Payroll Operations Lead - Process Improvement & Team Growth

Spirit Human Resources, LLC; Oklahoma City (OK); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

PTO and company holidays

401(k) with company match

Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life

Ongoing training and professional dev.

Team culture and events

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Spirit HR is seeking a Payroll Manager to lead the payroll team, ensuring accurate, timely processing with a high level of care. You will oversee day-to-day operations, distribute workload, and partner with the implementation team to onboard clients.

You will maintain a reduced book of assigned clients, process payroll from start to finish, and evolve into a full-management role as Spirit HR grows. Strong attention to detail is essential.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of payroll processing experience, including multi-state payroll.
• Experience leading, supervising, or mentoring payroll staff.
• Strong knowledge of garnishments, payroll taxes, and regulations (federal/state).
• Proven ability to implement process improvements and standards.
• Comfort with adopting new technology and training others in its use.

Responsibilities

• Lead, support, and develop the payroll team by distributing client assignments based on workload and expertise.
• Manage and improve the implementation-to-payroll handoff process for new clients.
• Develop, maintain, and ensure consistent use of payroll SOPs.
• Establish and monitor QA practices, spot audits, error tracking, and root-cause resolution.
• Develop coverage plans to maintain payroll continuity during absences and turnover.
• Train, coach, and conduct performance check-ins with payroll specialists.
• Identify and implement automation and AI-assisted workflows (PrismHR, Wayside).
• Serve as escalation point for payroll questions and issues.
• Process full-cycle, multi-client payroll in PrismHR (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly).
• Process garnishments, manual checks, prior-wage loads, and direct deposit/ACH transactions.
• Reconcile payroll before transmission and validate reports.
• Ensure compliance with applicable payroll regulations.

Skills

Team leadership

Payroll processing

Process improvement

Training & mentoring

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or business

FPC/CPP certification

Tools

PrismHR

Wayside

Job description

Spirit HR is seeking a Payroll Manager to lead the payroll team, ensuring accurate, timely processing with a high level of care. You will oversee day-to-day operations, distribute workload, and partner with the implementation team to onboard clients.

You will maintain a reduced book of assigned clients, process payroll from start to finish, and evolve into a full-management role as Spirit HR grows. Strong attention to detail is essential.