Are you a payroll leader who enjoys balancing operational excellence with financial accuracy? This highly visible opportunity offers the chance to oversee end-to-end payroll, partner with HR and Finance leadership, and play a key role in compliance, reporting, and process improvement initiatives.

Payroll Manager

Salary: $100,000 - $115,000

Location: Newark, NJ (Hybrid, 3 days onsite)

Why This Opportunity Stands Out:

• Own the full payroll function across weekly and bi-weekly payroll cycles for a diverse workforce
• Serve as the organization's subject matter expert for payroll compliance, benefits administration, and labor reporting
• Partner directly with Finance and HR leadership on strategic initiatives and operational improvements
• Play a key role in ensuring financial accuracy through payroll accounting, reconciliations, and reporting
• Gain exposure to union payroll, retirement plans, benefits administration, and regulatory compliance requirements
• Lead automation and system enhancement initiatives that improve efficiency and scalability
• Contribute to annual audits, compliance reviews, and financial planning activities
• Influence labor forecasting, workforce analysis, and budgeting decisions
• Join a highly visible leadership role with cross-functional exposure across Finance, HR, and Operations
• Work in a collaborative environment where your expertise directly impacts organizational success

Key Responsibilities for the Payroll Manager:

• Manage accurate and timely processing of weekly and bi-weekly payrolls for salaried, hourly, and union employees
• Oversee payroll accounting activities, including journal entries, reconciliations, labor allocations, and general ledger reporting
• Coordinate union reporting, fringe benefit remittances, and retirement contribution compliance requirements
• Partner with HR to administer payroll deductions, benefits changes, and compensation adjustments
• Serve as the primary contact for payroll-related audits, including workers' compensation, retirement, and compliance reviews
• Drive payroll process improvements, automation initiatives, and payroll system optimization efforts

Qualifications for the Payroll Manager:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field
• 5+ years of payroll management and payroll accounting experience with prior leadership responsibilities
• Strong knowledge of federal, New Jersey, and local payroll regulations and compliance requirements
• Experience with payroll accounting, reconciliations, audits, and financial reporting
• Union payroll, collective bargaining agreement (CBA), and benefit reporting experience strongly preferred
• Advanced experience with payroll platforms such as ADP, UKG, Ceridian, or similar systems, along with ERP experience