Payroll Manager

Vertex Companies; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 265,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Healthcare & dental coverage

Life Insurance

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Vertex is seeking a Payroll Manager to lead global payroll operations, ensuring accurate and compliant processing for U.S. and international employees. The role partners with HR, Finance, Tax, and external providers and serves as the Subject Matter Expert for Workday payroll systems.

The ideal candidate will have progressive payroll leadership experience, strong Workday/HCM expertise, and a deep understanding of regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions.

Qualifications

• Progressive payroll experience with leadership responsibilities.
• Hands-on Workday Payroll and ADP tax compliance experience.
• Strong Workday HCM and payroll integrations knowledge.
• Experience managing international payroll across multiple countries.
• In-depth knowledge of U.S. payroll regulations and payroll tax compliance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end US and international payroll processing for multiple jurisdictions.
• Lead biweekly, semi-monthly, monthly, and off-cycle payrolls as applicable.
• Ensure accuracy of wages, bonuses, commissions, equity, and other payments.
• Administer payroll systems, reports, and journal entries; coordinate audits.
• Partner with HR, Finance, Tax, and external providers on payroll initiatives.
• Guide payroll compliance, controls, and year-end reporting (W-2s, 1099s).

Skills

Workday Payroll

Workday HCM

ADP tax compliance

Payroll integrations

U.S. payroll regulations

International payroll management

Microsoft Excel (pivot, lookups)

Analytical & problem solving

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Master's degree (preferred)

8+ years experience without degree

Tools

Workday

ADP

Job description

Description

Company Description

The Vertex Companies, LLC (Vertex) is a $180M global consulting firm that integrates strategic advisory, project management, and dispute resolution services for organizations facing complex challenges in a world of risk. We embody our core values of embracing lifelong learning, operating with urgency, maximizing value, and driving collaboration to better outcomes for our clients, colleagues, and communities. Join us if you are looking for a career that offers you a chance to love what you do and deliver meaningful impact.

Job Description

The Payroll Manager is responsible for overseeing and managing the organization's domestic and international payroll operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing across multiple jurisdictions. This role leads payroll administration, develops and maintains payroll processes and controls, partners with Human Resources, Finance, Tax, and external service providers, and ensures compliance with federal, state, local, and international payroll regulations. The Payroll Manager will serve as the subject matter expert for payroll systems, and support strategic initiatives related to workforce growth, acquisitions, and global expansion.

Core Responsibilities

Payroll Operations

• Manage the end-to-end payroll processing for U.S. and international employees, ensuring payroll is completed accurately and on schedule.
• Oversee biweekly, semi-monthly, monthly, and off-cycle payrolls as applicable.
• Review payroll registers, audits, reconciliations, and exception reports prior to payroll approval.
• Ensure proper calculation and processing of wages, bonuses, commissions, equity compensation, employee loans, and other supplemental payments.
• Manage payroll-related accounting activities, including accruals, reconciliations, journal entries, and general ledger interfaces.

Systems Administration

• Serve as the primary administrator and subject matter expert for Workday payroll systems.
• Maintain payroll system configurations, earnings and deduction codes, tax setups, and organizational structures.
• Partner with HRIS and IT teams to implement system enhancements, integrations, and process improvements.
• Lead payroll-related testing for system upgrades, acquisitions, and organizational changes.

International Payroll

• Manage payroll operations for employees located in multiple countries through local payroll providers and/or Employer of Record (EOR) arrangements.
• Ensure compliance with local payroll tax regulations, social insurance requirements, statutory benefits, and employment laws.
• Coordinate with external payroll providers, tax advisors, and finance teams to ensure accurate payroll reporting and funding.
• Monitor exchange rate impacts, global mobility considerations, and cross-border payroll requirements.

Compliance & Controls

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, and international payroll laws and regulations.
• Maintain strong internal controls and support internal and external audits.
• Manage payroll tax reporting, year-end filings, W-2s, 1099s, and international payroll reporting obligations.
• Stay current on payroll legislation, tax regulations, and industry best practices.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop existing and future payroll staff.
• Establish performance goals, provide coaching, and support professional development.
• Develop and document payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Foster a culture of accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Business Partnership

• Partner with Human Resources, Finance, Treasury, Tax, Legal, and business leaders on payroll-related matters.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and organizational restructuring activities.
• Provide payroll analytics, reporting, and insights to management.
• Assist with compensation and benefit program implementation.

Qualifications & Competencies

• Bachelor's degree and 5 years of related experience, a Master's degree and 3 years of related experience, or 8 years of related experience and no degree, and 3 years of supervisory experience.
• Progressive payroll experience, including at least 3 years in a payroll leadership or management role.
• Hands-on experience managing payroll through Workday along with ADP tax compliance.
• Strong experience with Workday Payroll, Workday HCM, and payroll integrations.
• Demonstrated experience managing international payroll operations across multiple countries.
• In-depth knowledge of U.S. payroll regulations, payroll tax compliance, wage and hour laws, and payroll accounting.
• Experience working with third-party global payroll providers and international payroll vendors.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, and data analysis.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.
• Prior experience with ADP payroll systems.
• Experience supporting publicly traded or private equity-backed organizations.
• Experience with payroll integrations, system implementations, and HRIS transformations.
• Knowledge of SOX compliance and internal control environments.
• Experience managing payrolls for organizations with 750+ employees and multi-entity structures.
• Familiarity with global mobility, expatriate payroll, shadow payroll, and international tax equalization programs.

Key Competencies

• Payroll Compliance & Governance
• Workday Payroll & Compliance Specialist
• International Payroll Management
• Process Improvement
• Financial and Tax Reconciliations
• Internal Controls & Audit Support
• Leadership & Team Development
• Project Management
• Data Analysis & Reporting
• Cross-Functional Collaboration

Additional Information

At Vertex, we invest in top talent with a highly competitive total compensation package that rewards performance and supports long-term success. Total compensation includes a base salary and a discretionary variable bonus program, depending on your level. Our comprehensive benefits package offers multiple healthcare and dental plan options, as well as company-paid Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability coverage - ensuring peace of mind for you and your family.

We offer a 401(k) plan with immediate matching and full vesting, empowering employees to build financial security from day one. Additional benefits include Flexible Spending Accounts, a robust Employee Assistance Program, and a suite of exclusive perks that enhance everyday life.

At The Vertex Companies, our salary ranges are intentionally designed to support meaningful career growth over time. These ranges allow employees to develop, expand their impact, and increase their earnings as they progress within their job level. A new hire's starting compensation is determined by their experience, geographical location, scope of the role at the time of hire, and Company affordability. Our ranges are structured to reward growth and performance, ensuring there is room for advancement and long-term opportunity.

The salary ranges for this role are as follows:

$98,000 - $265,000 USD annually (Geographical Tier AA - Sample Locations: NY Metro, San Franscisco, San Jose, Seattle)

$90,000 - $245,000 USD annually (Geographical Tier A - Sample Locations: Irvine CA, Middlesex NJ, Tacoma WA, Boston, Alexandria)

$83,000 - $224,000 USD annually (Geographical Tier B - Sample Locations - Baltimore, Chicago, Anchorage, Portland)

Time away matters - so we provide a generous paid time off program, including vacation, sick time, and paid holidays (with prorated options for eligible part-time employees).

At Vertex, growth never stops. Our signature "Lifetime of Learning" program offers tuition reimbursement and personalized support for employees pursuing advanced education - helping you sharpen your skills and accelerate your career.

Notice to Third Party Agencies:

Please note that The Vertex Companies employs a fully staffed recruiting team. We do not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Agreement, Vertex will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, Vertex explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Vertex.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.