HR - Manager - Payroll

TITLE: MANAGER – PAYROLL
STATUS: EXEMPT
REPORT TO: DIRECTOR – EMPLOYEE RELATIONS PEOPLE AND CULTURE
DEPARTMENT: HR – PAYROLL
JOB CODE: 6332

PAY RANGE: $122,900.00 - $150,000.00 ANNUALLY

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The Payroll Manager drives the strategic and operational leadership of payroll administration and systems at Golden 1 Credit Union, with a strong emphasis on team development, compliance, and service excellence. This role ensures accurate, timely payroll operations while aligning with all internal policies and regulatory standards across local and global contexts. As a people-first leader, the Payroll Manager mentors and develops a high-performing team, cultivating a culture of growth, accountability, and innovation. Partners across departments to enhance systems, streamline workflows, and proactively contribute to enterprise-wide HR goals. Champions continuous improvement fosters cross-functional collaboration and leads with a global mindset that anticipates future workforce needs.

TASKS, DUTIES, FUNCTIONS:

1. Oversee end-to-end payroll processing, including salary calculations, deductions and benefits administration, such as provident fund, insurance and healthcare plans.
2. Oversee timely entry and verification of employment data, including new hires, job status changes, tax updates, direct deposits, and employee deductions.
3. Generate payroll reports, including tax filings, benefits deductions and other required reports, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
4. Conducting regular payroll audits to ensure accuracy and compliance with federal, state, local applicable laws, regulations, best practices and company policies while processing payroll. Liaise with internal and external auditors for payroll tax audits and resolve any discrepancies.
5. Maintain accurate employee records, including attendance, leaves and personal information.
6. Serve as the escalation point for complex payroll issues, monitor and resolve payroll discrepancies, investigate and resolve issues promptly and accurately and provide timely resolution and high-quality support to internal stakeholders.
7. Partner with cross-functional departments to ensure timely and accurate data flow between payroll, timekeeping, benefits, and finance systems.
8. Implements, maintains, and reviews payroll processing systems to ensure timely and accurate processing of payroll transactions including salaries, benefits, garnishments, taxes, and other deductions.
9. Develop and maintain clear, concise, and accurate procedures and process documents, ensuring procedures comply with industry standards, regulations, and best practices.
10. Oversee payroll system updates, testing, and upgrades—particularly within Dayforce environments.
11. Prepare month-end close reports, compliance filings, and responses to government or audit inquiries and oversee all state and federal required reporting.
12. Provide leadership, guidance, and mentoring to payroll support team members.
13. Train, motivate, develop, supervise and evaluate the job performance of Payroll staff.
14. Foster a positive and engaging work environment for each team member by promoting skill development, coaching for improvement and growth, inspiring others through your words and actions, ensuring positive employee morale throughout Golden 1, and embracing our mission, vision and core values.
15. Critically review and analyze current payroll, HR accounting practices, HRIS systems and processes in    order to ensure best-practice operations.
16. Collaborate with internal customers to foster a culture of trust, support, and process transparency.
17. Maintain a thorough understanding of state and federal laws and regulations related to credit union compliance including bank secrecy and anti-money laundering laws appropriate to the position.
18. Stay updated on payroll regulations, tax laws and industry trends, implementing necessary changes to ensure compliance and best practices.
19. Drive operational excellence by developing processes and tools that ensure a high-quality employee experience as well as compliance with wage and hour laws, accounting practices, and all areas of responsibility, document audit methodology and implement ongoing audit procedures.
20. Identify opportunities that address service gaps, process inefficiencies, or emerging service requirements, develop the business case for new initiatives, and provide effective project management.
21. Develop and maintain an understanding of the pertinent regulatory requirements and risks inherent to job responsibilities, establish, and maintain control activities that mitigate those risks consistent with the Credit Union’s risk appetite, and ensure operational integrity and compliance with applicable regulations.
22. Perform other jobs as assigned.

PHYSICAL SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND EXERTION UTILIZED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THESE TASKS:

1. Effective oral and written communication skills required to train and evaluate staff, interact with employees and outside vendors, prepare recommendations, company-wide memoranda and reports, make presentations and constructively follow up on employee concerns and inquiries.
2. Must possess sufficient manual dexterity to skillfully operate an on-line payroll system, automated HR information system, personal computer and other standard office equipment, including a financial calculator, telephone and copier.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTACTS & RELATIONSHIPS:

1.  INTERNAL: All levels of staff.

2.  EXTERNAL: Vendors, payroll processing representatives and peers in financial institutions.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1.  EDUCATION: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field or equivalent work experience.

2.  EXPERIENCE: 7+ years of experience in payroll management in processing, with 5 or more years leading a team. Experience using Dayforce payroll systems is preferred.

3.  KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:

• • In-depth knowledge of state and local payroll processes, labor laws, taxation, and statutory compliance.
  • Proficiency in payroll and time tracking systems, such as Dayforce, with experience implementing and managing payroll systems.
  • Ability to clearly articulate messages with all levels in the organization, including breaking down complex topics for target audiences.
  • Ability to prioritize workload and provide timely follow-up and resolution.
  • Demonstrate an elevated level of integrity, discretion, and confidentiality.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook); comfortable working with large data sets.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and a customer service-oriented approach.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills with attention to detail.
  • Proven ability to manage confidential data with integrity and professionalism.
  • Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
  • Experience supporting organizations of over 1,500 or more employees.
  • Excellent leadership skills and the ability to develop and cultivate talent.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. Prolonged sitting throughout the workday with occasional mobility required.
2. Corrected vision within the normal range.
3. Hearing within normal range. A device to enhance hearing will be provided if needed.
4. Minimal local and statewide travel by car or public conveyance to visit branches and other off-site locations as business needs arise. Overnight and evening schedules included.
5. Occasional movements throughout the department daily to interact with staff, accomplish tasks, etc.
6. Ability to work long hours as required to accomplish tasks.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS:

PHR/SPHR, SHRM-CP preferred.

#LI-Hybrid

THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IN NO WAY STATES OR IMPLIES THAT THESE ARE THE ONLY DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED BY THIS EMPLOYEE.  HE OR SHE WILL BE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW OTHER INSTRUCTIONS AND TO PERFORM OTHER DUTIES REQUESTED BY HIS OR HER SUPERVISOR THAT ARE WITHIN HIS / HER KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY AS WELL AS HIS / HER MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ABILITIES.

REV. 6/17/2025