Senior Manager, Payroll

Milwaukee Succeeds

Chicago, Northern (IL, KY)

Hybrid

USD 123,000 - 155,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

401k plan

Paid time off

Employee assistance program

Disability benefits

Life insurance

Learning & development

Job summary

Komatsu is seeking a Senior Manager, Payroll to lead a multi-state payroll team onsite in Chicago. You will drive accurate processing, compliance, and scalable processes while collaborating with HR, Finance, and Legal.

You will oversee system implementations, manage complex payroll transactions, and ensure audit readiness with strong internal controls. CPP and UKG Pro experience are highly valued.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field.
7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including leadership and team management responsibilities.
Experience managing payroll operations for a large, multi-state organisation.
Expertise with UKG Pro (UltiPro) or a comparable enterprise payroll platform; payroll system implementation experience is strongly preferred.
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation is strongly preferred.
Expert knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll laws, tax compliance, and reporting requirements.
Strong leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills with a track record of driving continuous improvement.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across the organisation.
Ability to manage confidential information with professionalism and integrity.
Experience leading cross‑functional projects and implementing scalable payroll processes.
Willingness to travel up to 10% as needed.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop the payroll team responsible for timely and accurate multi-state payroll processing.
Develop and execute payroll strategies that improve efficiency, automate processes, and support business growth.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations while maintaining strong internal controls and audit readiness.
Partner with HR, Finance, Accounting, Legal, and business leaders to align payroll operations with organisational priorities.
Manage relationships with third-party payroll providers, tax agencies, and system vendors to ensure exceptional service and compliance.
Lead payroll system implementations, upgrades, integrations, and process improvement initiatives across payroll, HRIS, timekeeping, and financial systems.
Oversee the accurate administration of complex payroll transactions, including bonuses, commissions, equity payments, retroactive pay, garnishments, and leave programmes.
Monitor changes in payroll legislation and implement compliant policies, procedures, and best practices.
Develop payroll metrics, reporting, and executive dashboards that provide actionable business insights.
Serve as the escalation point for complex payroll issues and lead special HR and payroll projects as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Payroll management

Multi-state payroll

Regulatory compliance

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

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

Tools

UKG Pro (UltiPro)

Job description

Job Location (Short): Chicago, Illinois, USA, 60631 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, 53204-2941

Requisition ID: 36320

Onsite or Remote: Onsite Position

Join Komatsu and Be Part of Something Big!

Job Overview

The Senior Manager, Payroll leads the payroll team and oversees payroll operations for a large, multi-state workforce, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and operational excellence. This role plays a critical part in payroll and tax compliance risk mitigation, audit readiness, and driving process innovation to support the company’s continued growth and scalability. As a trusted payroll subject matter expert, the Senior Manager leads high-impact initiatives including payroll system implementations and integrations, tax compliance initiatives, process redesign, and policy governance. Working collaboratively across Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Legal, and external partners, this leader develops scalable payroll solutions, strengthens internal controls, and ensures payroll operations align with evolving business needs and regulatory requirements.

Key Job Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop the payroll team responsible for timely and accurate multi-state payroll processing.
Develop and execute payroll strategies that improve efficiency, automate processes, and support business growth.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations while maintaining strong internal controls and audit readiness.
Partner with HR, Finance, Accounting, Legal, and business leaders to align payroll operations with organisational priorities.
Manage relationships with third-party payroll providers, tax agencies, and system vendors to ensure exceptional service and compliance.
Lead payroll system implementations, upgrades, integrations, and process improvement initiatives across payroll, HRIS, timekeeping, and financial systems.
Oversee the accurate administration of complex payroll transactions, including bonuses, commissions, equity payments, retroactive pay, garnishments, and leave programmes.
Monitor changes in payroll legislation and implement compliant policies, procedures, and best practices.
Develop payroll metrics, reporting, and executive dashboards that provide actionable business insights.
Serve as the escalation point for complex payroll issues and lead special HR and payroll projects as needed.

Qualifications/Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field.
7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including leadership and team management responsibilities.
Experience managing payroll operations for a large, multi-state organisation.
Expertise with UKG Pro (UltiPro) or a comparable enterprise payroll platform; payroll system implementation experience is strongly preferred.
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation is strongly preferred.
Expert knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll laws, tax compliance, and reporting requirements.
Strong leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills with a track record of driving continuous improvement.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across the organisation.
Ability to manage confidential information with professionalism and integrity.
Experience leading cross‑functional projects and implementing scalable payroll processes.
Willingness to travel up to 10% as needed.

Additional Information

Hiring Range

At Komatsu, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. This role pays $123,000 - $155,000. The actual offer will consider a wide range of factors, including experience and location.

Company Benefits

Komatsu provides an extensive and robust employee benefits package that is designed to enhance the well‑being of our employees and family members. We embrace a positive and empowering employee experience with a culture that prides itself on a diverse and inclusive environment.

401k and/or employee savings programmes
Employee time off (vacation and designated holidays)
Employee and family assistance programmes
Disability benefits
Life insurance
Employee learning and development programmes

Diversity & Inclusion Commitment

At Komatsu, we come from diverse backgrounds, with unique perspectives, experiences and contributions. We believe that our people are part of our shared purpose. Connected by our core values of ambition, perseverance, collaboration and authenticity, we are committed to continually advancing in our support of diversity and inclusion. United, we are on a journey towards a sustainable future that creates value together.