Payroll Manager

Ace Hardware; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive opportunities

Generous 401(k) retirement plan

Comprehensive health coverage

Paid time off & holidays

Company car, phone and fuel card

Job summary

Ace Hardware is seeking a senior payroll leader to drive payroll operations for a large workforce across multiple states. You will oversee governance, controls, and compliance, partnering with executive teams and HR to ensure accurate tax remittance and data privacy.

This role rewards leadership, process optimization, and strong analytical acumen. The position offers competitive compensation and benefits, reflecting a long-standing commitment to employees and a culture of excellence within Ace

Qualifications

• 10+ years of payroll leadership experience.
• 5+ years at manager/director level.
• Experience in high-volume, multi-state, multi-entity environments.
• In-house Workday payroll configuration governance.
• Deep knowledge of payroll operations, financial controls, taxation and regulatory compliance.
• Strong analytical, communication and judgment skills.
• Proven success leading teams and improving processes through technology.
• Audit readiness, internal controls, data privacy.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Workday payroll

Payroll compliance

Analytical/communication

Team leadership & process improvement

Audit & controls

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance/business

Job description

Who You Are

The ideal candidate will have a passion for excellence, and ability to lead their team in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will also have the ability to communicate effectively and work seamlessly with the executive team, Human Resources and other business partners within the organization.

Role Impact Approximately $800 million in annual payroll processing. Approximately $176 million in payroll taxes withheld and remitted. Approximately 38,000 employees processed annually, with approximately 13,800 active employees.

Compensation Details: $120200 - $149950 per year.

Required Skills

• 10+ years of progressive payroll leadership experience, including 5+ years at the manager or director level in high-volume, multi-state and multi-entity environments.
• Demonstrated leadership of in-house Workday payroll, including configuration governance, change management and testing strategy.
• Deep knowledge of payroll operations, financial controls, payroll taxation and regulatory compliance.
• Strong analytical, communication and judgment skills, with the ability to translate complex requirements into practical business solutions.
• Proven success leading teams, managing change and improving processes through technology and automation.
• Strong commitment to audit readiness, internal controls, record retention and data privacy.

Preferred Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Why should you join our team?

We live our values - W.E.L.I.G.H.T (Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility, and Teamwork). Gratitude. Humility. Love. You don’t often see values like these in most corporate statements, but Ace is different. These things are important to us. They represent our commitment to the company, our employees, to Ace retailers and to the Ace brand.

In addition to providing our employees a great culture, Ace also offers competitive benefits_ that address life’s necessities and perks, many of which expand and improve year after year, including:

• Incentive opportunities, based on role/grade level (company growth over the past 5 years resulted in incentives being paid out at an average of 122% of your target opportunity!)
• Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan with a fully vested matching contribution the first year in addition to quarterly contributions and annual discretionary contribution (once eligibility requirements have been met).
• Over the past 5 years, company contributions (matching, quarterly & discretionary) for fully eligible employees have averaged 10% of total eligible compensation
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision and disability – up to 26 weeks short-term disability and long-term disability) & life insurance benefits for you and your dependents
• 21 days of vacation immediately available (prorated in the first year) and up to 6 paid holidays depending on the month of hire
• Company Car, phone and fuel card are provided for field-based positions
• Birth/Adoption bonding paid time off Adoption cost reimbursement Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – access to free visits to therapists and lawyers, guidance on financial matters, elder and childcare, and assistance with tickets to entertainment events Identity theft protection _ Benefits are provided in compliance with applicable policies.
• Services such as mobile spas, auto maintenance, car wash and detailing, dry cleaning, dentists, eye doctors, flu shots, recycling and more!
• Employee discounts on Ace merchandise (including top brands like Weber, Traeger, Yeti, Craftsman, DeWalt and more), travel, fitness, computers and thousands more Birth/Adoption bonding paid time off Adoption cost reimbursement Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – access to free visits to therapists and lawyers, guidance on financial matters, elder and childcare, and assistance with tickets to entertainment events Identity theft protection _ Benefits are provided in compliance with applicable policies.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ace Hardware Corporation is committed to a policy of promoting equal employment opportunities. The company recognizes the importance of diversity and leveraging the skills and talents of all people to the mutual advantage of each individual and the organization. The company is committed to the prevention of employment discrimination related to race, religion, color, sex (including sexual harassment), gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability and military or veteran status, sexual orientation or any other action covered by federal or applicable state/local laws.

We help locally-owned businesses thrive and make an impact in their communities – and we support our employees in doing the same by offering an annual Ace Cares Week, 20 hours off work per year to volunteer at an organization of your choice, opportunities to help Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the Ace Helpful Fund through the Ace Foundation Ace invests in every employee we hire, with a key focus on development and coaching. We offer on-site classes, facilitator-led courses, and a generous tuition assistance program, plus a performance management approach that goes beyond the typical annual review We know the work environment matters. That’s why Ace holds frequent campus events like Employee Appreciation Week, vendor demos, cookouts, and merchandise sales We bring them to you! Services such as mobile spas, auto maintenance, car wash and detailing, dry cleaning, dentists, eye doctors, flu shots, recycling and more! Employee discounts on Ace merchandise (including top brands like Weber, Traeger, Yeti, Craftsman, DeWalt and more), travel, fitness, computers and thousands more Birth/Adoption bonding paid time off Adoption cost reimbursement Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – access to free visits to therapists and lawyers, guidance on financial matters, elder and childcare, and assistance with tickets to entertainment events Identity theft protection _ Benefits are provided in compliance with applicable policies.