Payroll Manager

LHH; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 66,124 - 82,656; Full time

Job summary

A leading staffing firm is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager for a contract role in Houston, Texas. This position entails overseeing payroll operations for a large, geographically diverse workforce. Ideal candidates will have over 10 years of payroll experience, including a minimum of 5 years in management roles, and a strong compliance background. The role offers competitive hourly compensation between $48 and $60. Candidates should excel in high-volume environments and be capable of driving process improvements.

Qualifications

• CPP certification preferred.
• 10+ years of payroll experience, including 5+ as Payroll Manager.
• Experience in organizations with 10,000+ employees.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of weekly, bi-weekly, and semi-monthly payrolls.
• Oversee multi-state U.S. and multi-province Canadian payroll.
• Manage and develop a payroll organization of approximately 28 staff.
• Ensure compliance with payroll tax regulations.
• Drive coaching and professional development across the payroll team.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Compliance knowledge

Process improvement

Microsoft Office (Excel)

Strong communication

Ability to work in ambiguity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field

Tools

Payroll systems

Timekeeping platforms

Job description

I am partnering confidentially with a large, complex, and fast‑paced organization to identify an experienced Payroll Manager for a long-term contract engagement. This role will lead payroll operations within a shared services environment supporting a sizable, geographically diverse workforce across the U.S. and Canada.

This opportunity is ideal for a seasoned payroll leader who thrives in high‑volume environments, enjoys developing teams, and brings a strong compliance and process‑improvement mindset.

The Opportunity

This Payroll Manager will provide strategic and hands‑on leadership over enterprise payroll operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and exceptional service delivery. You will oversee a large payroll team and partner closely with senior leadership, HR, Accounting, Benefits, and external vendors.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead the end‑to‑end execution of weekly, bi‑weekly, and semi‑monthly payrolls for salaried, hourly, tipped, seasonal, and union employees
• Oversee multi‑state U.S. and multi‑province Canadian payroll operations in a high‑volume environment
• Manage, mentor, and develop a payroll organization of direct and indirect reports (approximately 28 staff)
• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, local, and Canadian payroll tax regulations
• Drive performance management, coaching, and professional development across the payroll team
• Partner with HR, Accounting, Benefits, Risk Management, and executive leadership to support payroll reporting and analytics
• Serve as the primary payroll contact for external service providers and vendors
• Maintain and enforce strong internal controls and SOX compliance
• Evaluate existing payroll processes and lead continuous improvement initiatives
• Apply change management best practices to successfully implement process and system enhancements
• Maintain exceptional customer service standards, including response time, issue resolution, and stakeholder satisfaction
• Ensure confidentiality, data security, and integrity of payroll records
• Oversee payroll turnaround times for corrections, inquiries, and reporting
• Support special projects and initiatives as needed

What We’re Looking For

• CPP certification (preferred)
• 10+ years of payroll experience, including 5+ years in a Payroll Manager role
• Experience leading payroll within organizations of 10,000+ employees
• Strong knowledge of:
• Canadian provincial payroll (preferred)
• Wage & hour laws, garnishments, payroll taxes, and regulatory reporting
• Background working in publicly traded companies
• Experience with payroll systems, reporting, timekeeping, POS, and related platforms
• Hands‑on leader willing to step into processes and identify improvement opportunities
• Strong understanding of internal controls, audit readiness, and SOX compliance
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, reporting, analysis)
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast‑moving, evolving environment with ambiguity
• Strong communicator with the judgment to know when to lead and when to partner

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting large shared‑services payroll organizations
• Bachelor’s degree in Business or a related field
• Job Type: Contract
• Compensation: $48.00 – $60.00 per hour (commensurate with experience)

Why This Role?

This is a highly visible payroll leadership role offering the opportunity to make an immediate impact within a sophisticated payroll organization. Ideal for Payroll Managers who enjoy stepping into complex environments, leading large teams, and driving operational excellence.

All inquiries and applications will be handled confidentially.