Senior Level Payroll Lead Jobs

Senior level payroll lead jobs place experienced professionals in charge of end-to-end payroll operations, compliance strategy, and the teams or systems that keep everything running accurately at scale. Openings are concentrated across Technology & Software, Consulting & Professional Services, and Accounting & Auditing, with a mix of on-site, remote, and hybrid settings, and employers like Protiviti, PsiQuantum, and Acrisure hiring at this level now.

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Overview

Open roles19
Top stateCalifornia
Top employerProtiviti
Top cityPalo Alto, CA
Work type77% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 19+ Senior Level Payroll Lead jobs

Senior Payroll Specialist
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New 11h ago
Senior Payroll Specialist
Boeing
Bingen, Washington
Finance
Accounting
Human Resources
Tax
$85k - $117k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Payroll Settlement & Tax Manager
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Added 3d ago
Payroll Settlement & Tax Manager
Group 1 Automotive
Houston, Texas
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Human Resources
Learning & Development
Bachelor's degree in finance
10,000+

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Managing Director, HR & Payroll Outsourcing & Managed Services
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Added 1w ago
Managing Director, HR & Payroll Outsourcing & Managed Services
Baker Tilly Canada
Frisco, Texas
Human Resources
Partnerships & Business Development
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Project & Program Management
Human Resources (HR) — Generalist
Business Development
Project Management
$182k - $345k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Senior Manager, Outsourced Payroll
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Added 1w ago
Senior Manager, Outsourced Payroll
Baker Tilly Canada
Springfield, Illinois
Human Resources
Customer Success
Project & Program Management
Partnerships & Business Development
Business Development
$70k - $170k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Payroll Operations Manager
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Added 3w ago
Payroll Operations Manager
CoorsTek
Golden, Colorado
Program Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$103k - $136k/yr
Bachelor's degree in finance
1,001-5,000

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See All 19 Senior Level Payroll Lead Jobs

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Senior Level Payroll Lead Job Market

Who's Hiring

Protiviti2 open roles
PsiQuantum2 open roles
Acrisure2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software
  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Accounting & Auditing
  • Staffing & Recruiting
  • Artificial Intelligence

Senior Level Payroll Lead Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a senior level payroll lead job?

Employers at this level look for candidates who have owned full-cycle payroll processes, not just supported them. Demonstrated experience managing multi-state or multi-entity payroll, leading system implementations, and resolving complex compliance issues sets strong candidates apart. Certifications like CPP or FPC reinforce technical credibility, and a history of mentoring junior staff signals readiness for the leadership scope these roles carry.

Which companies hire senior level payroll leads?

Companies hiring senior level payroll leads right now include Protiviti, PsiQuantum, and Acrisure, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level tends to come from mid-size to large organizations that run complex, high-volume payroll operations and need someone who can lead the function rather than just execute within it.

Are there remote senior level payroll lead jobs?

Yes, though availability varies by employer and the scope of the role. About 23% of senior level payroll lead openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting broader flexibility in finance and HR operations roles. Fully on-site positions tend to appear at companies where payroll is closely tied to in-person HR or accounting functions.

What makes a payroll lead role senior level?

Senior level payroll lead roles are defined by ownership, not just execution. Where mid-level roles focus on processing accuracy and day-to-day tasks, senior roles carry responsibility for compliance strategy, system oversight, cross-functional coordination with HR, finance, and legal, and mentoring less experienced team members. The expectation is that you can identify problems, propose solutions, and lead the people or processes that implement them.

Which industries hire the most senior level payroll leads?

Senior Level payroll lead roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Consulting & Professional Services, and Accounting & Auditing, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors tend to drive hiring at this level because they operate large, geographically distributed workforces that require experienced payroll leadership to manage compliance complexity and scale reliably.