Senior Payroll Leader — Workday, SOX & Compliance

Essex Property Trust, Inc.; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 123,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401k employer match

Parental leave

Wellness programs

Paid holidays

Job summary

Essex Property Trust, Inc. is seeking a Senior Manager, Payroll to lead and optimize payroll operations for a large non-exempt population across California and Washington.

You will direct the bi-weekly payroll cycle, manage payroll tax reporting, and ensure strong internal controls in a SOX-compliant environment while partnering with HR, Accounting, Finance, Legal and external vendors. The role requires a Bachelor’s degree, 8+ years of payroll experience, 5+ years in leadership, and deep Workday

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressive payroll experience.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing payroll teams.
• Advanced Workday Payroll and reporting expertise; CPP a plus.
• Public company experience; SOX knowledge and audits.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end payroll operations for CA and WA, ensuring timely processing.
• Oversee payroll tax reporting, garnishments, and compliance requirements.
• Establish policies, procedures, and internal controls aligned with regulatory standards.
• Partner with HR, Accounting, Finance and senior leaders to support growth.
• Drive automation, efficiency, and service improvements in payroll processes.

Skills

Payroll leadership

SOX compliance

Workday Payroll

Payroll tax reporting

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Workday

Job description

Essex Property Trust, Inc. is seeking a Senior Manager, Payroll to lead and optimize payroll operations for a large non-exempt population across California and Washington.

You will direct the bi-weekly payroll cycle, manage payroll tax reporting, and ensure strong internal controls in a SOX-compliant environment while partnering with HR, Accounting, Finance, Legal and external vendors. The role requires a Bachelor’s degree, 8+ years of payroll experience, 5+ years in leadership, and deep Workday