Senior Payroll Operations Manager

Ilitch Holdings Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, a leader in sports and entertainment venues, seeks a Senior Payroll Operations Manager to oversee enterprise-wide payroll execution across diverse entities and jurisdictions. You will ensure accuracy, compliance, and operational excellence while guiding high-performing teams through growth and transformation.

You will partner with Finance, HR, Legal, and Internal Audit to optimize Workday Payroll capabilities, establish KPIs, and drive automation and process

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Business; 7+ years of progressive payroll leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead payroll operations across multiple frequencies and entities, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Partner with Finance, HR, and Legal to develop scalable payroll strategies.
• Drive automation initiatives and Workday optimizations.
• Manage audits, controls, and regulatory reporting.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Process improvement

Regulatory/compliance awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Business

Master's degree (preferred)

CPP Certification (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 Leadership

Manage 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 Operations

Direct 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 HRIS Participate in payroll system implementations, testing, integrations, and upgrades. Improve payroll automation and system performance.

Leadership

Lead, 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 & Audits

Partner 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.

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.

Core Competencies

Strategic Thinking Change Leadership Enterprise Collaboration Financial Acumen Risk Management Data-Driven Decision Making Continuous Improvement Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment All 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.

E-Verify and Right to Work

Privacy Policy Ilitch Companies and our colleagues are committed to being the best in all that we do - whether it's providing a delicious, quality meal from Little Caesars, delivering fresh food to our Little Caesars restaurants, baking quality food products at Champion Foods, supporting world-class teams like the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers or offering unforgettable live entertainment at top-rated venues like Little Caesars Arena, the Fox Theatre, Pine Knob and other area locations.

Ilitch Companies is a world leader in the food, sports, entertainment, gaming and other industries. Its 12 operating businesses employ tens of thousands of colleagues around the world who are dedicated to creating extraordinary and memorable dining, entertainment and sporting experiences. Ilitch Companies support the family of businesses' best-in-class products and services to create unforgettable moments that bring individuals, families, and fans together. We are committed to being the very best in all that we do and to giving back to the communities where we operate. Built on humble beginnings, our culture is one of excellence, teamwork, perseverance and dedication.