, state, and local payroll and tax laws and research complex payroll matters as needed.
• Support payroll requirements associated with prevailing wage contracts and applicable reporting requirements.
• Review and approve payroll, resolve discrepancies, and ensure accurate and timely processing.
• Partner with Accounting on payroll-related journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, and general ledger activity.
• Manage complex compensation items ranging from hourly wages through executive compensation and bonus programs.
• Work across multiple payroll, timekeeping, and compliance systems to ensure accurate data flow and reporting.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, documentation, and efficiencies as the organization continues to grow.
• Provide guidance and oversight to payroll team members while serving as the primary resource for complex payroll questions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive payroll experience, with deeper payroll experience strongly preferred.
• Extensive hands‑on experience with complex multi‑state payroll, including employees who may live in one state and perform work in multiple other states.
• Strong knowledge of multi‑state taxation, state reciprocity agreements, payroll compliance, and changing payroll tax regulations.
• Experience managing payroll across multiple employee populations, pay frequencies, and compensation structures.
• Experience with payroll accounting functions such as journal entries, reconciliations, and accruals is preferred.
• Experience with large payroll platforms is preferred.
• Prevailing wage experience is helpful but not required.
• Strong research, problem‑solving, and judgment skills with the ability to independently work through complex payroll issues.
• Comfortable working in a growing environment where processes and systems continue to evolve.

By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions.

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations; and
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).