Senior Payroll Lead - Multi-State & Workday Expert

Talentify; Schiller Park (IL); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Disability benefits

HSA

PTO

Job summary

Aston Carter is seeking a Payroll Operations Lead to manage end-to-end biweekly payroll for exempt and non-exempt employees across multiple entities in Workday. You will ensure data accuracy, oversee year-end processing, and implement compliance with wage and hour laws.

The role requires expertise in multi-state payroll, strong analytical skills, and experience with Workday. This is a hybrid contract position based in Schiller Park, IL with a strong focus on process automation and internal

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of progressive payroll experience in a fast-paced, multi-entity environment.
• Deep expertise in multi-state payroll processing and a strong command of federal and state compliance, tax regulations, and wage/hour laws
• Hands-on Workday Payroll experience strongly preferred
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation preferred; FPC considered
• Experience with NetSuite or similar general ledger systems a plus
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the ability to build and interpret payroll reports
• A technology-forward mindset — you actively look for ways to automate, improve, and scale payroll processes
• Excellent communicator who can distill complex payroll topics for non-payroll stakeholders
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing competing priorities under tight deadlines

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end biweekly multi-state payroll across multiple entities in Workday.
• Audit payroll data accuracy, calculate payroll, and maintain records.
• Manage year-end processing, including W-2s, balancing, adjustments, and amendments.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws.
• Develop payroll reports and analytics for leadership insights.
• Support system implementations, upgrades, and integrations with Workday.
• Identify opportunities to automate and improve payroll processes.
• Act as escalation point for complex payroll issues and resolve discrepancies.

Skills

Payroll

Payroll tax

Workday

Multi-state payroll

Education

CPP designation preferred; FPC considered

Tools

NetSuite

General ledger systems

Job description

Aston Carter is seeking a Payroll Operations Lead to manage end-to-end biweekly payroll for exempt and non-exempt employees across multiple entities in Workday. You will ensure data accuracy, oversee year-end processing, and implement compliance with wage and hour laws.

The role requires expertise in multi-state payroll, strong analytical skills, and experience with Workday. This is a hybrid contract position based in Schiller Park, IL with a strong focus on process automation and internal