Payroll Manager Jobs
Payroll Manager jobs are open across healthcare, manufacturing, retail, financial services, and professional services, at every level from payroll specialist to senior payroll manager and director, with specializations in multi-state payroll, union payroll, and payroll systems implementation. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 381+ Payroll Manager jobs
Job Description
Housing & Food Services has an outstanding opportunity for a Payroll Manager for Business and Finance Services to join their team.
About this Opportunity
Manage end-to-end payroll operations and the related business processes, ensuring payroll data integrity within the financial systems and the accuracy of resulting financial statements.
Key Responsibilities
Manage Payroll Operations 60%
- Oversee end-to-end payroll processing, including payroll administration, time and leave reconciliation, and compliance with federal, state, university, and collective bargaining agreement requirements for a department of 500 professional and classified employees represented under SEIU, WFSE, and the UW Professional Staff Program, and 900 student employees.
- Develop and maintain audit schedules and monitoring processes to ensure successful completion of semi-monthly payroll processing and monthly leave accruals.
- Serve as the Workday subject matter expert for HFS and provide guidance on payroll, time tracking, absence management, and related business processes.
- Research, analyze, and resolve payroll issues; collaborate with the ISC and campus partners to investigate and escalate complex problems when necessary.
- Develop, maintain, and analyze reports, dashboards, and metrics to support payroll operations, compliance, and process improvements.
Leadership and Collaboration 25%
- Model behaviors that promote a positive, respectful, and collaborative work environment.
- Serve as a member of the Business and Finance leadership team.
- Build and maintain strong partnerships with HFS units, UW Payroll, Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, and other campus stakeholders.
- Serve as the primary liaison between HFS and the ISC; identify trends, communicate recurring issues, and develop strategies to improve operations.
- Collaborate with HFS Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, UW Payroll, and other campus partners to coordinate processes and resolve issues.
Supervision 15%
- Supervise and direct the work of Payroll staff to ensure quality, accuracy, and timely completion of work.
- Provide coaching, feedback, and performance management to support employee success and development.
- Promote cross-training, knowledge sharing, and professional development opportunities to strengthen team capability and continuity.
- Plan, prioritize, and assign work to meet operational needs and competing priorities.
- Foster an environment that encourages learning, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Reports to
Assistant Director for Accounting Operations
Required Qualifications
To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below.
Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.
Minimum Qualifications
Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Department.
Bachelor’s degree in business administration or closely related field and four years of experience in a payroll or accounting environment that demonstrates:
- Experience managing payroll using an HRIS or the equivalent.
- Effective administration of state and federal laws related to payroll compliance.
- Administration of payroll for overtime eligible and overtime exempt staff.
- Effective communication and problem solving with employees.
- Effective organization, planning and scheduling of work.
- Successful prioritization of complex and often competing priorities.
- Effective communication, adaptation, and visualization of data for a diverse audience.
- Curiosity and eagerness to learn and adapt to new technologies.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with Workday or other comparable payroll systems.
- Experience in payroll management or related fields at a public institution of higher education.
- Successful completion of training and testing required to execute Workday security role within one month of hire.
Working Conditions
- Up to 2 days of remote work is available. Position may require work outside of regular Monday through Friday business hours to meet payroll deadlines and support critical business operations.
About the Team
"Working together to enhance student life" is the Housing & Food Services mission statement. Housing & Food Services is a large and complex organization with a unified commitment to supporting student learning, growth, and success.
Compensation, Benefits and Position Details
Pay Range Minimum:
$92,196.00 annualPay Range Maximum:
$92,196.00 annualOther Compensation:
Benefits:
For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/Shift:
First Shift (United States of America)Temporary or Regular?
This is a regular positionFTE (Full-Time Equivalent):
100.00%Union/Bargaining Unit:
Not ApplicableAbout the UW
Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.
UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.
Our Commitment
The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81 .
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu .
Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law .
Job Description
Housing & Food Services has an outstanding opportunity for a Payroll Manager for Business and Finance Services to join their team.
About this Opportunity
Manage end-to-end payroll operations and the related business processes, ensuring payroll data integrity within the financial systems and the accuracy of resulting financial statements.
Key Responsibilities
Manage Payroll Operations 60%
- Oversee end-to-end payroll processing, including payroll administration, time and leave reconciliation, and compliance with federal, state, university, and collective bargaining agreement requirements for a department of 500 professional and classified employees represented under SEIU, WFSE, and the UW Professional Staff Program, and 900 student employees.
- Develop and maintain audit schedules and monitoring processes to ensure successful completion of semi-monthly payroll processing and monthly leave accruals.
- Serve as the Workday subject matter expert for HFS and provide guidance on payroll, time tracking, absence management, and related business processes.
- Research, analyze, and resolve payroll issues; collaborate with the ISC and campus partners to investigate and escalate complex problems when necessary.
- Develop, maintain, and analyze reports, dashboards, and metrics to support payroll operations, compliance, and process improvements.
Leadership and Collaboration 25%
- Model behaviors that promote a positive, respectful, and collaborative work environment.
- Serve as a member of the Business and Finance leadership team.
- Build and maintain strong partnerships with HFS units, UW Payroll, Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, and other campus stakeholders.
- Serve as the primary liaison between HFS and the ISC; identify trends, communicate recurring issues, and develop strategies to improve operations.
- Collaborate with HFS Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, UW Payroll, and other campus partners to coordinate processes and resolve issues.
Supervision 15%
- Supervise and direct the work of Payroll staff to ensure quality, accuracy, and timely completion of work.
- Provide coaching, feedback, and performance management to support employee success and development.
- Promote cross-training, knowledge sharing, and professional development opportunities to strengthen team capability and continuity.
- Plan, prioritize, and assign work to meet operational needs and competing priorities.
- Foster an environment that encourages learning, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Reports to
Assistant Director for Accounting Operations
Required Qualifications
To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below.
Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.
Minimum Qualifications
Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Department.
Bachelor’s degree in business administration or closely related field and four years of experience in a payroll or accounting environment that demonstrates:
- Experience managing payroll using an HRIS or the equivalent.
- Effective administration of state and federal laws related to payroll compliance.
- Administration of payroll for overtime eligible and overtime exempt staff.
- Effective communication and problem solving with employees.
- Effective organization, planning and scheduling of work.
- Successful prioritization of complex and often competing priorities.
- Effective communication, adaptation, and visualization of data for a diverse audience.
- Curiosity and eagerness to learn and adapt to new technologies.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with Workday or other comparable payroll systems.
- Experience in payroll management or related fields at a public institution of higher education.
- Successful completion of training and testing required to execute Workday security role within one month of hire.
Working Conditions
- Up to 2 days of remote work is available. Position may require work outside of regular Monday through Friday business hours to meet payroll deadlines and support critical business operations.
About the Team
"Working together to enhance student life" is the Housing & Food Services mission statement. Housing & Food Services is a large and complex organization with a unified commitment to supporting student learning, growth, and success.
Compensation, Benefits and Position Details
Pay Range Minimum:
$92,196.00 annualPay Range Maximum:
$92,196.00 annualOther Compensation:
Benefits:
For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/Shift:
First Shift (United States of America)Temporary or Regular?
This is a regular positionFTE (Full-Time Equivalent):
100.00%Union/Bargaining Unit:
Not ApplicableAbout the UW
Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.
UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.
Our Commitment
The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81 .
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu .
Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law .
Payroll Manager Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Payroll Manager JobsPayroll Manager Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Staffing & Recruiting
- Technology & Software
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in payroll manager jobs.
- 3-5 years of end-to-end payroll processing experience in a multi-state environment
- Proficiency in at least one major HRIS or payroll platform such as ADP, Workday, or Ceridian
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, human resources, business administration, or a related field
- Working knowledge of federal and state payroll tax regulations and wage and hour laws
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) credential preferred
- Experience with year-end processes including W-2 preparation, reconciliation, and tax filings
Tips for Your Payroll Manager Job Search
Quantify payroll volume on your resume
Hiring managers want to know the scale you've handled. State the number of employees, pay cycles per year, and states covered rather than describing duties in general terms. Concrete figures make your experience easy to benchmark against the role.
List payroll software by exact product name
Workday, ADP Workforce Now, Ceridian Dayforce, UKG Pro, and Paylocity appear on most job postings as hard requirements. Match the exact product names from each posting to your resume so applicant tracking systems surface your application correctly.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists payroll manager openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Highlight multi-state tax compliance experience
Employers with distributed workforces flag multi-state withholding and unemployment tax compliance as a differentiator in job descriptions. If you've handled nexus analysis, state-specific garnishment rules, or local tax jurisdictions, call that out explicitly in your work history.
Prepare a payroll discrepancy scenario for interviews
Interviewers almost always ask how you caught and corrected a payroll error under a tight deadline. Walk through the specific error, your discovery method, the correction process, and what you changed to prevent recurrence. Vague answers lose points fast.
Negotiate total compensation, not just base pay
Payroll managers frequently have leverage on schedule flexibility, professional development funding for certifications like CPP or FPC, and bonus eligibility tied to system implementation projects. Know which of those matter to you before the offer conversation starts.
Payroll Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most payroll managers?
The companies hiring the most payroll managers right now include Acrisure, Highwire, and Huron Consulting, with the largest share of openings in California, Texas, and New York, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Healthcare systems, large retailers, and staffing firms tend to carry consistent payroll manager demand due to high headcounts and complex pay structures.
How many payroll manager jobs are remote?
About 74% of payroll manager openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the role's strong compatibility with cloud-based payroll platforms. Positions focused on payroll systems administration and multi-state compliance tend to be the most remote-friendly, while roles tied to weekly on-site workforce management or union environments more often require in-person presence.
How do you become a payroll manager?
Start by building hands-on experience processing payroll as a specialist or coordinator, ideally across multiple states and employee classifications. Earn a payroll-specific credential such as the Fundamental Payroll Certification or Certified Payroll Professional designation to signal technical depth. Move into a lead or supervisor role to demonstrate people management, then apply to manager-level postings once you can show ownership of full payroll cycles and compliance reporting.
Can you get hired as a payroll manager without prior management experience?
Yes, some employers will hire strong individual contributors into a first payroll manager role if you've led a major system implementation, managed a complex multi-state payroll independently, or held a senior specialist title with significant scope. Frame your resume around the breadth of what you owned rather than the title, and target smaller companies or growth-stage organizations where the manager role is often a working role rather than a people-management seat.
What does the payroll manager interview process look like?
Most employers run a phone screen with HR focused on experience level and software familiarity, followed by a technical interview with a payroll director or controller covering compliance scenarios, error correction processes, and system knowledge. A final round often includes a panel with HR and finance stakeholders and may involve a practical exercise such as reconciling a sample payroll register or walking through a year-end close checklist.
Where can I find and apply to payroll manager jobs?
You can find and apply to payroll manager jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from companies across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience, location preference, and industry, then apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 381+ Payroll Manager Jobs
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