Payroll Manager

Unity Search Group; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexibility & work-life balance

Professional development

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Unity Search is partnering with a healthcare organization in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to recruit a Payroll Manager. You will lead day-to-day payroll operations for thousands of employees, oversee two to three direct reports, and drive system implementations with a focus on accuracy, compliance, and process improvements.

The role emphasizes UKG Pro expertise, high-volume multi-state payroll, and healthcare payroll experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Strong payroll leadership experience with team oversight and development.
• Experience managing high-volume payroll for a large employee population across multiple states.
• UKG software experience required.
• Prior payroll or workforce management system implementation or migration experience preferred.
• Extensive multi-state payroll experience, including California payroll requirements.
• Experience with union payroll, shift differentials, multiple shifts, and hourly populations.
• Healthcare payroll experience preferred, CPP designation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day payroll operations for a large, geographically dispersed employee population.
• Oversee approximately two to three direct reports and their teams.
• Own operational decisions and escalate to allow leadership to focus on strategic projects.
• Identify system, workflow, and team challenges; determine root causes and implement solutions.
• Partner with payroll leadership on UKG Pro and Workforce Manager implementation, testing, training, and transition support.
• Oversee payroll processes involving hourly employees, union requirements, shift differentials, and multiple shifts.
• Collaborate with the Payroll Director on tax and compliance, especially California requirements.
• Lead, mentor, and develop team members with a customer-service mindset.
• Build strong relationships with internal partners and address payroll questions promptly.

Skills

Leadership

Multi-state payroll

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business Administration

Tools

UKG Pro

Workforce Manager

ADP

Job description

Unity Search has partnered with an established healthcare organization in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in its search for a Payroll Manager. Reporting directly to the VP of Payroll, this leader will oversee day-to-day payroll operations for several thousand employees and provide leadership to two to three direct reports and their teams. This opportunity offers an established department with strong tenure, a collaborative culture, and a hiring manager who values flexibility, accountability, and employee development. The Payroll Manager will own daily operations, resolve system and workflow challenges, improve processes, and play a key role in an upcoming system implementation. The ideal candidate will bring UKG experience and a strong background in high-volume, multi-state payroll, including California requirements. Experience with union payroll, shift differentials, and large hourly workforces is important; healthcare experience and a CPP designation are preferred.

Why Join?

• Operational Ownership – Lead day-to-day payroll operations for a multi-state workforce of several thousand employees, overseeing two to three direct reports and their teams.
• Direct Partnership with Leadership – Report directly to the VP of Payroll and serve as a trusted partner in resolving challenges, improving processes, and supporting the team.
• Meaningful Systems Impact – Play a key role in a payroll system implementation.
• Established Team – Join a payroll department with strong tenure, experienced team members, and a collaborative approach.
• People-First Culture – Supportive leadership that values customer service, open communication, and learning from mistakes.
• Flexibility & Work-Life Balance – A hiring manager who values flexibility and focuses on effective execution and team accountability.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead day-to-day payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely payments for a large, geographically dispersed employee population.
• Oversee approximately two to three direct reports and their teams.
• Take ownership of operational decisions and escalations, allowing the VP of Payroll to focus more fully on strategic projects and implementations.
• Identify system, workflow, and team challenges, determine root causes, and implement practical solutions.
• Partner with payroll leadership on the UKG Pro and Workforce Manager implementation, including process review, testing, training, and transition support.
• Oversee payroll processes involving hourly employees, union requirements, shift differentials, and multiple shifts.
• Partner with the Payroll Director responsible for tax and compliance to support adherence to applicable payroll requirements, particularly in California.
• Lead, mentor, and develop team members while promoting accountability, collaboration, and a customer service mindset.
• Build strong relationships with internal partners and ensure employee payroll questions are addressed promptly and thoughtfully.
• Improve documentation, workflows, and team coverage to support consistent service and efficient operations.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• Strong payroll leadership experience, including team oversight and development.
• Experience managing high-volume payroll for a large employee population.
• UKG software experience required.
• Prior payroll or workforce management system implementation or migration experience highly preferred.
• Extensive multi-state payroll experience, including strong knowledge of California payroll requirements.
• Experience with union payroll, shift differentials, multiple shifts, and hourly employee populations.
• Healthcare payroll experience preferred, particularly in a hospital or similar environment.
• ADP experience helpful.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation preferred.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to identify issues and recommend effective improvements.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with a supportive, people-first approach.
• Ability to manage a geographically dispersed team and balance operational accountability with flexibility.

Compensation:

• Depending on experience – $110K – $125K plus discretionary bonus