Compliance Manager

Position Summary

The Manager, Payroll & Benefits Accounting Compliance, oversees the financial review of payroll and employee benefits accounting, reconciliations, reporting, internal controls, and regulatory compliance for a large, multi-state workforce.

This position does not process payroll or administer employee benefits . Instead, the individual independently reviews and monitors activities performed by Payroll, HR, and third-party service providers to ensure financial accuracy, timely regulatory reporting, effective internal controls, and appropriate resolution of compliance issues.

Find out more about this role by reading the information below, then apply to be considered.

Essential Functions

Payroll Accounting & Compliance

• Review payroll-to-general ledger reconciliations and payroll-related balance sheet accounts, including payroll taxes, employee deductions, accrued compensation, benefits liabilities, and other related accounts.
• Review payroll journal entries, accruals, exception reports, and significant fluctuations between reporting periods.
• Monitor federal, state, and applicable local payroll tax filings, deposits, and reporting deadlines across multiple jurisdictions.
• Verify the accuracy and timeliness of required payroll tax filings and payments and ensure appropriate supporting documentation is maintained.
• Monitor payroll tax notices, penalties, amended filings, and agency correspondence, coordinating resolution with Payroll, Tax, HR, and external service providers.
• Evaluate payroll controls to identify errors, unusual transactions, recurring exceptions, and potential control deficiencies.
• Monitor multi-state payroll compliance related to employee work locations and changes in work location.
• Evaluate third-party payroll provider performance and escalate recurring errors, missed deadlines, and unresolved compliance concerns.

Benefits & Retirement Plan Accounting Compliance

• Review and reconcile employee benefit deductions, employer contributions, provider invoices, payments, and related general ledger accounts.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies between payroll records, benefit-provider records, invoices, and accounting records.
• Monitor employee and employer 401(k) contributions, related reconciliations, and funding controls.
• Assist with annual 401(k) audits, compliance testing, Form 5500 reporting, and related financial information requests.
• Support Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting, reconciliations, and associated internal controls.
• Provide payroll and financial information needed for workers’ compensation audits and other benefit-related reviews.

Internal Controls & Compliance

• Maintain a compliance calendar covering payroll and benefits filings, payments, reconciliations, audits, and reporting deadlines.
• Document and maintain key Finance controls related to payroll, payroll taxes, employee benefits, and retirement plans.
• Assess control effectiveness and maintain appropriate documentation to demonstrate completed reviews.
• Identify late filings, unreconciled balances, recurring errors, control deficiencies, and other compliance risks.
• Conduct root-cause analysis and coordinate corrective actions with internal teams and external service providers.
• Monitor identified issues and remediation efforts through final resolution.
• Escalate material financial, reporting, and compliance risks to the Controller.

Reporting & Audit Support

• Provide regular updates to the Controller regarding compliance status, significant exceptions, outstanding items, regulatory notices, audit findings, and corrective actions.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators, including reconciliation status, aged outstanding items, filing timeliness, recurring exceptions, and remediation progress.
• Support internal and external financial audits, payroll tax audits, 401(k) audits, workers’ compensation audits, and other regulatory reviews.
• Ensure payroll and benefits accounting records and supporting documentation are complete, accurate, and audit ready.
• Recommend process, system, and internal control improvements based on identified risks and recurring issues.

Cross-Functional Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Finance liaison with Payroll and HR on payroll and benefits accounting compliance matters.
• Maintain clear separation between the operational responsibilities of Payroll and HR and Finance’s independent review and oversight functions.
• Collaborate with Accounting, Tax, Legal, HR, Payroll, Internal Audit, and other stakeholders as needed.
• Coordinate with payroll providers, benefits administrators, retirement plan recordkeepers, third-party administrators, insurance carriers, consultants, and external auditors.
• Clearly communicate identified issues, potential financial exposure, compliance risks, and recommended corrective actions to management.