Job Description

The Payroll Manager is a strategic and hands on leader responsible for leading payroll operations, centralization, integration, and continuous improvement across a complex multi entity and multi state environment. This role will help transition payroll processing to headquarters, standardize workflows and controls, improve service delivery, and ensure accurate and compliant payroll execution during a period of organizational change and growth. The position requires deep payroll expertise, strong project and change leadership, and the ability to partner closely with HR, Finance, HRIS, field teams, and business leaders to build a stable and scalable payroll operating model.

What you'll do:

Key outcomes for the role

• Successfully lead transition of payroll processing activities to headquarters with minimal disruption to employees and operating companies
• Standardize payroll processes, calendars, controls, and governance across all assigned entities
• Strengthen payroll compliance, audit readiness, tax issue resolution, and accounting alignment
• Build repeatable documentation, training, and service support models for field and corporate stakeholders
• Identify and execute system and process improvements that reduce off cycle activity, manual rework, and payroll risk

Core responsibilities

Payroll operations and compliance

• Lead and manage end to end payroll processing across multiple entities, states, and pay groups using ADP Workforce Now or successor platforms
• Ensure timely and accurate payroll processing, tax filings, garnishments, adjustments, and year end activities
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour, payroll tax, record retention, and reporting requirements
• Own payroll issue escalation management, root cause analysis, and remediation of recurring errors
• Partner with internal and external audit resources, tax advisors, and legal or compliance stakeholders as needed

Centralization and integration leadership

• Lead the transition of payroll processes from local operating companies to headquarters, including readiness assessment, cutover planning, knowledge transfer, and stabilization
• Design and implement a scalable payroll operating model with clear roles, service expectations, governance routines, and decision rights
• Partner on acquisition and integration activity, including onboarding new entities, validating requirements, and aligning payroll processes to enterprise standards
• Help evaluate system optimization opportunities and support future state platform or configuration decisions as needed

Process design, controls, and continuous improvement

• Document current state and future state payroll workflows, standard operating procedures, controls, and exception handling practices
• Establish and monitor payroll calendars, approval deadlines, blackout dates, reconciliation checkpoints, and control metrics
• Partner with Accounting and Finance to ensure accurate general ledger mapping, reconciliations, accrual support, and downstream reporting
• Use data and trend analysis to identify process gaps, compliance risks, training needs, and improvement opportunities

Stakeholder partnership and team leadership

• Serve as the payroll subject matter expert for HR, field teams, Finance, HRIS, and business leaders on complex payroll and tax questions
• Lead, coach, and develop payroll team members and support effective workload planning during transition and steady state operations
• Create and deliver payroll training, job aids, and communications to support standardized execution across the organization
• Build trusted relationships across operating companies and balance enterprise consistency with practical field support needs

What you'll bring:

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business, or a related field required, CPP preferred
• Eight or more years of progressive payroll experience, including leadership responsibility in a complex multi entity and multi state environment
• Strong expertise in ADP Workforce Now preferred, or comparable experience with enterprise payroll systems and integrations
• Demonstrated success leading payroll transitions, centralization efforts, integrations, or significant process redesign
• Strong understanding of payroll controls, tax compliance, reconciliations, and audit support requirements
• Advanced Excel and strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret trends and translate findings into action
• Excellent communication, change management, and stakeholder partnership skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities, drive execution, and work effectively in a fast moving environment

Preferred experience

• Experience supporting acquisition heavy or decentralized organizations
• Exposure to union or other complex workforce compliance considerations
• Experience partnering closely with HRIS or implementation teams on payroll configuration and system optimization
• Experience creating SOPs, training content, and governance routines for distributed teams

Measures of success

• Payrolls are processed accurately and on time with reduced off cycle volume and lower correction rates
• Headquarters transition milestones are met with documented handoffs and stable post cutover operations
• Standard operating procedures and controls are in place, consistently used, and audit ready
• Stakeholders report stronger clarity, responsiveness, and partnership from the payroll function
• System and process improvements produce measurable gains in efficiency, compliance, and scalability

Location

• This position is primarily on-site at our headquarters located at: 9780 Pyramid Court, Englewood, CO 80112
• Regular in-person attendance is required Monday through Thursday , Friday is an optional remote workday

What you'll earn

- 401(k) with employer match  - Medical, dental, and vision insurance  - PTO, company holidays, and parental leave  - Paid training and certifications  - Legal assistance and identity protection  - Pet insurance  - Employee assistance program (EAP)    

QXO is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status. 

Salary Range:

USD $140,000.00 - USD $160,000.00 /Yr.

Job Tags

Full time, Local area, Monday to Friday, Monday to Thursday

Similar Jobs