Payroll Lead Jobs
Payroll Lead jobs are open across healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, and corporate enterprises, at every level from mid-career specialist to senior lead and manager, with specializations in multi-state payroll compliance, payroll systems implementation, and union payroll. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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IN ORDER FOR YOUR CANDIDACY TO BE CONSIDERED ALL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY BY FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION PROCESS INSTRUCTIONS LISTED IN THE JOB DISCRIPTION.
ALL JOB DESCRIPTIONS CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER’S JOB OPPORTUNITIES PAGE LINKED BELOW.
https://careers.macomptroller.org/jobs/Careers
IF YOU APPLY THROUGH THE APPLY ONLINE LINK ON THIS MASSCAREERS PAGE YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION.
OFFICE of the COMPTROLLER (CTR)
BEST Payroll Management Lead
FY27- 010
About the Office of the Comptroller
The Office of the Comptroller ensures that the more than $50 billion in annual transactions authorized by the general appropriations act and supplemental appropriations are executed in accordance with all statutory requirements and recorded in compliance with accounting standards. We also oversee capital assets, federal funding inflows, and other transactions. We also own and maintain statewide payments and payroll systems, safeguarding critical financial information. We operate in support of our partners, the financial staff at more than 150 departments and agencies across the Commonwealth.
As stewards of the public trust, we aspire to inspire confidence by maintaining our core principles: clarity, integrity, and accountability.
The powers and obligations of the Office of the Comptroller are generally dictated by M.G.L. c. 7A.
About Business Enterprise Systems Transformation (BEST) Program
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is undertaking a multi-year project known as the Business Enterprise Systems Transformation (BEST) Program to implement a comprehensive Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solution which will support a wide range of business functions used by all state agencies. Phase 1 of the Program focuses on the replacement of the Commonwealth’s Financial Management and General Ledger solution and was implemented in all CMW agencies in February 2026.
Phase 2 focuses on Payroll and Human Capital Management (HCM) modules which support a full software suite capable of addressing government business needs across Payroll, Time and Attendance, Performance Management, Payroll Management, Talent Acquisition, Onboarding and Offboarding Management, Position Management and Personnel Administration and Leave Management. Procurement has been completed and the Phase 2 project is well underway with a projected go-live date of April 2028. Accenture Consulting is the System Implementor and Workday is the SAAS software product vendor that we are working with.
The BEST Program is jointly sponsored by the Secretary for Administration and Finance, Comptroller of the Commonwealth and the Secretary of Technology Services and Security. This job posting is being issued through the Office of the Comptroller.
More information can be found at https://best.macomptroller.org.
BEST Payroll Management Lead Summary
The BEST Payroll Management Lead will provide functional leadership, guidance, and expertise in the design, configuration, testing, and implementation of the Workday Payroll module as part of the Commonwealth’s Business Enterprise Systems Transformation (BEST) Program, replacing the existing HR/CMS system. This role will lead efforts to ensure the new payroll solution meets the operational needs of Commonwealth agencies while aligning with state and federal regulations, Commonwealth policies and procedures, collective bargaining agreements, and other applicable requirements. The Lead will evaluate Workday's standard functionality and best practices to identify opportunities to modernize payroll operations, improve business processes, and support the successful adoption of an integrated enterprise solution.
The BEST Payroll Management Lead will collaborate with the BEST Program Management Office (PMO), system integrators, product vendors, agency representatives, subject matter experts, and other functional leads to coordinate payroll-related business requirements, system configuration, and implementation activities. The role requires extensive knowledge of complex payroll operations within large-scale organizations, including multiple collective bargaining agreements, labor distribution, 24/7 operations, time collection devices, earnings and deductions, garnishments, and employee and manager self-service. The Lead will guide configuration decisions, identify and address gaps between standard Workday functionality and Commonwealth requirements, and coordinate the development of solutions where necessary. Responsibilities also include supporting system configurations, functional testing, user acceptance testing (UAT), issue resolution, and the development of payroll reports and dashboards.
The BEST Payroll Management Lead will play a key role in supporting organizational readiness, business process transformation, and the transition from existing payroll systems to the new Workday solution. Working closely with the Comptroller's Office, Human Resources Division (HRD), BEST Change Management and Training teams, and other Commonwealth stakeholders, the Lead will help identify significant business process changes, support the development of adoption strategies and training materials, and coordinate transition and deployment activities. The Lead will also facilitate knowledge sharing across functional teams, support discussions related to collective bargaining requirements and help ensure that payroll configuration and process decisions align with the Commonwealth's broader enterprise objectives. Through these efforts, the Lead will contribute to a smooth transition and the successful implementation of an efficient, compliant, and sustainable payroll management solution.
Position Duration
This is a full-time, term-limited position established specifically to support Phase 2 of the Business Enterprise Systems Transformation (BEST) Program. The position is expected to continue through the designated implementation phase, including applicable deployment and stabilization activities. Employment is anticipated to conclude upon completion of the assigned program phase, subject to program timelines, operational needs, and applicable Commonwealth employment policies. This position is not intended to be a permanent, ongoing role.
Specific Duties
The specific duties of this position include but are not limited to the following:
- Work with the product vendor, business owner and subject matter experts to analyze the enterprise payroll business context, as well as change requirements related to the implementation of the new payroll module to identify the optimal future state solution.
- Understand the payroll business processes of large-scale organizations and apply that understanding when reviewing configuration and design options offered in the new solution including:
- Payroll processing
o Deduction, garnishment and vendor management transactions
o Payroll corrections such as payroll overpayment, receipt voucher processing, W-2C, balance adjustments and payroll accounting adjustments
o Current federal and state payroll tax requirements and Family and Medical Leave Act requirements
o Year-end payroll processing
o Enterprise-wide reporting requirements particularly for public sector organizations
o Special reports to support pre- and post-tax audit requirements.
- Elicit requirements for configuration of the new software through facilitated meetings with SMEs, document analysis, requirements workshops and/or site visits and record options and recommendations using business process descriptions, use cases, scenarios and task and workflow Visio diagrams for both current as is processes and new to be processes.
- Critically evaluate information gathered from multiple sources, reconcile conflicts, creatively develop new solutions to existing problems, break down high level information into details and distinguish user requests from the underlying true needs.
- Identify the organizational impact on skills, processes, structures and business culture of the new payroll module and cooperate with change management project staff to plan for and develop communication, training and readiness tasks and materials.
- Participate in the definition of strategies to address the gaps between the current and future state payroll solution by leading the analysis of current business processes to detect critical deficiencies and essential new practices and procedures that will be needed to move from the current to the future state.
- Work with the Solution Functional Lead and product vendor to identify and recommend areas where customizations should be applied or where customization can be eliminated.
- Oversee and provide guidance and direction to the Payroll Team on planning, design, configuration, testing and deployment tasks to ensure the quality and timeliness of deliverables and tasks in line with the overall project implementation plan.
- Work with the BEST BI/Reports and Data Repository Team Lead to identify standard delivered reports related to payroll, how to configure those reports for use by the Commonwealth, identification and development of data warehouse queries and testing of reports, queries and dashboards as needed.
- In cooperation with the BEST Configuration Lead, ensure the documentation of configuration options and decisions and all other project artifacts related to the standards, processes and decisions made regarding the new payroll module.
- Participate in the development of the Project Plan, Risk log, Issues Log, Change Control log, Status Reports and other project management office documentation and contribute to updates as needed.
- Participate in the project’s review of product vendor deliverables.
- Work collaboratively and collectively with other project team leads and team members to help ensure project timeline, communications, agency support, testing, training plans and deliverables stay on track.
- Participate with the BEST Operations and System Administration Team Lead to identify the on-going processing schedule and tasks needed to run payroll systems jobs, predictive reports and other tasks to support the Commonwealth’s payroll process and recommend the organizational structure, protocols and resource level to support service requests regarding payroll issues.
Salary Range: $120,000 - $155,000
This is a management position. The posted salary range is fixed and not subject to negotiation. The selected candidate will be offered a salary within this range, commensurate with their relative experience.
Comprehensive Benefits Package:
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
CTR is pleased to offer a comprehensive benefits package to its employees. The specific components and eligibility may vary based upon position classification, hours worked per week and other variables. Therefore, specific benefits for this position may be discussed as part of the interview and offer process.
This is a management position. The successful candidate will be an employee at will. This position is non-civil service and not covered by a collective bargaining agreement. This position is an exempt position.
The overall benefits available include paid vacation, sick and personal leave time, health, dental and vision insurance, and optional pre-tax Health Savings Account plans.
CTR employees also participate in the Commonwealth’s State Retirement Plan, which can become a defined benefit plan for those that both vest and subsequently retire from State service. Follow this link for additional retirement information: http://www.mass.gov/treasury/retirement/state-board-of-retire/
In addition, CTR provides employees the opportunity to elect life insurance, long term disability insurance, deferred compensation savings, tuition remission, pre-tax commuter account plans, along with other programs. This position may be eligible for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program administered by the Federal Government.
CTR Hybrid-Work Model
CTR operates under a Hybrid work model. Under this policy, employees are currently required to work a minimum of four business days per month (two set by management and two set by the employee) on-site at CTR’s Boston office and may work remotely the remainder of the time at a location approved by their supervisor, so long as they comply with the requirements of the telework policy. Under this policy, all employees must be able to report to the Boston office with little or no notice, even including the same workday should an exigent circumstance arise. Therefore, a reasonable proximity to the office is necessary. CTR does not reimburse for employees to travel to the office.
On-site work is an essential function of this position.
In addition, the successful candidate may be required to work primarily on site in Boston during the initial training and orientation period and/or for certain positions a primarily on-site role may be necessary.
Commitment to Diversity:
CTR is committed to building a diverse staff at all levels across its entire agency.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.
CTR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Application Process:
The Office of the Comptroller encourages interested candidates that meet the minimum entrance requirements and qualifications to apply for this position.
Interested candidates must submit their application, no later than 5:00 pm, on November 27, 2025 at https://careers.macomptroller.org/jobs/Careers.
Submissions should include the following:
- a cover letter; and
- resume.
Candidates chosen to advance to a second-round interview will also be required to submit:
- three business writing samples; and
- three professional references.
Late submissions may be considered solely at the discretion of CTR.
Required Background Check – Including Tax Compliance:
CTR requires a background check on all prospective employees as a condition of employment.
Candidates should know that the background check is not initiated until:
- A candidate is invited to a second or subsequent interview and
- The candidate has signed the Background Check Authorization Form and related releases.
This background check includes:
o a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check,
o Commonwealth Department of Revenue state tax compliance.
Candidates with advanced degrees and professional licenses may have these credentials verified.
Individuals other than those references provided by a candidate may be contacted in the course of completing a full background and qualification check.
Further Information:
Please visit https://www.macomptroller.org for more information about the Office of the Comptroller.
Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications:
- Fully understand the Payroll Management solution needs (i.e., workflows, business processes, etc.) of large-scale organizations and apply that understanding when reviewing configuration and design options offered in the new enterprise solution.
- Experience with the design, deployment or administration of Workday solutions in public-sector organizations
Required Qualifications:
- At least 5 years Payroll Management-related experience with extensive knowledge of Payroll systems and business practices in other large-scale organizations of similar size and complexity to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- Experience leading and conducting similar duties as defined above for a Payroll Management solution of similar scope and complexity
- At least 5 years payroll related experience in at least two of the following areas: payroll processing, labor distribution, web-based applications, testing methodologies, test script development or project implementation.
- Required knowledge areas include:
- Payroll processing
- Deduction, garnishment and vendor management transactions
- Payroll corrections such as payroll overpayment, receipt voucher processing, W-2C, balance adjustments and payroll accounting adjustments
- Current federal and state payroll tax requirements and Family and Medical Leave Act requirements
- Year-end payroll processing
- Enterprise-wide reporting requirements particularly for public sector organizations
- Special reports to support pre- and post-tax audit requirements
- Ability to facilitate understanding of existing and new functionality, identification and resolution for areas where business processes depart from the delivered software solutions and to recommend best practices from past experiences and deep knowledge of the potential solution.
- Experience with all phases of testing including unit, system, integration, parallel payroll and user acceptance testing
- Superior analytical and technical skills.
- Demonstrated experience in using computer-based tools including Visio, MSWord, Excel, Power Point and Outlook.
- Excellent communication skills including written, verbal, presentation delivery and facilitation skills required to lead and facilitate meetings and working or planning sessions.
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
Applicants must have at least (A) six (6) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in: Business administration, business management, public administration, public management, of which (B) at least two (2) years must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.
Substitutions:
I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.
II. A Bachelor’s degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.
III. A Graduate degree or higher in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.
IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.
Primary Location
: United States-Massachusetts-Boston-1 Ashburton PlaceJob
: Human ResourcesAgency
: Off of the State ComptrollersSchedule
: Full-timeShift
: DayJob Posting
: Nov 13, 2026, 12:08:18 PMNumber of Openings
: 1Salary
: 120,000.00 - 155,000.00 YearlyIN ORDER FOR YOUR CANDIDACY TO BE CONSIDERED ALL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY BY FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION PROCESS INSTRUCTIONS LISTED IN THE JOB DISCRIPTION.
ALL JOB DESCRIPTIONS CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER’S JOB OPPORTUNITIES PAGE LINKED BELOW.
https://careers.macomptroller.org/jobs/Careers
IF YOU APPLY THROUGH THE APPLY ONLINE LINK ON THIS MASSCAREERS PAGE YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION.
OFFICE of the COMPTROLLER (CTR)
BEST Payroll Management Lead
FY27- 010
About the Office of the Comptroller
The Office of the Comptroller ensures that the more than $50 billion in annual transactions authorized by the general appropriations act and supplemental appropriations are executed in accordance with all statutory requirements and recorded in compliance with accounting standards. We also oversee capital assets, federal funding inflows, and other transactions. We also own and maintain statewide payments and payroll systems, safeguarding critical financial information. We operate in support of our partners, the financial staff at more than 150 departments and agencies across the Commonwealth.
As stewards of the public trust, we aspire to inspire confidence by maintaining our core principles: clarity, integrity, and accountability.
The powers and obligations of the Office of the Comptroller are generally dictated by M.G.L. c. 7A.
About Business Enterprise Systems Transformation (BEST) Program
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is undertaking a multi-year project known as the Business Enterprise Systems Transformation (BEST) Program to implement a comprehensive Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solution which will support a wide range of business functions used by all state agencies. Phase 1 of the Program focuses on the replacement of the Commonwealth’s Financial Management and General Ledger solution and was implemented in all CMW agencies in February 2026.
Phase 2 focuses on Payroll and Human Capital Management (HCM) modules which support a full software suite capable of addressing government business needs across Payroll, Time and Attendance, Performance Management, Payroll Management, Talent Acquisition, Onboarding and Offboarding Management, Position Management and Personnel Administration and Leave Management. Procurement has been completed and the Phase 2 project is well underway with a projected go-live date of April 2028. Accenture Consulting is the System Implementor and Workday is the SAAS software product vendor that we are working with.
The BEST Program is jointly sponsored by the Secretary for Administration and Finance, Comptroller of the Commonwealth and the Secretary of Technology Services and Security. This job posting is being issued through the Office of the Comptroller.
More information can be found at https://best.macomptroller.org.
BEST Payroll Management Lead Summary
The BEST Payroll Management Lead will provide functional leadership, guidance, and expertise in the design, configuration, testing, and implementation of the Workday Payroll module as part of the Commonwealth’s Business Enterprise Systems Transformation (BEST) Program, replacing the existing HR/CMS system. This role will lead efforts to ensure the new payroll solution meets the operational needs of Commonwealth agencies while aligning with state and federal regulations, Commonwealth policies and procedures, collective bargaining agreements, and other applicable requirements. The Lead will evaluate Workday's standard functionality and best practices to identify opportunities to modernize payroll operations, improve business processes, and support the successful adoption of an integrated enterprise solution.
The BEST Payroll Management Lead will collaborate with the BEST Program Management Office (PMO), system integrators, product vendors, agency representatives, subject matter experts, and other functional leads to coordinate payroll-related business requirements, system configuration, and implementation activities. The role requires extensive knowledge of complex payroll operations within large-scale organizations, including multiple collective bargaining agreements, labor distribution, 24/7 operations, time collection devices, earnings and deductions, garnishments, and employee and manager self-service. The Lead will guide configuration decisions, identify and address gaps between standard Workday functionality and Commonwealth requirements, and coordinate the development of solutions where necessary. Responsibilities also include supporting system configurations, functional testing, user acceptance testing (UAT), issue resolution, and the development of payroll reports and dashboards.
The BEST Payroll Management Lead will play a key role in supporting organizational readiness, business process transformation, and the transition from existing payroll systems to the new Workday solution. Working closely with the Comptroller's Office, Human Resources Division (HRD), BEST Change Management and Training teams, and other Commonwealth stakeholders, the Lead will help identify significant business process changes, support the development of adoption strategies and training materials, and coordinate transition and deployment activities. The Lead will also facilitate knowledge sharing across functional teams, support discussions related to collective bargaining requirements and help ensure that payroll configuration and process decisions align with the Commonwealth's broader enterprise objectives. Through these efforts, the Lead will contribute to a smooth transition and the successful implementation of an efficient, compliant, and sustainable payroll management solution.
Position Duration
This is a full-time, term-limited position established specifically to support Phase 2 of the Business Enterprise Systems Transformation (BEST) Program. The position is expected to continue through the designated implementation phase, including applicable deployment and stabilization activities. Employment is anticipated to conclude upon completion of the assigned program phase, subject to program timelines, operational needs, and applicable Commonwealth employment policies. This position is not intended to be a permanent, ongoing role.
Specific Duties
The specific duties of this position include but are not limited to the following:
- Work with the product vendor, business owner and subject matter experts to analyze the enterprise payroll business context, as well as change requirements related to the implementation of the new payroll module to identify the optimal future state solution.
- Understand the payroll business processes of large-scale organizations and apply that understanding when reviewing configuration and design options offered in the new solution including:
- Payroll processing
o Deduction, garnishment and vendor management transactions
o Payroll corrections such as payroll overpayment, receipt voucher processing, W-2C, balance adjustments and payroll accounting adjustments
o Current federal and state payroll tax requirements and Family and Medical Leave Act requirements
o Year-end payroll processing
o Enterprise-wide reporting requirements particularly for public sector organizations
o Special reports to support pre- and post-tax audit requirements.
- Elicit requirements for configuration of the new software through facilitated meetings with SMEs, document analysis, requirements workshops and/or site visits and record options and recommendations using business process descriptions, use cases, scenarios and task and workflow Visio diagrams for both current as is processes and new to be processes.
- Critically evaluate information gathered from multiple sources, reconcile conflicts, creatively develop new solutions to existing problems, break down high level information into details and distinguish user requests from the underlying true needs.
- Identify the organizational impact on skills, processes, structures and business culture of the new payroll module and cooperate with change management project staff to plan for and develop communication, training and readiness tasks and materials.
- Participate in the definition of strategies to address the gaps between the current and future state payroll solution by leading the analysis of current business processes to detect critical deficiencies and essential new practices and procedures that will be needed to move from the current to the future state.
- Work with the Solution Functional Lead and product vendor to identify and recommend areas where customizations should be applied or where customization can be eliminated.
- Oversee and provide guidance and direction to the Payroll Team on planning, design, configuration, testing and deployment tasks to ensure the quality and timeliness of deliverables and tasks in line with the overall project implementation plan.
- Work with the BEST BI/Reports and Data Repository Team Lead to identify standard delivered reports related to payroll, how to configure those reports for use by the Commonwealth, identification and development of data warehouse queries and testing of reports, queries and dashboards as needed.
- In cooperation with the BEST Configuration Lead, ensure the documentation of configuration options and decisions and all other project artifacts related to the standards, processes and decisions made regarding the new payroll module.
- Participate in the development of the Project Plan, Risk log, Issues Log, Change Control log, Status Reports and other project management office documentation and contribute to updates as needed.
- Participate in the project’s review of product vendor deliverables.
- Work collaboratively and collectively with other project team leads and team members to help ensure project timeline, communications, agency support, testing, training plans and deliverables stay on track.
- Participate with the BEST Operations and System Administration Team Lead to identify the on-going processing schedule and tasks needed to run payroll systems jobs, predictive reports and other tasks to support the Commonwealth’s payroll process and recommend the organizational structure, protocols and resource level to support service requests regarding payroll issues.
Salary Range: $120,000 - $155,000
This is a management position. The posted salary range is fixed and not subject to negotiation. The selected candidate will be offered a salary within this range, commensurate with their relative experience.
Comprehensive Benefits Package:
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
CTR is pleased to offer a comprehensive benefits package to its employees. The specific components and eligibility may vary based upon position classification, hours worked per week and other variables. Therefore, specific benefits for this position may be discussed as part of the interview and offer process.
This is a management position. The successful candidate will be an employee at will. This position is non-civil service and not covered by a collective bargaining agreement. This position is an exempt position.
The overall benefits available include paid vacation, sick and personal leave time, health, dental and vision insurance, and optional pre-tax Health Savings Account plans.
CTR employees also participate in the Commonwealth’s State Retirement Plan, which can become a defined benefit plan for those that both vest and subsequently retire from State service. Follow this link for additional retirement information: http://www.mass.gov/treasury/retirement/state-board-of-retire/
In addition, CTR provides employees the opportunity to elect life insurance, long term disability insurance, deferred compensation savings, tuition remission, pre-tax commuter account plans, along with other programs. This position may be eligible for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program administered by the Federal Government.
CTR Hybrid-Work Model
CTR operates under a Hybrid work model. Under this policy, employees are currently required to work a minimum of four business days per month (two set by management and two set by the employee) on-site at CTR’s Boston office and may work remotely the remainder of the time at a location approved by their supervisor, so long as they comply with the requirements of the telework policy. Under this policy, all employees must be able to report to the Boston office with little or no notice, even including the same workday should an exigent circumstance arise. Therefore, a reasonable proximity to the office is necessary. CTR does not reimburse for employees to travel to the office.
On-site work is an essential function of this position.
In addition, the successful candidate may be required to work primarily on site in Boston during the initial training and orientation period and/or for certain positions a primarily on-site role may be necessary.
Commitment to Diversity:
CTR is committed to building a diverse staff at all levels across its entire agency.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.
CTR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Application Process:
The Office of the Comptroller encourages interested candidates that meet the minimum entrance requirements and qualifications to apply for this position.
Interested candidates must submit their application, no later than 5:00 pm, on November 27, 2025 at https://careers.macomptroller.org/jobs/Careers.
Submissions should include the following:
- a cover letter; and
- resume.
Candidates chosen to advance to a second-round interview will also be required to submit:
- three business writing samples; and
- three professional references.
Late submissions may be considered solely at the discretion of CTR.
Required Background Check – Including Tax Compliance:
CTR requires a background check on all prospective employees as a condition of employment.
Candidates should know that the background check is not initiated until:
- A candidate is invited to a second or subsequent interview and
- The candidate has signed the Background Check Authorization Form and related releases.
This background check includes:
o a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check,
o Commonwealth Department of Revenue state tax compliance.
Candidates with advanced degrees and professional licenses may have these credentials verified.
Individuals other than those references provided by a candidate may be contacted in the course of completing a full background and qualification check.
Further Information:
Please visit https://www.macomptroller.org for more information about the Office of the Comptroller.
Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications:
- Fully understand the Payroll Management solution needs (i.e., workflows, business processes, etc.) of large-scale organizations and apply that understanding when reviewing configuration and design options offered in the new enterprise solution.
- Experience with the design, deployment or administration of Workday solutions in public-sector organizations
Required Qualifications:
- At least 5 years Payroll Management-related experience with extensive knowledge of Payroll systems and business practices in other large-scale organizations of similar size and complexity to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- Experience leading and conducting similar duties as defined above for a Payroll Management solution of similar scope and complexity
- At least 5 years payroll related experience in at least two of the following areas: payroll processing, labor distribution, web-based applications, testing methodologies, test script development or project implementation.
- Required knowledge areas include:
- Payroll processing
- Deduction, garnishment and vendor management transactions
- Payroll corrections such as payroll overpayment, receipt voucher processing, W-2C, balance adjustments and payroll accounting adjustments
- Current federal and state payroll tax requirements and Family and Medical Leave Act requirements
- Year-end payroll processing
- Enterprise-wide reporting requirements particularly for public sector organizations
- Special reports to support pre- and post-tax audit requirements
- Ability to facilitate understanding of existing and new functionality, identification and resolution for areas where business processes depart from the delivered software solutions and to recommend best practices from past experiences and deep knowledge of the potential solution.
- Experience with all phases of testing including unit, system, integration, parallel payroll and user acceptance testing
- Superior analytical and technical skills.
- Demonstrated experience in using computer-based tools including Visio, MSWord, Excel, Power Point and Outlook.
- Excellent communication skills including written, verbal, presentation delivery and facilitation skills required to lead and facilitate meetings and working or planning sessions.
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
Applicants must have at least (A) six (6) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in: Business administration, business management, public administration, public management, of which (B) at least two (2) years must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.
Substitutions:
I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.
II. A Bachelor’s degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.
III. A Graduate degree or higher in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.
IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.
Primary Location
: United States-Massachusetts-Boston-1 Ashburton PlaceJob
: Human ResourcesAgency
: Off of the State ComptrollersSchedule
: Full-timeShift
: DayJob Posting
: Nov 13, 2026, 12:08:18 PMNumber of Openings
: 1Salary
: 120,000.00 - 155,000.00 YearlyPayroll Lead Jobs by Experience Level
See All 23 Payroll Lead Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Payroll Lead JobsPayroll Lead Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Non-Profit & Social Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in payroll lead jobs.
- Three or more years of end-to-end payroll processing experience in a mid-to-large organization
- Proficiency with enterprise payroll platforms such as ADP, Workday, Ceridian, or UKG
- Working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations and filing requirements
- Experience processing multi-state payroll and managing jurisdiction-specific compliance requirements
- Strong Excel or spreadsheet skills for reconciliation, auditing, and payroll reporting
- FPC or CPP certification from the American Payroll Association preferred or required
Tips for Your Payroll Lead Job Search
Quantify your payroll volume on your resume
Hiring managers want to know the scale you've operated at. State the number of employees you've processed payroll for, the pay frequencies you've managed, and the systems you've run, so reviewers can immediately gauge your fit.
Highlight multi-state compliance experience specifically
Many employers filter for candidates who've handled payroll across multiple states. Call out the specific states and any experience with varying withholding rules, reciprocity agreements, or local tax jurisdictions in your resume's skills section.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists payroll lead openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target job postings by payroll system name
Search for openings that name the exact system you know, such as ADP, Workday, Ceridian, or UKG. Employers often shortlist candidates with hands-on experience in their current platform, so matching your tools to theirs strengthens your application significantly.
Prepare for a payroll scenario interview question
Expect at least one question where an interviewer describes a payroll discrepancy, a missed deadline, or a compliance gap and asks how you'd resolve it. Walk through your diagnostic process step by step, naming the specific controls or audit steps you'd use.
Negotiate using total compensation, not just base pay
Payroll leads often have leverage on benefits, bonus structure, and remote flexibility. Know which of those matter most to you before the offer conversation, so you can respond clearly when asked about priorities rather than reacting in the moment.
Payroll Lead Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most payroll leads?
Howard University, Brooks Rehabilitation, and EY are hiring the most payroll leads right now, with openings concentrated in California, Texas, and Georgia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Healthcare systems, staffing firms, and large manufacturers tend to post the most consistent volume.
How many payroll lead jobs are remote?
About 75% of payroll lead openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting broader flexibility across the finance and HR operations space. Roles focused on systems configuration, payroll auditing, and compliance reporting tend to be the most remote-friendly, while positions tied to on-site HR teams or union payroll often require in-person presence.
How do you become a payroll lead?
Start by building several years of hands-on payroll processing experience, working through full pay cycles, tax filings, and year-end reconciliations. Earning the FPC or CPP certification from the American Payroll Association signals readiness for a lead role. From there, seek out opportunities to mentor junior staff, own compliance audits, or lead a system migration, since those project-level responsibilities are what most employers expect at the lead level.
Can I get a payroll lead job without direct lead experience?
Yes, especially if you can demonstrate that you've functionally performed lead-level work without the title. Employers respond well to candidates who've trained new team members, owned a payroll audit end-to-end, served as the point of contact during a system change, or covered for a lead during an extended absence. Frame those experiences explicitly in your resume rather than listing them as incidental duties.
What does the payroll lead interview process look like?
Most payroll lead interviews involve a phone or video screen with HR, followed by a technical interview with a payroll manager or controller where you'll be asked to walk through your processing experience, describe how you've handled discrepancies, and demonstrate your compliance knowledge. Some employers include a skills assessment covering payroll calculations or system navigation. Final rounds typically involve a conversation with a senior finance or HR leader focused on leadership style and cross-functional communication.
Where can I find and apply to payroll lead jobs?
You can find and apply to payroll lead jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that match your experience level and specialization, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
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