Senior Payroll Leader – Multi-State & Client Focus

Orion Placement; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 84,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Job summary

Orion Placement is seeking a senior payroll leader in the Waukesha area. The role starts full-time in-office with potential flexible work arrangements after ramp-up, overseeing a payroll processing team serving clients with multi-state needs.

You will lead and mentor staff, ensure accurate, timely processing, and maintain compliance across tax jurisdictions while fostering strong client relationships and process improvement.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of payroll processing experience preferred.
• Hands-on multi-state payroll experience required.
• Degree required.
• Prior payroll leadership, supervisory, team lead, or administrative management experience strongly preferred.
• Experience handling payroll for multiple clients or companies strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of payroll taxes, filings, notices, compliance, and year-end processing.
• Strong Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, math, analytical, and critical-thinking skills.
• Excellent organization, communication, leadership, and client-service abilities.
• Experience with Execupay is strongly preferred but not required.
• Ability to manage confidential information and competing deadlines with accuracy and professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and direct the payroll processing team on a day-to-day basis.
• Oversee accurate and timely payroll processing for clients with different pay schedules and multi-state operations.
• Review payrolls, reports, employee changes, deductions, garnishments, direct deposits, and adjustments for accuracy.
• Manage workloads, deadlines, client assignments, and quality-control processes across the payroll department.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex payroll questions and client concerns.
• Build strong client relationships through timely, knowledgeable communication.
• Support new client onboarding by reviewing prior payroll records and coordinating setup.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll laws and taxes.
• Coordinate year-end payroll activities, including reconciliations and W-2 processing.
• Collaborate with accounting, tax, and administrative teams to resolve issues and support clients.
• Develop procedures and improved workflows to enhance accuracy and efficiency.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Analytical thinking

Leadership

Client service

Excel

Multi-state payroll

Payroll taxes

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Execupay

Job description

Orion Placement is seeking a senior payroll leader in the Waukesha area. The role starts full-time in-office with potential flexible work arrangements after ramp-up, overseeing a payroll processing team serving clients with multi-state needs.

You will lead and mentor staff, ensure accurate, timely processing, and maintain compliance across tax jurisdictions while fostering strong client relationships and process improvement.