Payroll & Compliance Manager
Location: Essex County, NJ
Hybrid 3 days in office
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Payroll & Compliance Manager to oversee the end-to-end administration, execution, and financial alignment of weekly and bi-weekly payroll operations. Reporting to senior finance leadership, this role is responsible for ensuring payroll accuracy, payroll accounting integrity, compliance with regulatory requirements, and the timely completion of union and retirement reporting obligations.
The ideal candidate will bring a strong operational accounting foundation, extensive payroll management experience, and expertise in payroll compliance, benefits administration, and labor-related reporting. This individual will serve as a key business partner to Human Resources and Finance, driving best practices, process improvements, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure seamless payroll and benefits operations.
Key Responsibilities
Payroll Administration & Compliance
- Manage and oversee accurate, timely processing of weekly and bi-weekly payrolls for a diverse workforce including salaried, hourly, and union employees.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour regulations, tax withholding requirements, and internal policies.
- Review and validate payroll registers, deductions, garnishments, and final payments prior to payroll processing.
- Maintain payroll records and ensure data integrity within payroll systems.
Benefits Administration & Process Optimization
- Partner closely with Human Resources to perform regular audits of benefit enrollments, elections, and payroll deductions.
- Establish and maintain best practices for payroll-related benefits administration and cross-functional workflows.
- Ensure proper taxation and payroll treatment of employee benefits, fringe benefits, and compensation-related programs.
- Support system integrations and data accuracy between HRIS and payroll platforms.
Payroll Accounting & Financial Reporting
- Oversee the preparation, review, and posting of payroll-related journal entries.
- Ensure accurate labor allocations and payroll expense reporting within the general ledger.
- Review balance sheet reconciliations for payroll liabilities, benefit accounts, and tax withholdings.
- Analyze payroll expenses and reconcile payroll activity with financial reports and budgets.
- Serve as the primary payroll contact during annual financial audits, supporting testing, reconciliations, and year-end accruals.
Union Reporting & Retirement Plan Compliance
- Oversee the preparation and timely submission of union reports, fringe benefit statements, and remittance payments.
- Ensure retirement plan contributions are processed and funded accurately and within required deadlines.
- Interpret collective bargaining agreements to ensure proper wage rates, deductions, and benefit contributions are reflected within payroll systems.
- Monitor compliance requirements related to union and retirement plan reporting.
Audits, Analysis & Continuous Improvement
- Lead annual payroll-related audits, including workers’ compensation and retirement plan audits.
- Conduct reconciliations of payroll tax filings and payroll records to ensure reporting accuracy.
- Identify opportunities for process improvements, automation, and operational efficiencies across payroll and related functions.
- Develop, document, and maintain payroll procedures, controls, and workflows.
- Partner with Finance leadership on budgeting, labor analysis, forecasting, compliance initiatives, and special projects.
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
Experience
- Minimum of 5 years of progressive payroll management and payroll accounting experience.
- At least 2 years of direct supervisory or team leadership experience.
- Experience managing high-volume payroll operations in a complex, multi-state environment.
- Strong background in payroll accounting, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
Knowledge & Skills
- Must have experience with ADP WFN
- Thorough understanding of payroll regulations, employment tax requirements, wage and hour laws, and payroll compliance standards.
- Experience partnering with Human Resources on benefits administration, reconciliations, and employee data management.
- Strong knowledge of payroll processing for unionized workforces, including reporting and benefit contribution requirements.
- Advanced proficiency with payroll systems and ERP/general ledger platforms.
- Expert-level Microsoft Excel skills, including data analysis, Pivot Tables, advanced formulas, and reporting.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet critical deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation preferred.
- Experience with union payroll administration and collective bargaining agreements.
Featured benefits
- Medical insurance
- Vision insurance
- Dental insurance
- 401(k)
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please navigate to The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable: • The California Fair Chance Act • Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance • Los Angeles County Fair Chance