What Does a Payroll Manager Do?
A payroll manager oversees the payroll function within an organization, ensuring employees are compensated accurately and on time. They manage payroll systems, supervise staff, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations. Their role requires close collaboration with HR and finance teams to maintain consistency in compensation policies, benefits deductions, and reporting.
In addition to managing day-to-day payroll operations, payroll managers are responsible for auditing processes, resolving discrepancies, and implementing process improvements. They play a critical role in employee satisfaction and organizational compliance by ensuring all payroll activities are executed accurately, efficiently, and lawfully.
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Payroll Manager Core Responsibilities
- Supervise payroll staff and manage department operations
- Oversee payroll processing to ensure accurate, timely employee compensation
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax laws and labor regulations
- Review, audit, and approve payroll reports and reconciliations
- Manage employee tax forms, garnishments, and benefit deductions
- Collaborate with HR and finance on compensation policies and reporting
- Maintain payroll systems and recommend software upgrades or improvements
- Prepare and file payroll tax returns and other compliance documents
- Address employee payroll inquiries and resolve discrepancies
Required Skills and Qualifications
Hard skills
- Proficiency with payroll software (ADP, Paychex, Workday, etc.)
- Strong understanding of payroll tax regulations and compliance requirements
- Experience managing payroll for multi-state or multi-country organizations
- Knowledge of general accounting and financial reporting principles
Soft skills
- Strong leadership and staff management abilities
- High attention to detail and accuracy
- Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
- Clear communication with employees, management, and external agencies
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field required
Certifications
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) – commonly required
- Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) – accepted for entry into the field
- Additional HR or accounting certifications recommended
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years of payroll experience with at least 2 years in a supervisory role
- Experience with enterprise-level payroll systems and ERP platforms
- Background in process improvement or payroll system implementation
- Familiarity with global payroll and compliance for multinational organizations
National Average Salary
Payroll manager salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. Click below to explore salaries by local market.
The average national salary for a Payroll Manager is:
$88,863
Sample Job Description Templates for Payroll Managers
Global Payroll Manager
Position Overview
We are seeking a global payroll manager to oversee payroll operations across multiple countries. This role is responsible for ensuring compliance with international tax and labor regulations, managing regional payroll providers, and supporting global workforce expansion. The ideal candidate has extensive knowledge of cross-border payroll, currency exchange, and global compliance standards.
Responsibilities
- Manage payroll processes across multiple countries and regions
- Coordinate with international payroll vendors and HR teams
- Ensure compliance with country-specific labor laws and tax regulations
- Oversee exchange rate calculations and international payment schedules
- Review global payroll reports and reconcile discrepancies
- Implement global payroll policies, procedures, and systems integration
- Support HR and finance teams with international reporting and audits
Requirements
Hard skills
- Expertise in global payroll systems and multi-currency processing
- Strong understanding of international labor and tax compliance
- Familiarity with expatriate payroll and global mobility issues
Soft skills
- Excellent cross-cultural communication and collaboration
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
- Organizational skills to manage multiple regions and deadlines
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, HR, or business administration required
Certifications
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) – required
- Global Payroll Management Certificate – recommended
Preferred Qualifications
- 7+ years of payroll experience, including 3+ years managing global operations
- Prior experience working with international HRIS and ERP platforms
Multi-State Payroll Manager
Position Overview
We are hiring a multi-state payroll manager to oversee payroll operations across multiple U.S. states. This role requires expertise in state-specific tax compliance, garnishments, and labor laws. The manager will ensure payroll accuracy while coordinating with HR and finance teams to support a geographically dispersed workforce.
Responsibilities
- Manage payroll processing across multiple state jurisdictions
- Ensure compliance with varying state tax and labor laws
- Process garnishments, deductions, and state-specific filings
- Reconcile multi-state payroll reports for accuracy and compliance
- Maintain knowledge of changing state tax regulations
- Support audits and provide payroll data for HR and finance leadership
Requirements
Hard skills
- Strong understanding of multi-state payroll tax requirements
- Proficiency with payroll systems that handle multi-jurisdiction data
- Knowledge of wage garnishments, deductions, and reporting standards
Soft skills
- Detail-oriented with strong analytical skills
- Ability to adapt to changing state laws and compliance updates
- Strong leadership and communication skills
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business required
Certifications
- CPP – required
- FPC – accepted for entry but CPP strongly preferred
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years of payroll experience with multi-state responsibility
- Experience with large or distributed workforce payroll systems
Payroll Tax Compliance Manager
Position Overview
We are seeking a payroll tax compliance manager to lead payroll tax operations and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This role requires expertise in payroll taxation, auditing, and reporting, with the ability to oversee tax filings and resolve discrepancies.
Responsibilities
- Oversee payroll tax compliance across all jurisdictions
- Manage preparation and submission of payroll tax filings
- Audit payroll data to ensure accurate withholding and reporting
- Monitor changes in tax regulations and implement updates
- Collaborate with finance and accounting on payroll tax reconciliation
- Respond to payroll tax inquiries from government agencies
Requirements
Hard skills
- Advanced knowledge of payroll tax laws and reporting requirements
- Proficiency in payroll tax software and compliance systems
- Strong auditing and reconciliation skills
Soft skills
- Analytical problem-solving abilities
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to explain tax concepts to non-financial staff
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field required
Certifications
- CPP – required
- Additional tax-specific certification recommended
Preferred Qualifications
- 6+ years of payroll experience with a focus on tax compliance
- Prior experience in audit preparation and regulatory reporting
HRIS/Payroll Systems Manager
Position Overview
We are hiring an HRIS/payroll systems manager to lead payroll technology initiatives, optimize system performance, and support payroll process automation. This role bridges payroll operations and IT, ensuring that payroll systems integrate smoothly with HR and finance platforms.
Responsibilities
- Manage payroll system operations, upgrades, and integrations
- Collaborate with IT, HR, and finance to align systems with business needs
- Troubleshoot payroll system issues and implement solutions
- Train payroll staff on system usage and reporting functions
- Ensure data integrity, security, and compliance across systems
- Recommend and implement process improvements through technology
Requirements
Hard skills
- Expertise in HRIS and payroll systems (Workday, ADP, Oracle, SAP, etc.)
- Strong technical knowledge of system integrations and reporting tools
- Understanding of payroll compliance requirements within HRIS platforms
Soft skills
- Analytical mindset with strong technical problem-solving ability
- Communication skills to bridge payroll and IT teams
- Organizational and project management skills
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in information systems, HR, accounting, or related field required
Certifications
- CPP – preferred
- HRIS/HR technology certifications (e.g., SHRM HRIS, SAP HR, or Workday) – recommended
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years of payroll management experience with system administration duties
- Experience leading payroll software implementations or upgrades
Union Payroll Manager
Position Overview
We are seeking a union payroll manager to oversee payroll operations for unionized employees. This role requires a deep understanding of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), union dues, and benefit contributions to ensure accurate and compliant payroll processing.
Responsibilities
- Administer payroll processes in accordance with union contracts
- Calculate and deduct union dues, pension contributions, and benefit payments
- Ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements and labor laws
- Collaborate with union representatives and HR on payroll-related matters
- Audit payroll records for accuracy and resolve discrepancies
- Maintain documentation and support audits or grievance proceedings
Requirements
Hard skills
- Knowledge of union payroll processing and collective bargaining agreements
- Proficiency in payroll software with union payroll functionality
- Strong auditing and compliance skills
Soft skills
- Ability to collaborate with union representatives and employees
- Strong communication and problem-solving skills
- High attention to detail under tight deadlines
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, HR, or related field required
Certifications
- CPP – required
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years of payroll management experience with unionized workforces
- Familiarity with multiple CBAs across industries