Payroll Operations Manager

CoorsTek; United States; On-site; USD 103,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits

Company-Matched 401K

HSA with Company Contribution

Job summary

CoorsTek is seeking a Payroll Operations Manager to own U.S. payroll for a multi-state manufacturing workforce. You will ensure accurate, compliant processing, timekeeping, taxes, and year-end activities, while leveraging Workday Payroll and UKG/Kronos.

You will serve as the subject matter expert, drive automation and AI-enabled improvements, and collaborate with HRIS, IT, Finance, and plant leadership to optimize processes while maintaining strict internal controls and audit readiness.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of multi-state U.S. payroll experience, ideally in manufacturing or shared services.
• Hands-on Workday Payroll experience required.
• Hands-on UKG/Kronos experience required.
• Payroll tax compliance, wage-and-hour knowledge, garnishments, deductions, audits.

Responsibilities

• Deliver accurate, timely U.S. payroll across multiple states.
• Own the payroll calendar end-to-end including quarter/year-end close and W‑2 issuance.
• Configure, administer, and integrate Workday Payroll and UKG/Kronos.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll laws and wage rules.
• Establish policies, controls, and lead payroll audits; maintain audit readiness.
• Manage payroll vendors, SLAs, filings, and reconciliations; build dashboards.

Skills

Analytical skills

Advanced Excel & reporting

Clear communication & project mgmt

Stakeholder influence

Automation & AI tooling

Root cause analysis

Policy & internal controls

SOX & compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, HR, or related field

Tools

Workday Payroll

UKG/Kronos Workforce Management

Job description

It's exciting to work for a company that makes the world measurably better. We're committed to bringing safety, quality, and customer focus to the business of advanced ceramics manufacturing.

Payroll Operations Manager

As the Payroll Operations Manager, you will own U.S. payroll operations for a multi-state manufacturing workforce: accurate and compliant processing, payroll tax, timekeeping, vendor management, internal controls, and audit readiness. You will serve as the company’s subject matter expert on Workday Payroll and UKG/Kronos Workforce Management, and drives efficiency through automation, analytics, and AI-enabled tools. This is an individual contributor role with no direct reports. Works independently with guidance in only the most complex or precedent-setting matters.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Deliver accurate, timely, and compliant U.S. payroll across multiple states.
• Own the payroll calendar end to end — deadlines, approvals, funding, quarter-end and year-end close, tax reconciliations, and W-2 issuance.
• Own configuration, administration, and integration of Workday Payroll and UKG/Kronos, maintaining data integrity across time, earnings, deductions, taxes, and garnishments.
• Interpret and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll and wage-and-hour requirements, including overtime, shift premiums, garnishments, and deductions affecting an hourly workforce.
• Build and maintain payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls; lead payroll audits and keep documentation audit-ready.
• Manage payroll vendors — service levels, regulatory filings, reconciliations, and issue resolution.
• Build reporting and exception dashboards that surface anomalies, trends, and compliance risk before payroll runs.
• Investigate complex payroll issues, resolve them, and correct the root cause.
• Partner with HRIS, IT, Finance, Accounting, Tax, Legal, and plant leadership on system releases, testing, integrations, acquisitions, and process changes.
• Apply automation and AI-enabled tools to improve accuracy, efficiency, and employee experience within privacy and compliance requirements.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field.

Experience

• 8+ years of progressively responsible multi-state U.S. payroll and timekeeping experience, including payroll service delivery in a shared services, outsourced, or vendor-managed model.
• Hands-on Workday Payroll experience — required.
• Hands-on UKG/Kronos Workforce Management experience — required.
• Payroll tax compliance, wage and hour regulations, garnishments, deductions, reconciliations, payroll accounting, and audits.
• Payroll system implementations, upgrades, integrations, or process transitions.
• Preferred: large hourly manufacturing or industrial workforce experience; CPP certification; SOX control environment.

Functional / Technical Skills

• Expert knowledge of U.S. federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• Advanced proficiency in Workday Payroll and UKG/Kronos.
• Advanced payroll accounting — reconciliations, general ledger impacts, funding, and controls.
• Strong analytical skills; identifies anomalies and performs root cause analysis.
• Uses AI, automation, and reporting tools effectively while protecting compliance and data privacy.
• Influences stakeholders and leads cross-functional initiatives without direct authority.
• Advanced Excel and reporting capability.
• Clear communicator and project manager; works effectively across cultures, functions, and sites.

Target Hiring Range

Annual Salary: USD 103,040.00 - USD 136,013.00

Actual compensation is commensurate with experience, skills and education.

CoorsTek strives to give all qualified applicants equal opportunity and to make selection decisions on job related factors.

Do not provide any information on the application which will indicate your race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by law or regulation.

If you like working for a company that makes a real difference in the world, you'll enjoy your career with us!

About Us

Making the world measurably better...one person at a time. CoorsTek products and components touch people’s lives in unexpected, awe-inspiring ways. Though most people may not realize it, CoorsTek components enable technological solutions across virtually every industry—from simple items like beverage dispensers and light switches to high-tech items like cell phones and satellites. Chances are, you are using a CoorsTek-enabled technology every day without even knowing it!

We create these amazing solutions by leveraging our expertise in materials science, deploying best-in-class R&D capabilities, and by creating efficient, safe work environments. Most importantly, we employ dedicated, hardworking, and creative individuals. The key component to our success is our people.

CoorsTek strives to give all qualified applicants equal opportunity and to make selection decisions on job related factors.

Do not provide any information on the application which will indicate your race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by law or regulation.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off
• Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits
• Company-Matched 401K (USA only)
• Company-Matched Pension Plan (CANADA only)
• HSA (Health Savings Account) with Company Contribution
• Wellness Reimbursement Program (USA only)
• Voluntary Benefits (Pet Insurance, Legal Insurance, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance & more) (USA only)
• Safety Programs (reimbursement for safety shoes and company provided safety glasses)
• Performance-Based Bonuses for all Employees
• Employee Recognition Programs
• Mentorship Program
• Community & Volunteer Events & MORE!