Payroll Manager

Solairus Aviation; Petaluma (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Solairus Aviation is seeking a Payroll Manager to lead day-to-day payroll operations for employees across all 50 states. You will ensure timely payroll processing for hourly, salaried, exempt and per diem staff, maintain data integrity, and oversee timekeeping and deductions.

The role partners with Total Rewards, HR, Finance and Paycom or other HRIS providers to ensure compliance and accuracy. A strong background in multi-state payroll and audits is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, HR, Finance or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive payroll experience in multi-state environment.
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory or team leadership in payroll.
• Experience using Paycom or similar HRIS payroll platform.
• Strong knowledge of payroll processing, tax, wage and hour rules, and recordkeeping.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for employees across all 50 states.
• Oversee payroll data integrity, timekeeping review, deductions, and garnishments.
• Coordinate with HRIS/payroll providers for tax filings and system configs.
• Lead payroll audits and provide documentation for audits and compliance.
• Prepare and distribute payroll reports; partner with Accounting for GL coding.

Skills

Payroll processing

Multi-state payroll

Supervisory experience

Analytical skills

Discretion & confidentiality

Communication

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting / HR / Finance

Tools

Paycom

HRIS systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The Payroll Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of Solairus Aviation’s payroll operations, including accurate and timely payroll processing across all 50 states for hourly, salaried, and per diem employees. This position oversees payroll production, payroll data integrity, timekeeping review, payroll reporting, employee payroll records, deductions, garnishments, adjustments, tax-related payroll coordination, and payroll audit support.

The Payroll Manager serves as the primary operational subject matter expert for payroll processes, payroll systems, timekeeping, reporting, and employee payroll support. This position directly supervises the Sr. Payroll Administrator and any additional payroll team members as assigned, providing daily guidance, workload oversight, training, quality review, and issue resolution to ensure payroll deadlines and compliance requirements are met.

This role reports to and works closely with the Director, Total Rewards. The position also works closely with Human Resources, Corporate Accounting, Finance, department leaders, and Paycom or other payroll/HRIS providers to ensure payroll processes are accurate, compliant, well-controlled, and aligned with company policies. The Payroll Manager also supports process improvements, system enhancements, payroll documentation, and escalates complex payroll, compliance, tax, benefits, or leave-related matters as appropriate.

• Supervise, train, coach, and support the payroll team members.
• Assign, prioritize, and review payroll team work to ensure payroll deadlines, audit requirements, employee inquiries, and reporting needs are met accurately and on time.
• Provide day-to-day guidance to payroll staff on payroll procedures, system usage, issue resolution, prioritization, quality control, and employee service expectations.
• Serve as the first escalation point for payroll-related questions or issues that cannot be resolved by payroll staff, escalating complex matters to the Director, Total Rewards as appropriate.
• Develop, maintain, and improve payroll calendars, standard operating procedures, checklists, training materials, and internal control documentation.

Payroll Operations

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for employees across all 50 states, including hourly, salaried, exempt, non-exempt, and per diem payrolls.
• Ensure employees are paid accurately and on time in accordance with company policies and applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Oversee the accurate collection, calculation, entry, review, and reconciliation of payroll data, including regular earnings, overtime, per diem, deductions, garnishments, reimbursements, adjustments, PTO accruals, leave-related pay, and other payroll transactions.
• Maintain and oversee accurate employee payroll records, including new hires, terminations, transfers, wage changes, department changes, department/tail allocations, and other employee status updates.
• Manage non-exempt timekeeping processes to ensure accuracy of reported hours, approvals, corrections, and compliance with company policy.
• Review payroll preview reports, payroll registers, exception reports, and related data to identify and resolve discrepancies before payroll is finalized.
• Coordinate final pay, retroactive pay, off-cycle payments, voids, reversals, and payroll corrections as needed.
• Maintain secure and accurate payroll records and ensure compliance with company recordkeeping, confidentiality, and data retention requirements.

Payroll Compliance, Taxes, and Audits

• Support federal, state, and local payroll compliance by ensuring employee tax data, work and residence locations, payroll coding, deductions, and reporting are accurate.
• Coordinate with Paycom or other HRIS/payroll providers on payroll tax filings, system configuration, reporting, compliance support, and issue resolution.
• Lead payroll audit preparation and provide documentation for internal, external, tax, workers’ compensation, benefits, financial, and compliance audits.
• Interpret and apply payroll policies, wage and hour requirements, garnishment rules, payroll procedures, and company practices; escalatcomplex compliance matters as appropriate.

Reporting, Accounting, and Cross-Functional Support

• Prepare, review, and distribute payroll reports on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis, including gross pay, tax deductions, benefit deductions, hours worked, PTO accruals, leave/pay data, and other payroll-related information.
• Partner with Corporate Accounting and Finance on payroll reconciliations, general ledger coding, department/tail allocations, payroll accruals, payroll reporting, and year-end activities.
• Partner with Human Resources, Benefits, and Leave Management to ensure payroll accurately reflects new hires, terminations, compensation changes, benefit deductions, leaves of absence, PTO usage, and other employee status changes.
• Respond to payroll-related inquiries from employees, managers, and departments in a timely, professional, accurate, and confidential manner.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, reporting, controls, workflows, documentation, employee experience, and system utilization.
• Lead or contribute to payroll, HRIS, benefits, compensation, audit, and process improvement projects as needed.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of employee payroll, compensation, tax, benefits, leave, and personal information.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive payroll experience, preferably in a multi-state payroll environment
• Minimum of 2 years of supervisory, lead, or team management experience in payroll or a closely related function
• Experience managing or supporting payroll across multiple states; 50-state payroll experience strongly preferred
• Experience using Paycom or a similar payroll/HRIS platform
• Strong knowledge of payroll processing, payroll tax requirements, wage and hour rules, garnishments, deductions, PTO accruals, payroll reporting, and payroll recordkeeping
• Experience supporting hourly, salaried, exempt, non-exempt, and per diem employee populations
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including formulas, pivot tables, reconciliations, and data review
• Strong math, analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with discretion and professionalism

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or similar payroll certification strongly preferred
• Experience with Paycom payroll processing, reporting, tax setup, and HRIS administration strongly preferred
• Experience in aviation services, private aviation, transportation, or another multi-state, operationally complex environment.
• Experience with per diem payroll, department allocations, job costing, department/tail allocations, or similar payroll allocation processes.
• Experience supporting payroll audits, workers’ compensation audits, benefit deduction audits, year-end payroll activities, and process improvement initiatives.