AAA

Payroll Manager

Posted 19 Hours Ago

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Costa Mesa, CA, USA

In-Office

161K-214K Annually

Senior level

Consumer Web • Transportation • Travel

The Role

Lead end-to-end multi-state payroll processing for 17,000+ employees as the functional owner of Workday Payroll. Ensure data integrity, manage deductions and tax filings, perform pre/post-payroll audits, maintain SOX controls and GL reconciliations, collaborate with HR Technology on pay code logic, and manage a team of payroll specialists.

Summary Generated by Built In

Payroll Manager

The Payroll Manager directs day-to-day operations and executes end-to-end, multi-state payroll processing for a workforce of 17,000+ employees. This role functions as the business owner of the Workday Payroll system, driving operational cycle execution, data integrity, and strict regulatory compliance. Instead of hands-on system configuration, the manager collaborates with the HR Technology team as a functional expert to validate system behavior and advise on pay code logic.

What You’ll Do:

Cycle Execution: Own and execute the end-to-end multi-state payroll processing cycle for 17,000+ exempt and non-exempt employees.
Data Integrity: Audit all payroll inputs, master data changes, and hours tracking files to ensure flawless calculation accuracy before finalizing cycles.
Deduction Management: Oversee the accurate execution of voluntary and involuntary deductions, including benefits, 401(k), tax levies, and multi-state garnishments.
System Results Review: Conduct comprehensive pre- and post-payroll audits using system reports to analyze variances and validate final financial outputs.
Business Ownership: Serve as the primary functional owner of the Workday Payroll module, defining business requirements and testing outcomes for system changes.
Tech Collaboration: Partner with the HR Technology team to advise analysts on required pay code setups, earnings logic, and specific deduction configurations.
Tax Compliance: Oversee multi-state, local, and federal tax filings, including W-2 balancing, payroll audits, and resolving tax agency notices across all applicable US jurisdictions.
Compliance Management: Ensure continuous adherence to federal, state, and local payroll regulations, tax nexus rules, and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines.
Audit & Control: Maintain rigorous internal controls, lead SOX compliance audits, and reconcile payroll registers against general ledger (GL) accounting strings.
Team Leadership: Manage and develop a team of operational payroll specialists to maintain service delivery metrics and handle escalated employee inquiries.

What You’ll Need:

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of corporate payroll operations experience, with at least 3 years managing a multi-state workforce of 10,000+ employees.
Workday Proficiency: Strong experience utilizing Workday Payroll as an operator to run cycles, extract reports, and review processing results.
Functional Collaboration: Demonstrated success partnering with HR Technology or IT teams to test, refine, and sign off on system configuration logic.
Regulatory Expertise: Comprehensive knowledge of multi-state tax regulations, wage-and-hour laws, and payroll accounting principles.
Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, complex formulas) and Workday Report Writer.
Analytical Skills: Advanced ability to evaluate complex payroll data sets, spot anomalies, and resolve processing discrepancies under tight deadlines.
Certifications: Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation is highly preferred.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or an equivalent combination of work experience.

The starting pay range for this position is:

$160,500.00 - $214,100.00

Additionally, for full time positions, you will be eligible to participate in our incentive program based upon the achievement of organization, team and personal performance.

Remarkable benefits:
• Health coverage for medical, dental, vision

• 401(K) saving plans with company match AND Pension

• Tuition assistance

• Floating holidays and PTO for community volunteer programs

• Paid parental leave

• Wellness programs

• Employee discounts (membership, insurance,

travel, entertainment, services and more!)

Auto Club Enterprises is the largest club within the national AAA federation. We have nearly 17,000 employees in 24 states helping more than 18 million members. The strength of our organization is our employees. Bringing together and supporting different cultures, backgrounds, personalities, and strengths creates a team capable of delivering legendary, lifetime service to our members. When we embrace our diversity – we win. All of Us! With our national brand recognition, long-standing reputation since 1900, and constantly growing membership, we are seeking career-minded, service-driven professionals to join our team.

“Through dedicated employees we proudly deliver legendary service and beneficial products that provide members peace of mind and value.”

AAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Our organization participates in E-Verify

The Automobile Club of Southern California will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO), the Unincorporated Los Angeles County (ULAC) regulation, and the California Fair Chance Act (CFCA).

Skills Required

Minimum 5 years corporate payroll operations experience, including at least 3 years managing multi-state workforce of 10,000+ employees.
Operator-level experience with Workday Payroll to run cycles, extract reports, and review processing results.
Experience partnering with HR Technology or IT to test, refine, and sign off on system configuration and pay code logic.
Comprehensive knowledge of multi-state tax regulations, wage-and-hour laws (FLSA), payroll accounting, and tax filings (including W-2 balancing).
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, complex formulas) and proficiency with Workday Report Writer.
Experience managing voluntary and involuntary deductions including benefits, 401(k), tax levies, and multi-state garnishments.
Experience maintaining internal controls, leading SOX compliance audits, and reconciling payroll registers to the general ledger.
Proven analytical ability to audit payroll inputs, identify anomalies, and resolve processing discrepancies under tight deadlines.
Team leadership experience managing and developing operational payroll specialists and handling escalated employee inquiries.
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or equivalent combination of experience.
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.

AAA Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about AAA and has not been reviewed or approved by AAA.

Pay Growth & Progression — Annual raises and bonuses are typically provided, signaling structured pay progression. Performance-based opportunities can add to earnings when goals are met.
Retirement Support — A 401(k) match and an additional employer contribution are part of the package. This strengthens long‑term financial value beyond base pay.
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off and paid holidays are provided, with generous PTO in the first year for certain roles. This breadth supports work‑life balance and recovery time.