We are the leading provider of professional services to the middle market globally, our purpose is to instill confidence in a world of change, empowering our clients and people to realize their full potential. Our exceptional people are the key to our unrivaled, culture and talent experience and our ability to be compelling to our clients. You’ll find an environment that inspires and empowers you to thrive both personally and professionally. There’s no one like you and that’s why there’s nowhere like RSM.
Consulting Manager – Payroll Services
Payroll Transformation Team
Position Summary
The Consulting Manager – Payroll Services leads client engagements that assess, transition, and optimize payroll operations for Clients looking to transform their internal payroll operations or to prepare for an outsourcing service delivery model. This role serves as a trusted advisor to organizations to establish compliant, efficient, and scalable payroll service delivery across multi-state and complex environments.
The manager oversees payroll assessments, operating model design, transition and implementation activities—bridging consulting strategy with operational execution. This position plays a critical role in delivering measurable value, strengthening client relationships, and advancing the growth of the managed payroll practice.
Key Responsibilities
Managed Payroll Advisory & Assessment
Lead comprehensive payroll operational assessments spanning governance, compliance, controls, technology, vendor landscape, and service delivery maturity.
Identify risks, inefficiencies, and cost drivers; develop actionable optimization roadmaps, to include outsource readiness.
Define future-state payroll operating models, including roles/responsibilities, SLAs, KPIs, and escalation frameworks.
Present recommendations and business case outcomes to executive stakeholders.
Process Optimization & Service Delivery Excellence
Standardize payroll processes, controls, and documentation across managed clients.
Establish operational metrics, quality assurance frameworks, and continuous improvement routines.
Drive automation, error reduction, cycle-time improvement, and employee experience enhancements.
Support remediation of complex payroll issues, audits, and compliance inquiries.
Engagement & Program Management
Manage multiple client engagements across scope, budget, timeline, and resource allocation.
Lead cross-functional coordination among payroll operations, HR, finance, IT, and third-party vendors.
Maintain governance cadence including status reporting, risk management, and executive steering updates.
Ensure adherence to PMO, change management, and managed services transition methodologies.
Practice Development
Serve as primary relationship lead during assessment, transition, and stabilization phases.
Build trusted advisor relationships with managed payroll onboarding team.
Mentor consultants and analysts; review deliverables for quality and consistency.
Contribute to prospect scoping/proposals, solution design, and thought leadership supporting managed payroll growth.
Qualifications
Required
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, HR, Information Systems, or related field.
6+ years of experience in payroll consulting, payroll operations, or payroll managed services.
Demonstrated experience leading payroll outsourcing transitions or payroll system implementations.
Strong knowledge of U.S. payroll tax, wage and hour regulations, and compliance controls
Proven project and stakeholder management across complex, multi-entity environments.
Ability to translate operational challenges into scalable solutions.
Preferred
Experience within a consulting firm or managed services provider.
Exposure to high-volume, multi-state, or global payroll operations.
Familiarity with major payroll and HRIS platforms (Workday, ADP, Dayforce, UKG, SAP, Oracle, etc.).
Professional certifications such as CPP, PMP, or Lean/Six Sigma.
Experience designing SLAs, KPIs, and governance frameworks for outsourced services.
Knowledge of Canada or other global payroll tax, wage and hour regulations, and compliance controls.
Core Competencies
Managed services operating model design
Payroll compliance and risk mitigation
Transition and implementation leadership
Client advisory and executive communication
Operational excellence and continuous improvement
Team leadership and talent development
Commercial awareness and practice growth mindset
At RSM, we offer a competitive benefits and compensation package for all our people. We offer flexibility in your schedule, empowering you to balance life’s demands, while also maintaining your ability to serve clients. Learn more about our total rewards at https://rsmus.com/careers/working-at-rsm/benefits.
All applicants will receive consideration for employment as RSM does not tolerate discrimination and/or harassment based on race; color; creed; sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances; sex (including pregnancy or disabilities related to nursing); gender; sexual orientation; HIV Status; national origin; ancestry; familial or marital status; age; physical or mental disability; citizenship; political affiliation; medical condition (including family and medical leave); domestic violence victim status; past, current or prospective service in the US uniformed service; US Military/Veteran status; pre-disposing genetic characteristics or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process and/or employment/partnership. RSM is committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, interview, or otherwise participate in the recruiting process, please call us at 800-274-3978 or send us an email at [email protected].
RSM does not intend to hire entry level candidates who will require sponsorship now OR in the future (i.e. F-1 visa holders). If you are a recent U.S. college / university graduate possessing 1-2 years of progressive and relevant work experience in a same or similar role to the one for which you are applying, excluding internships, you may be eligible for hire as an experienced associate.
RSM will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records. For those living in California or applying to a position in California, please click here for additional information.
At RSM, an employee’s pay at any point in their career is intended to reflect their experiences, performance, and skills for their current role. The salary range (or starting rate for interns and associates) for this role represents numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, education, skills, work experience, certifications, location, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range.
Compensation Range: $81,400 - $153,500Individuals selected for this role will be eligible for a discretionary bonus based on firm and individual performance.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, HR, Information Systems, or related field.
- 6+ years of experience in payroll consulting, payroll operations, or payroll managed services.
- Demonstrated experience leading payroll outsourcing transitions or payroll system implementations.
- Strong knowledge of U.S. payroll tax, wage and hour regulations, and compliance controls.
- Proven project and stakeholder management across complex, multi-entity environments.
- Ability to translate operational challenges into scalable solutions.
- Experience within a consulting firm or managed services provider.
- Exposure to high-volume, multi-state, or global payroll operations.
- Familiarity with major payroll and HRIS platforms (Workday, ADP, Dayforce, UKG, SAP, Oracle).
- Professional certifications such as CPP, PMP, or Lean/Six Sigma.
- Experience designing SLAs, KPIs, and governance frameworks for outsourced services.
- Knowledge of Canada or other global payroll tax, wage and hour regulations, and compliance controls.
RSM US LLP Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about RSM US LLP and has not been reviewed or approved by RSM US LLP.
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Parental & Family Support — Parental leave, caregiver leave, and family‑building assistance are standout strengths, including 12 weeks fully paid parental leave, six weeks paid family caregiver leave, up to $50,000 in fertility coverage, and up to $20,000 per child for adoption or surrogacy, plus backup care resources. These benefits create a family‑forward package that stands out within the firm’s total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time‑off options are broad, with self‑managed PTO for associates and above, at least 14 paid holidays, and firm‑wide wellbeing days alongside hybrid work flexibility. This breadth is consistently presented as a strong component of the overall offering.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical coverage includes multiple plan designs (two HDHPs and a PPO), telehealth access, and a mental‑health platform offering up to eight free 1:1 sessions per year. Health benefits are characterized as solid to strong for the industry.
RSM US LLP Insights
What We Do
RSM is the leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services to the middle market. With over 11,000 employees across the U.S. and Canada and a global presence in 120 countries, our purpose is to deliver the power of being understood to our clients, colleagues and communities. As first-choice advisors, we are focused on developing leading professionals and innovative services to meet our clients’ evolving needs in today’s ever-changing business environment. Through a supportive, caring culture, our people are empowered to be their authentic selves and share their unique perspectives. Our culture of diversity and inclusion enhances the insights we provide while transforming innovation, collaboration and business results through fostering an inclusive environment, working hard to engage a talented workforce and reflect our diverse community, and developing relationships that serve others in business and the broader community. Together, our people’s individual talents and diverse perspectives strengthen our teams and enhances the unique insights that we provide to our clients. Through a supportive, caring culture, our people are empowered to be their authentic selves and share their unique perspectives. Our culture of diversity and inclusion enhances the insights we provide while transforming innovation, collaboration and business results through fostering an inclusive environment, working hard to engage a talented workforce and reflect our diverse community, and developing relationships that serve others in business and the broader community. Together, our people’s individual talents and diverse perspectives strengthen our teams and enhances the unique insights that we provide to our clients. For more information, visit rsmus.com.
