Sr. Payroll Manager (Contract)

Vaco by Highspring; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive contract compensation

Opportunity for extension or conversion

Job summary

A leading staffing and consulting firm is seeking an experienced Senior Payroll Manager in Louisville, Kentucky. This contract role involves leading payroll operations and ensuring compliance in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of payroll experience, strong knowledge of state and federal regulations, and hands-on experience with systems like ADP and Workday. This position offers competitive compensation with potential for extension. Immediate impact on high-visibility payroll functions is expected.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of payroll experience, including leadership or management experience.
• Strong knowledge of multi-state payroll, wage and hour laws, and payroll tax compliance.
• Ability to operate independently and hit the ground running in a contract environment.
• CPP certification strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing for multi-state and/or multi-entity payrolls.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll laws and regulations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll vendors.
• Resolve complex payroll issues, including garnishments and bonuses.
• Resolve complex payroll issues including garnishments, bonuses, commissions, and equity payments.
• Partner with HR and Finance on payroll reporting, accruals, and month-end close.
• Lead or support payroll system implementations, upgrades, or process improvements.
• Train, mentor, and support payroll staff as needed.
• Document payroll processes and recommend best practices for scalability.

Skills

Payroll experience

Wage and hour laws

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Analytical skills

Contract environment

Education

CPP certification

Tools

ADP

SAP SuccessFactors

Workday

UKG

Job description

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Payroll Manager for a contract engagement to lead and stabilize payroll operations for a large, fast-paced organization. This role is ideal for a hands‑on payroll leader who can step in quickly, ensure accuracy and compliance, and partner cross‑functionally with HR, Finance, and HRIS teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee end‑to‑end payroll processing for multi‑state and/or multi‑entity payrolls
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll laws and regulations
• Manage payroll calendars, audits, reconciliations, and payroll tax filings
• Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll vendors (ADP, SAP, Workday, UKG, etc.)
• Resolve complex payroll issues, including garnishments, bonuses, commissions, and equity payments
• Partner with HR and Finance on payroll‑related reporting, accruals, and month‑end close
• Lead or support payroll system implementations, upgrades, or process improvements
• Train, mentor, and support payroll staff as needed
• Document payroll processes and recommend best practices for scalability and efficiency

Qualifications

• 7+ years of payroll experience, including leadership or management experience
• Strong knowledge of multi‑state payroll, wage and hour laws, and payroll tax compliance
• Hands‑on experience with major payroll systems (ADP, SAP SuccessFactors, Workday, UKG, or similar)
• CPP certification strongly preferred
• Excellent problem‑solving, analytical, and communication skills
• Ability to operate independently and hit the ground running in a contract environment

Why This Role

• Opportunity to make an immediate impact in a high‑visibility payroll function
• Competitive contract compensation
• Potential for extension or conversion depending on business needs