Senior Payroll Operations Leader, Workday Expert, Phoenix

TalentBridge; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental and vision insurance

Life insurance

Short-term disability

401(k) and holiday pay

Job summary

TalentBridge is seeking a Senior Manager, Payroll Operations in Phoenix, AZ. The role leads a 21-person payroll team and directs enterprise payroll operations for 20,000+ employees across multiple states, focusing on Workday Payroll, compliance, and process improvements.

The position requires strong leadership, extensive Workday experience, and the ability to manage complex payroll initiatives including annual bonuses and equity payroll. Hybrid onsite work arrangement is offered.

Qualifications

• 7-10+ years of progressive payroll leadership experience within large, complex enterprise organizations.
• Experience managing payroll operations for 20,000+ employees across multiple states.
• Strong expertise in Workday Payroll and Time & Attendance modules.
• Experience with Workday configuration testing, system enhancements, payroll integrations, and downstream impacts.
• Deep understanding of payroll operations, compliance, audit controls, SOX requirements, and payroll accounting.
• Proven experience leading managers and larger payroll teams, preferably within distributed or remote team environments.
• Experience overseeing complex payroll initiatives, including annual bonus processing and equity/stock payroll activities.
• Strong knowledge of payroll compliance, multi-state regulations, and operational controls.
• Strong analytical skills and advanced Excel capabilities.
• Ability and willingness to work primarily onsite in Phoenix, Arizona.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise payroll operations supporting 20,000+ employees across multiple states, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing.
• Oversee Workday Payroll and Time & Attendance operations, including configuration updates, enhancement initiatives, testing, and system implementation impacts.
• Manage payroll compliance, audit readiness, SOX controls, balance sheet reconciliations, and operational risk mitigation.
• Oversee complex payroll initiatives, including annual bonus processing, equity/stock payroll processing, and enterprise-wide payroll enhancements.
• Partner with HRIS, Total Rewards, Finance, and other business leaders to evaluate Workday configuration changes and downstream payroll impacts.
• Drive process improvements, workflow automation, reporting enhancements, and operational efficiencies across payroll functions.
• Provide strategic leadership, mentorship, and development for payroll managers and broader payroll operations teams.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state payroll regulations, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable accounting and control requirements.
• Oversee payroll accounting activities, reconciliations, banking operations, third-party payments, and payroll-related reporting.
• Support payroll projects, system enhancements, acquisitions, and testing initiatives to ensure operational continuity and accuracy.

Skills

Leadership

Workday Payroll

Excel

Analytical

Payroll Compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Workday

Alteryx

Oracle

Job description

TalentBridge is seeking a Senior Manager, Payroll Operations in Phoenix, AZ. The role leads a 21-person payroll team and directs enterprise payroll operations for 20,000+ employees across multiple states, focusing on Workday Payroll, compliance, and process improvements.

The position requires strong leadership, extensive Workday experience, and the ability to manage complex payroll initiatives including annual bonuses and equity payroll. Hybrid onsite work arrangement is offered.