Payroll Manager

Vaco LLC; Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to oversee a complex multi-state payroll for ~1,000 employees. The role requires ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local payroll and tax requirements while supporting evolving processes across populations and compensation structures.

This hybrid position entails two days onsite weekly, leading a payroll team, and partnering with Accounting on journal entries, reconciliations, and reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive payroll experience, including multi-state responsibilities.
• Extensive hands-on experience with complex multi-state payroll and tax regulations.
• Experience managing payroll across multiple populations, pay frequencies, and compensation structures.
• Proven ability to research and resolve complex payroll issues.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end payroll for ~1,000 employees across multiple states.
• Oversee weekly payroll for hourly staff and biweekly payroll for salaried staff, including bonuses.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll taxes and regulations.
• Collaborate with Accounting on payroll journal entries, reconciliations, and GL activity.
• Identify process improvements to enhance accuracy and efficiency.

Skills

Multi-state payroll

Regulatory compliance

Analytical skills

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field

Tools

Large payroll platforms

Timekeeping systems

ERP/GL systems

Job description

Payroll Manager

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to oversee a complex, multi-state payroll function for a growing organization with approximately 1,000 employees. This role will manage payroll across multiple employee populations and compensation structures while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local payroll and tax requirements.

This is a hybrid position requiring two days onsite per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee end-to-end payroll processing for approximately 1,000 employees, with the ability to support continued organizational growth.
• Oversee weekly payroll for hourly employees and biweekly payroll for salaried employees, along with quarterly and annual bonus payments.
• Manage payroll for employees who live and work across numerous states, including employees who perform work in multiple states throughout the year.
• Ensure proper application of multi-state payroll taxes, state reciprocity agreements, withholding requirements, and other state-specific payroll regulations.
• Stay current on evolving federal, state, and local payroll and tax laws and research complex payroll matters as needed.
• Support payroll requirements associated with prevailing wage contracts and applicable reporting requirements.
• Review and approve payroll, resolve discrepancies, and ensure accurate and timely processing.
• Partner with Accounting on payroll-related journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, and general ledger activity.
• Manage complex compensation items ranging from hourly wages through executive compensation and bonus programs.
• Work across multiple payroll, timekeeping, and compliance systems to ensure accurate data flow and reporting.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, documentation, and efficiencies as the organization continues to grow.
• Provide guidance and oversight to payroll team members while serving as the primary resource for complex payroll questions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive payroll experience, with deeper payroll experience strongly preferred.
• Extensive hands-on experience with complex multi-state payroll, including employees who may live in one state and perform work in multiple other states.
• Strong knowledge of multi-state taxation, state reciprocity agreements, payroll compliance, and changing payroll tax regulations.
• Experience managing payroll across multiple employee populations, pay frequencies, and compensation structures.
• Experience with payroll accounting functions such as journal entries, reconciliations, and accruals is preferred.
• Experience with large payroll platforms is preferred.
• Prevailing wage experience is helpful but not required.
• Strong research, problem-solving, and judgment skills with the ability to independently work through complex payroll issues.
• Comfortable working in a growing environment where processes and systems continue to evolve.