The Senior Payroll Manager leads end-to-end payroll operations for a large, multi-state, multi-location organization. This role is accountable for accurate, compliant, and timely weekly and biweekly payroll processing while delivering a high-service payroll experience to leaders and employees across 95+ locations.
This position is ideal for a hands-on payroll leader who excels in complex environments, thrives on process improvement, and brings strong technical knowledge, operational discipline, and people leadership.
What You’ll Do- Lead end-to-end weekly and biweekly payroll processing across 95+ multi-state locations
- Manage and develop payroll and commission processing teams
- Ensure payroll accuracy, data integrity, and full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations
- Oversee payroll system administration, including ADP configuration, validation tables, security controls, and integrations
- Manage payroll audits, reconciliations, general ledger entries, accruals, and year-end processes (W-2s)
- Act as the payroll subject matter expert for HR, Finance, and field leadership
- Provide responsive, high-touch support and clear guidance to leaders and managers
- Identify automation opportunities, strengthen internal controls, and drive continuous process improvement
- Lead or support payroll system upgrades and implementations
- Stay current on regulatory changes and ensure ongoing compliance
Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or equivalent experience
- 5+ years of progressive payroll experience, including managerial or supervisory responsibility
- Proven experience managing payroll in a complex, multi-state, multi-location environment
- Strong working knowledge of payroll laws, tax regulations, garnishments, and wage & hour compliance
- Demonstrated ability to manage weekly and biweekly payroll cycles with high accuracy
- Exceptional attention to detail, risk awareness, and data confidentiality
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and process-improvement capabilities
- Ability to partner cross-functionally and communicate effectively with leaders at all levels
Preferred Experience
- ADP Workforce Now (WFN) experience
- Payroll system implementations or major upgrades
This role plays a critical part in supporting organizational growth by ensuring payroll operations are scalable, compliant, and employee-centric. The Senior Payroll Manager directly impacts employee trust, financial accuracy, and operational excellence across the organization.
We are an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
*Posted compensation ranges are a mix of salary and bonuses.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or equivalent experience
- 5+ years of progressive payroll experience, including managerial or supervisory responsibility
- Proven experience managing payroll in a complex, multi-state, multi-location environment
- Strong working knowledge of payroll laws, tax regulations, garnishments, and wage & hour compliance
- Demonstrated ability to manage weekly and biweekly payroll cycles with high accuracy
- Exceptional attention to detail, risk awareness, and data confidentiality
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and process-improvement capabilities
- Ability to partner cross-functionally and communicate effectively with leaders at all levels
- Experience overseeing payroll system administration including configuration, validation tables, security controls, and integrations
- Experience managing payroll audits, reconciliations, general ledger entries, accruals, and year-end processes (W-2s)
- Proven ability to identify automation opportunities, strengthen internal controls, and lead system upgrades/implementations
- ADP Workforce Now (WFN) experience
- Payroll system implementations or major upgrades experience
What We Do
Passion. Professionalism. Personal growth. What we do is more than a job. It’s an opportunity to change lives and unleash your talent. Since 2004, NorthStar Memorial Group has grown, evolved and led the funeral and cemetery profession with a fresh perspective and without ever losing sight of what we do best: celebrating life and passionately supporting the families we serve. What began as a single property in Decatur, Illinois has now expanded to include more than 85 funeral, cremation and cemetery locations serving thousands of families across the United States. Here, we understand the power of legacies, and we’ve made it our life’s work to honor them. At NorthStar Memorial Group, we choose collaboration over bureaucracy. Here, everyone has a chance to lead. We encourage & empower our people at every level to speak up, be heard, and watch their ideas become realities. Degreed & non-degreed professionals, labor workers, industry experts – people from all career and experiential backgrounds have the opportunity to find a home here. Sound too good to be true? Apply today to see why our employees have voted NSMG one of the best companies to work for 8 years in a row and one of Selling Power's 2021 Top 50 Companies To Sell For! For more information about career opportunities with NorthStar, visit www.nsmg.com/careers/ or Join our Talent Network @ https://nsmg.jobs.net/en-US/ As a member of our Talent Network, you'll: - Receive alerts with new job opportunities that match your interests - Receive relevant communications and updates from our organization - Share job opportunities with family and friends through Social Media or email Whether you choose to apply or just leave your information, we look forward to staying connected with you
