Payroll Manager

Location: Chicago

Industry: Financial Services

Experience: 7+ years

Position Overview: A leading financial services firm is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to oversee the accurate and timely processing of U.S. payroll across a multi-state employee population. This individual will take ownership of the payroll function while partnering closely with Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Benefits, and external providers. The ideal candidate brings 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including significant experience managing New York and multi-state payroll, strong knowledge of payroll taxation and compliance, and hands-on expertise with ADP Workforce Now. This role requires someone who is highly analytical, detail-oriented, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced financial services environment.

Key Responsibilities: Manage end-to-end payroll processing for employees across multiple U.S. states, including a significant New York employee population. Own payroll administration within ADP Workforce Now, ensuring employee data, earnings, deductions, taxes, and other payroll inputs are accurate and properly maintained. Review and validate payroll calculations, including base salaries, bonuses, commissions, overtime, retroactive adjustments, supplemental payments, deductions, and other compensation. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations across all jurisdictions in which the firm operates. Manage payroll tax activities, including withholding, filings, reconciliations, notices, and year-end reporting. Maintain strong working knowledge of New York State and New York City payroll requirements, including applicable state and local taxation. Partner with Finance and Accounting on payroll reconciliations, journal entries, general ledger reporting, and month-end and year-end close activities. Lead payroll-related internal and external audits, including preparing documentation, responding to requests, reconciling discrepancies, and strengthening controls. Manage year-end payroll activities, including W-2 preparation, review, reconciliation, and corrections. Develop and maintain payroll controls, procedures, and documentation to ensure accuracy and appropriate segregation of duties. Research and resolve payroll discrepancies, tax notices, employee inquiries, and system-related issues. Partner with HR and Benefits teams to ensure accurate processing of employee changes, benefits deductions, leave activity, new hires, terminations, and other employee lifecycle events. Use advanced Excel functionality to perform payroll reconciliations, audits, reporting, and large-scale data analysis. Identify opportunities to streamline processes, automate manual activities, and improve payroll controls and reporting. Serve as a subject-matter expert on payroll policies, systems, taxation, and compliance.

Qualifications: 7+ years of payroll experience, ideally within financial services or another complex, highly regulated environment. Significant hands-on experience processing and managing multi-state U.S. payroll. Strong experience with New York payroll, including New York State and New York City requirements. ADP Workforce Now experience is required. Strong understanding of federal, state, and local payroll taxes, wage and hour requirements, and payroll compliance. Demonstrated experience supporting payroll audits, tax filings, reconciliations, and year-end processes. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including PivotTables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, SUMIFS, data validation, reconciliation techniques, and manipulation of large datasets. Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify discrepancies and investigate issues through resolution. Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage payroll against strict processing deadlines. Strong communication skills and ability to partner effectively with HR, Finance, Accounting, Benefits, and employees. Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business, or a related discipline preferred. CPP certification is a plus.