Senior Payroll Operations Manager

Ilitch Companies; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Ilitch Sports + Entertainment in Detroit seeks a Senior Payroll Operations Manager to lead enterprise payroll across entities and jurisdictions, ensuring accuracy, regulation, and process excellence. You will guide teams through growth and transformation, partnering with Finance, HR, Legal, and IT to optimize Workday Payroll and controls.

This role emphasizes strategic leadership, KPI setting, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver compliant, timely payroll across multiple frequencies and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Accounting or Business; master’s degree preferred.
• 7+ years of proven progressive payroll leadership experience.
• Experience leading large, multi-state payroll operations including California.
• International Payroll experience with Canada, Mexico, and Germany (preferred).
• Extensive Workday Payroll expertise (preferred).
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) (preferred).
• Experience with SOX controls, payroll compliance, and enterprise governance.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Manage and collaborate with internal teams for payroll transformation initiatives including automation, AI-enabled efficiencies, and Workday optimization.
• Establish departmental KPIs, service levels, and operational scorecards.
• Payroll Operations: Direct payroll operations across multiple frequencies, legal entities, and domestic and international locations.
• Maintain enterprise-wide standardized procedures and documentation.
• Partner with Time Administrators to ensure accurate timekeeping, holidays, and pay rules.
• Maintain internal controls and audit readiness; oversee unions and contracts as applicable.
• Oversee payroll calendars and complex transactions including garnishments and off-cycle payouts.
• Workday & Technology: Support implementations, testing, integrations, and upgrades; drive automation and performance.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Workday

Regulatory compliance

SOX controls

Multistate payroll

Data-driven decisions

CPP certification

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting or Business

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Workday Payroll

Job description

Job Summary:The Senior Payroll Operations Manager is a strategic leader responsible for enterprise-wide execution, and continuous improvement of payroll operations across multiple legal entities, business segments, and domestic and international jurisdictions. This role ensures payroll accuracy, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and an exceptional colleague experience while leading high-performing payroll teams through organizational growth and transformation.As a trusted business partner, this leader collaborates with Finance, Human Resources, Total Rewards, Legal, Tax, Internal Audit, Technology, and leadership to help develop scalable payroll strategies, strengthen internal controls, optimize Workday Payroll capabilities, and ensure compliance with all federal, state, local, and international payroll regulations. Reports to the Director of Payroll.Strategic LeadershipManage and work with other internal teams for payroll transformation initiatives including automation, AI-enabled efficiencies, and Workday optimization.Establish departmental KPIs, service levels, and operational scorecards.Payroll OperationsDirect payroll operations across multiple payroll frequencies, legal entities, and domestic and international locations. This includes sports, entertainment and retail business units.Establish and ensure maintenance of enterprise-wide standardized procedures, and documentation.Partners with Time Administrators and cross-functional teams to ensure timekeeping, holiday schedules, pay rules, and other payroll-driving components are accurately maintained and processed.Maintain internal controls and audit readiness.Ensure multiple Union contracts are maintained and administered correctly.Maintain and oversee enterprise payroll processing calendars.Oversee complex and sensitive payroll transactions, including wage garnishments, leave of absence pay, and special off-cycle payouts.Workday & Technology in Partnership with HRISParticipate in payroll system implementations, testing, integrations, and upgrades.Improve payroll automation and system performance.LeadershipLead, develop, and coach payroll team, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.Own performance management for direct reports, including skill development, performance coaching, addressing gaps, and holding team members accountable for results.Lead and support change management initiatives.Manage day-to-day workload prioritization, cross training, team capacity planning, and operational resource allocation.Compliance & AuditsPartner with Payroll Tax & Compliance, HR, Legal, and Internal Audit to support audits, compliance reviews, and reporting requirements.Provide payroll data, documentation, and support for MLB, NHL, Unions and other regulatory or business-related information requests.QualificationsBachelor's degree required in Accounting or Business; (master’s degree preferred).7+ years of proven progressive payroll leadership experience.Experience leading large, multi-state payroll operations including California.International Payroll experience with Canada, Mexico, and Germany (preferred)Extensive Workday Payroll expertise. (preferred).Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) (preferred).Experience with SOX controls, payroll compliance, and enterprise governance.Core CompetenciesStrategic ThinkingChange LeadershipEnterprise CollaborationFinancial AcumenRisk ManagementData-Driven Decision MakingContinuous ImprovementAbility to operate in a fast-paced environmentAll items listed above are illustrative and not comprehensive. They are not contractual in nature and are subject to change at the discretion of Ilitch Holdings, Inc.Ilitch Holdings, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to that individual’s race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.The Company will strive to provide reasonable accommodations to permit qualified applicants who have a need for an accommodation to participate in the hiring process (e.g., accommodations for a job interview) if so requested.This company participates in E-Verify.