Payroll Manager

Phoenix Defense, LLC.; Gilbert (AZ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Phoenix Defense, LLC. is seeking a Payroll Manager to own full-cycle payroll processing for 800+ employees across multiple states. Based in Gilbert, AZ, you will work closely with HR, Accounting and IT to ensure accurate deductions, compliance, and timely reporting.

You will manage timekeeping imports, garnishments, and regulatory changes, while supporting broader accounting activities in a fast-paced government-contracting environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience in Payroll preparation.
• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business.
• Proficient MS Office, especially Excel with VLOOKUP, formulas and pivot tables.

Responsibilities

• Independently manages full-cycle payroll processing for 800+ employees in multiple states.
• Validates new hires, terminations, bonuses, and benefit deductions.
• Imports timekeeping data from Deltek Costpoint and Plex into UKG for processing.
• Coordinates with HR and IT to ensure payroll systems reflect deductions, accruals and tax configurations.
• Prepares month-end and year-end payroll tasks, reports, and reconciliations.

Skills

Payroll processing

Microsoft Excel

Analytical/Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

UKG

Deltek Costpoint

HRIS systems

Job description

The Payroll Manager will report directly to the Accounting Manager. This position operates in a fastâpaced, highly transactional governmentâcontracting environment and is responsible for fullâcycle processing of the company’s highâvolume biâweekly payroll using UKG and Deltek Costpoint. This role collaborates closely with HR, Accounting, and IT while maintaining ownership of core payroll functions. This role also supports broader administrative accounting activities as needed.

Essential Duties / Responsibilities

• Independently manages full-cycle payroll processing for 800+ employees in multiple states, including validation of new hires, terminations, bonuses, and benefit deductions.


• Maintains accurate employee payroll records, processes personnel changes, and ensures data accuracy within the system.


• Imports timekeeping data from Deltek Costpoint and Plex into UKG for processing


• Manages and reviews payroll data before and after transmission, ensuring accuracy, proper documentation, and required approvals of bi-weekly payroll.


• Processes and maintains detailed records of all court-ordered wage garnishments, child support orders, and tax levies.


• Posts weekly PTO accruals and ensures accuracy of balances.


• Calculates, tracks, and remits union dues in accordance with collective bargaining requirements.


• Ensures annual SCA and union pay changes, including H&W rates, have been entered accurately into UKG.


• Coordinates with HR and IT to ensure payroll systems accurately reflect benefit deductions, accrual updates, HRIS changes, timekeeping updates, and tax configurations.


• Actively participates in UKG Open Enrollment sessions set up, ensuring payroll deduction dates are accurate in the system.


• Stays current with Federal, state, and local payroll laws and tax changes, rules and regulations, government'contracting requirements, 401k plan amendments, and internal policies and ensures changes related to these processes are entered in UKG timely and accurately.


• Serves as the primary point of contact for resolving payroll'related inquiries from employees, supervisors, cross'functional teams, and stakeholders.


• Completes month'end and year'end payroll tasks, reporting, and reconciliations timely and accurately.


• Performs other financial or administrative duties as assigned in support of the Accounting Department.

Competencies

• Strong customer focus—supports both internal stakeholders and external partners.


• Demonstrates sound ethical judgment and decision-making.


• Effective verbal and written communicator with strong listening skills.


• Highly organized with excellent timeâmanagement capabilities in a fastâmoving environment.


• Detailâoriented, qualityâfocused, and able to proof own work accurately.


• Collaborative team member with strong interpersonal skills.


• Consistent inâperson attendance and reliability in a deadlineâdriven environment.


• Ability to navigate and work within multiple systems to obtain and validate timekeeping and payroll data.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience in Payroll preparation


• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business


• Experience using MS Office Suite, including strong Excel skills using VLOOKUP, formulas, and pivot tables.

Preferred Knowledge/Skills

• Experience in government DoD contract accounting.


• Experience with SCA and union employees