Senior Payroll Manager JobAtlanta, GA
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Why You'll Love This Job
We are a private equity-backed, high-growth platform company executing an active roll-up strategy across multiple operating entities. Our organization currently manages 20+ Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) spanning numerous states, and that footprint continues to expand through acquisition. We are seeking a Senior Payroll Manager who thrives in complex, fast-moving environments and brings the technical depth, systems acumen, continuous-improvement mindset, and payroll expertise to match our pace.
This role owns end-to-end payroll operations for 1000 + employees, in the US and Canada, across all entities, ensures full FLSA, multi-state & provincial compliance — including certified payroll and prevailing wage obligations — and serves as the internal subject matter expert on payroll technology and process automation. The ideal candidate is as comfortable in the weeds of a Davis-Bacon audit as they are piloting an AI-assisted workflow or leading a payroll system implementation. We are currently in the midst of implementing a new operating system within our business that must be properly integrated with our payroll systems.
This role owns end-to-end payroll operations for 1000 + employees, in the US and Canada, across all entities, ensures full FLSA, multi-state & provincial compliance — including certified payroll and prevailing wage obligations — and serves as the internal subject matter expert on payroll technology and process automation. The ideal candidate is as comfortable in the weeds of a Davis-Bacon audit as they are piloting an AI-assisted workflow or leading a payroll system implementation. We are currently in the midst of implementing a new operating system within our business that must be properly integrated with our payroll systems.
Responsibilities
Multi-entity payroll operations
- Manage end-to-end payroll processing across 20+ US EINs and multiple Canadians legal entities, including acquisitions as they are onboarded.
- Oversee weekly, bi-weekly, and semi-monthly payroll cycles for hourly, salaried, and field-based employee populations.
- Maintain accurate entity-level payroll records, ensuring clean separation of company codes, cost centers, and general ledger mappings.
- Coordinate payroll cutover and integration activities for newly acquired companies during M&A transitions.
- Work to align all US EINS on one consistent pay cycle
- Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local wage-and-hour laws across all jurisdictions in which the company operates.
- Administer certified payroll reporting (WH-347 or equivalent) for all public works and government-funded projects subject to the Davis-Bacon Act and related prevailing wage statutes.
- Maintain prevailing wage rate tables, monitor wage determinations, and respond to Department of Labor or state agency inquiries.
- Manage multi-state tax registrations, withholding accounts, SUI rates, and local tax jurisdictions; coordinate with external tax counsel as needed.
- Stay current on legislative changes and proactively communicate compliance impacts to HR and Finance leadership.
- Lead or actively participate in payroll system implementations, upgrades, and integrations — from requirements gathering through UAT and go-live.
- Lead all efforts around integration between company’s primary operating systems and HRIS/Payroll system
- Identify, design, and deploy workflow automation and process improvements that reduce manual touchpoints, improve cycle time, and minimize error rates.
- Explore and pilot AI-assisted tools for payroll auditing, anomaly detection, and reporting; champion responsible adoption within the payroll function.
- Maintain integrations between payroll, HRIS, time & attendance, and general ledger systems.
- Produce payroll analytics and executive-level reporting for PE sponsor reporting packages, including labor cost variance, headcount reconciliation, and accrual schedules.
- Maintain and enforce internal controls over payroll, including segregation of duties, approval workflows, and audit trails.
- Manage year-end processes: W-2 reconciliation and issuance, and applicable state filings across all EINs.
- Support internal and external audits, including workers' compensation audits and certified payroll compliance reviews.
- Lead and develop a payroll team; set clear expectations, provide coaching, and build bench strength.
- Partner closely with HR, Accounting, Risk, and Operations to align payroll processes with company-wide initiatives.
- Act as the escalation point for complex employee payroll inquiries and disputes.
- Support due diligence and integration workstreams for future acquisitions as the company continues its roll-up strategy.
Skills & Qualifications
- 15+ years of progressive payroll experience, with at least 10 years in a senior or leadership role.
- Demonstrated experience in a PE-backed or roll-up / multi-entity organizational structure managing 10+ EINs (20+ strongly preferred).
- Hands-on experience with certified payroll reporting and prevailing wage compliance under Davis-Bacon, state prevailing wage laws, or both.
- Proven multi-state payroll compliance expertise and Canadian experience
- Strong working knowledge of FLSA, IRS payroll tax regulations, and wage-and-hour law.
- Experience leading or materially contributing to a payroll system implementation or major platform migration.
- Deep systems experience connecting payroll solutions to other systems within a business
- Proficiency with Paychex Flex or related Paychex products is highly preferred; experience with other enterprise payroll platforms (ADP, Ceridian Dayforce, UKG) considered.
- Demonstrated ability to build or improve payroll workflows and automate repetitive processes.
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation from the American Payroll Association.
- Experience with AI-assisted tools, RPA, or workflow automation platforms (e.g., Power Automate, Zapier, or vendor-native AI features).
- Familiarity with construction, field services, or government contracting industries where prevailing wage obligations are common.
- Experience supporting M&A integration activities, including payroll cutover planning and entity consolidation.
- Exposure to PE reporting cadences, EBITDA add-back treatment for payroll adjustments, and lender compliance requirements.
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