Payroll Manager

LHH; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

LHH Recruitment Solutions is partnering with a well-established real estate and property management organization in the Metro Detroit area to hire a Payroll Manager. The role oversees a large, multi-state payroll function and leads payroll staff, ensuring accuracy and regulatory compliance.

You will collaborate with HR, Accounting, Treasury, and Benefits to strengthen controls, implement improvements, and drive automation across the payroll lifecycle.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience.
• Previous supervisory or payroll leadership experience.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax and compliance requirements.
• Experience with payroll tax registrations, filings, and agency correspondence.
• Strong Excel and payroll/HRIS systems experience.
• Experience improving payroll processes, controls, and procedures.
• CPP designation is a plus, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end payroll process for a large, multi-state employee population.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop payroll staff.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• Oversee payroll tax filings, registrations, reconciliations, and year-end processing.
• Review payroll audits, garnishments, deductions, PTO balances, and adjustments.
• Develop and maintain payroll policies, procedures, SOPs, and internal controls.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex payroll questions and issues.
• Partner cross-functionally to ensure accurate employee data and payroll reporting.
• Identify opportunities for automation and continuous process improvement.
• Support payroll system enhancements, testing, and implementation initiatives.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Supervisory experience

Cross-functional partnership

Process improvement

Excel

Payroll/HRIS systems

Education

CPP designation (preferred)

Tools

Excel

HRIS systems

Job description

LHH Recruitment Solutions is partnering with a well-established and growing real estate and property management organization in the Metro Detroit area to hire a Payroll Manager. The organization operates a diversified portfolio across commercial real estate, manufactured housing communities, and multifamily residential properties, supporting a large employee population across multiple states.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced payroll professional who enjoys taking ownership of a complex payroll function while strengthening processes, controls, and partnering cross-functionally across a growing organization.

What makes this opportunity stand out:

• Established and growing organization within the real estate/property management space


• Diverse portfolio spanning commercial, manufactured housing, and multifamily residential communities


• Ownership of a large, multi-state payroll function


• Leadership responsibility with direct oversight of payroll staff


• Opportunity to improve processes, controls, training, and automation


• High visibility and partnership with HR, Accounting, Treasury, and Benefits

Key responsibilities include:

• Manage the end-to-end payroll process for a large, multi-state employee population


• Supervise, mentor, and develop payroll staff


• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations


• Oversee payroll tax filings, registrations, reconciliations, and year-end processing


• Review payroll audits, garnishments, deductions, PTO balances, and adjustments


• Develop and maintain payroll policies, procedures, SOPs, and internal controls


• Serve as an escalation point for complex payroll questions and issues


• Partner cross-functionally to ensure accurate employee data and payroll reporting


• Identify opportunities for automation and continuous process improvement


• Support payroll system enhancements, testing, and implementation initiatives

Ideal background:

• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience


• Previous supervisory or payroll leadership experience


• Knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax and compliance requirements


• Experience with payroll tax registrations, filings, and agency correspondence


• Strong Excel and payroll/HRIS systems experience


• Experience improving payroll processes, controls, and procedures


• CPP designation is a plus, but not required