Payroll Project Manager

Southwest Economic Solutions; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Coverage

Life Insurance

Short-Term Disability

Health Savings Account

401k Matching

Job summary

Southwest Economic Solutions seeks a Payroll Process Improvement leader to drive efficiency, standardize processes, and boost governance across payroll operations.

You will lead integrations for mergers, optimize HRIS and payroll systems, and partner with multi-location teams to implement sustainable, compliant solutions while advancing organizational performance.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of payroll, HR operations, HRIS, or related business operations experience.
• Experience leading complex projects, process improvements, or system implementations.
• Strong project management, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working across multiple business functions and stakeholder groups.

Responsibilities

• Payroll Process Improvement: Lead initiatives to enhance payroll efficiency, standardization, and governance.
• Acquisitions & Integrations: Serve as payroll lead for mergers, acquisitions, and integrations; manage payroll conversions.
• Payroll Systems & Technology: Lead payroll-related system enhancements, testing, and implementations; ensure data integrity across systems.
• Organizational & Operational Projects: Support restructurings and workforce changes; evaluate payroll structures for efficiency.
• Compliance & Controls: Support payroll compliance, audits, and internal control initiatives.

Skills

Project management

Payroll ops

Analytical

Cross-functional

Process improvement

Problem-solving

Education

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

Associates degree

Tools

UKG

ADP

Workday

Dayforce

Job description

Payroll Process Improvement

• Payroll Process Improvement
• Lead initiatives that improve payroll efficiency, standardization, and process effectiveness.
• Identify automation opportunities and implement sustainable solutions.
• Develop and maintain payroll governance, procedures, and best practices.

Acquisitions & Integrations

• Serve as the payroll lead for mergers, acquisitions, and business integrations.
• Manage payroll conversion efforts for newly acquired companies.
• Develop repeatable integration strategies that support organizational growth.

Payroll Systems & Technology

• Lead payroll-related system enhancements, testing, and implementations.
• Ensure data integrity between payroll, HRIS, timekeeping, and financial systems.
• Partner with vendors and internal stakeholders to optimize payroll technology.

Organizational & Operational Projects

• Support initiatives involving organizational restructuring, company realignments, and workforce changes.
• Evaluate payroll structures, labor allocations, and organizational hierarchies for efficiency and reporting accuracy.
• Lead cross-functional projects impacting payroll operations.

Compliance & Controls

• Support payroll compliance, audit readiness, and internal control initiatives.
• Evaluate operational risks and recommend process improvements.
• Maintain payroll documentation and governance standards.

Required Qualifications

• Associates or Bachelor's degree in Business, Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Information Systems, or related field.
• 5+ years of payroll, HR operations, HRIS, or related business operations experience.
• Experience leading complex projects, process improvements, or system implementations.
• Strong project management, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working across multiple business functions and stakeholder groups.

Preferred Education & Experience

• Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, or multi-company payroll environments.
• Experience with UKG, ADP, Workday, Dayforce, or similar HCM/payroll platforms.
• Experience within manufacturing or other multi-location organizations.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Coverage
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term Disability
• Health Savings Account
• 401k Matching

Work Environment

This position is based in both an at-home and a professional office setting. It is primarily a sedentary position, involving regular use of a computer and standard office equipment. The role requires sustained attention to detail, focus on administrative and system tasks, and the ability to handle confidential information with discretion. Standard business hours apply.

PVS values diversity and is committed to upholding the laws and regulations published by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. As an equal opportunity employer, PVS makes all employment-related decisions based upon qualifications, merit, and business needs.

Applicants must be able to pass a drug screen and background check.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.