Payroll Manager

Korn Ferry; Dunwoody (GA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Korn Ferry is seeking an experienced payroll manager to oversee payroll for approximately 300 employees, ensuring accurate, timely processing and strong controls. You will partner with Accounting, Finance, HR, and operations to own payroll end-to-end.

This hands-on role leverages ADP and NetSuite for data integrity, reconciliations, and reporting while safeguarding confidential information and supporting year-end activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience with end-to-end ownership.
• Experience managing payroll for multi-location employees.
• Hands-on ADP experience required or strongly preferred.
• Experience with NetSuite and payroll accounting basics.
• Strong Excel skills and handling large datasets.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end payroll for approximately 300 employees.
• Serve as payroll subject-matter expert and point of contact.
• Review inputs: changes, deductions, benefits, bonuses, commissions.
• Perform payroll reconciliations and review payroll registers.
• Record payroll activity in NetSuite and ledger entries.
• Utilize ADP to administer payroll and maintain records.
• Coordinate with HR for hires, terminations, and changes.
• Manage payroll tax activities with ADP across authorities.
• Support W-2 processing and year-end reconciliations.
• Identify process improvements and efficiency opportunities.

Skills

End-to-end payroll

Cross-functional collaboration

Payroll governance

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business

Tools

ADP

NetSuite

Excel

Job description

Our client is seeking an experienced, hands-on Payroll Manager to oversee and execute payroll operations. Reporting directly to the VP Controller, this individual will serve as the primary owner of the payroll function, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing while maintaining strong controls, reconciliations, reporting, and compliance.

This is an individual-contributor role well suited for someone who enjoys owning payroll from end to end and partnering closely with Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, and operational leaders. The Payroll Manager will work extensively within ADP and NetSuite and will play an important role in ensuring payroll information flows accurately into the company's financial reporting processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end payroll process for approximately 300 employees, ensuring payroll is processed accurately and on schedule.
• Serve as the organization's primary payroll subject-matter expert and point of contact for payroll-related matters.
• Review employee information, compensation changes, deductions, benefits, bonuses, commissions, and other payroll-related inputs for accuracy prior to processing.
• Perform payroll reconciliations and review payroll registers for accuracy and completeness.
• Ensure payroll activity is appropriately recorded within NetSuite, including payroll-related journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and general ledger activity.
• Utilize ADP to administer payroll and maintain accurate employee payroll records.
• Reconcile payroll-related balance sheet accounts and research and resolve discrepancies.
• Partner closely with the VP Controller and Accounting team during monthly, quarterly, and year-end close.
• Coordinate with HR to ensure new hires, terminations, employee changes, benefits deductions, and other employee information are accurately reflected in payroll.
• Manage payroll tax activities and coordinate with ADP on federal, state, and local payroll tax matters.
• Support year-end payroll activities, including W-2 processing and reconciliations.
• Maintain appropriate payroll controls, documentation, and processes to safeguard confidential employee and compensation information.
• Respond to employee payroll questions and research discrepancies in a timely and professional manner.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, system utilization, and overall efficiency.
• Assist with payroll-related reporting, audits, and other accounting initiatives as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience, ideally including ownership of an end-to-end payroll process.
• Experience independently managing payroll for a multi-location employee population strongly preferred.
• Hands-on experience with ADP required or strongly preferred.
• Experience working with NetSuite highly preferred.
• Strong understanding of payroll accounting, including journal entries, general ledger reconciliations, accruals, and month-end close.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll requirements.
• Experience with payroll tax reporting and year-end payroll processes.
• Strong Excel skills and comfort working with payroll reports and large datasets.
• High attention to detail and ability to handle confidential information appropriately.
• Ability to operate successfully as a hands-on individual contributor without a dedicated payroll team.
• Strong communication skills and ability to partner effectively across Accounting, Finance, HR, and Operations.

Compensation: $110,000 - $120,000 salary plus bonus