Sr. Payroll Manager

Shields Health; South Quincy (MA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

Shields Health, based in Massachusetts, seeks a Senior Payroll Manager to lead payroll operations across 26+ entities and multiple states, ensuring accurate, on-time processing and regulatory compliance.

As the Workday Payroll SME, you will drive system enhancements, partner with HR, Finance, and Operations, and mentor the payroll team while delivering insightful payroll reporting and audits.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including multi-state and multi-entity payroll environments.
• Strong, hands-on experience with Workday Payroll required.
• Advanced knowledge of payroll taxes, wage and hour laws, payroll compliance, and related regulations.
• Experience working with general ledger systems and payroll accounting processes.
• Advanced Excel skills and the ability to analyze and interpret complex payroll data.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to partner effectively across functions and levels.
• Sound judgment and the ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential information.
• Healthcare industry experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end payroll processing across 26+ legal entities and multiple states.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of hourly, salaried, and off-cycle payrolls.
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local wage, tax, reporting, and payroll requirements.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex payroll questions, issues, and corrections.
• Monitor changing payroll regulations and help translate requirements into effective processes and controls.
• Lead payroll-related system enhancements, upgrades, testing, and automation initiatives.
• Conduct regular payroll audits to identify discrepancies, strengthen controls, and improve accuracy.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes and enhance the employee and manager payroll experience.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

Workday Payroll

Excel

General Ledger Systems

Job description

Job Summary: About Shields Health Founded on family values, partnership, and a true commitment to patients, Shields Health is a leader in advanced MRI, PET/CT, and surgical services. Our approach is simple but meaningful: we treat every patient the way we would want our own family to be treated. That same commitment extends to our employees. We believe great healthcare starts with great people - and with the systems, processes, and teams that support them.

Why This Role Matters

As Senior Payroll Manager, you’ll play a key leadership role in ensuring hundreds of employees across our organization are paid accurately, on time, and in compliance with complex federal, state, and local requirements. Supporting 26+ legal entities across multiple states, you’ll oversee payroll operations while serving as a trusted partner to HR, Accounting, Finance, Legal, and Operations. You’ll also be a key Workday Payroll subject‑matter expert, helping us strengthen processes, improve controls, and identify opportunities for automation and continuous improvement. This is an opportunity for an experienced payroll leader who enjoys both the details of payroll operations and the bigger‑picture work of building efficient, scalable processes.

Job Description

What You’ll Do

Lead Payroll Operations & Compliance

• Own end-to-end payroll processing across 26+ legal entities and multiple states.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of hourly, salaried, and off-cycle payrolls.
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local wage, tax, reporting, and payroll requirements.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex payroll questions, issues, and corrections.
• Monitor changing payroll regulations and help translate requirements into effective processes and controls.

Drive Workday Payroll & Systems Excellence

• Serve as a key subject‑matter expert for Workday Payroll, including payroll configuration, audits, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Partner closely with HR to maintain data integrity across Workday Payroll, Time & Attendance, and employee records.
• Lead payroll‑related system enhancements, upgrades, testing, and automation initiatives.
• Conduct regular payroll audits to identify discrepancies, strengthen controls, and improve accuracy.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes and enhance the employee and manager payroll experience.

Partner with Accounting & Finance

• Record payroll activity in the general ledger and reconcile payroll‑related accounts.
• Manage labor cost allocations and support month‑end close activities.
• Partner with Accounting and Finance on accruals, reconciliations, and wage and salary variance analysis.
• Provide payroll reporting and insights that support financial decision‑making.
• Support internal and external audits, including payroll and 401(k) audits.

Oversee Benefits & Payroll Deductions

• Oversee payroll‑related benefits deductions and processing.
• Partner with HR and Benefits to resolve deduction discrepancies and ensure accurate employee elections.
• Support annual compliance testing and required retirement plan reporting.

Lead, Collaborate & Support

• Lead, mentor, and develop payroll team members, as applicable.
• Deliver responsive, high-quality support to employees and leaders on payroll‑related matters.
• Build strong working relationships across HR, Finance, Accounting, Legal, and Operations.
• Partner with stakeholders on policy, regulatory, and organizational changes that impact payroll.

Strengthen Processes & Controls

• Evaluate payroll processes and internal controls to improve accuracy, efficiency, and scalability.
• Develop, document, and maintain payroll procedures, controls, and best practices.
• Champion continuous improvement and identify opportunities to reduce manual work through automation and better use of technology.

What You Bring

• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including multi-state and multi-entity payroll environments.
• Strong, hands‑on experience with Workday Payroll required.
• Advanced knowledge of payroll taxes, wage and hour laws, payroll compliance, and related regulations.
• Experience working with general ledger systems and payroll accounting processes.
• Advanced Excel skills and the ability to analyze and interpret complex payroll data.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to partner effectively across functions and levels.
• Sound judgment and the ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential information.
• Healthcare industry experience is preferred.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.

Join Shields Health

At Shields Health, the work behind the scenes matters just as much as the care delivered to our patients. If you’re a payroll leader who enjoys solving complex problems, improving processes, developing strong partnerships, and helping an organization grow, we’d love to hear from you.

Additional Job Description

Compensation & Benefits

The pay range for this position is $70,000-$132,000, plus bonus and benefits. Individual compensation is based on skills, experience, qualifications, and other relevant factors. Shields Health is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Shields Health is an independent, Massachusetts-based leader in healthcare services, known for blending exceptional patient care with cutting-edge technology. With over 50 years of proven success, we’re proud to be one of the most sought-after names in the industry. At Shields, we don’t just deliver high-quality diagnostic imaging - we foster a culture of belonging and inclusivity, where every individual is valued. We offer unmatched career growth, a collaborative and supportive work environment, and exciting opportunities to learn, innovate, and thrive together. Our employees take enormous pride in delivering the best quality services with enthusiasm, commitment, and compassion. Ours is a family-owned and operated business, committed to playing a leading role in the continued advancement of medical imaging, but grounded in the same family values of caring and support - which we practice internally as well as with our patients.