Payroll Operations Manager

Location: Charlotte, NC
Work Arrangement: Onsite
Employment Type: Direct Hire
Travel: Not required

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Operations Manager to oversee payroll operations for a complex, multi-site manufacturing organization. This position will manage relationships with outsourced payroll providers, ensure accurate and timely payroll processing, support plant employees and HR teams, and lead the resolution of complex payroll issues.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience supporting manufacturing payroll, including hourly and salaried employees across multiple locations. This individual should also bring strong ADP processing experience, knowledge of Workday or similar HR systems, and the ability to coordinate effectively with plant leadership, HR, finance, accounting, and third-party vendors.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Operations

• Oversee accurate and timely payroll processing in partnership with an outsourced payroll provider.
• Coordinate payroll schedules, employee data, deductions, adjustments, garnishments, and other payroll transactions.
• Support payroll for hourly and salaried employees across multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Review payroll data for accuracy and resolve discrepancies before payroll is finalized.
• Address payroll questions from plant employees, managers, and HR representatives.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex payroll concerns and ensure issues are resolved promptly.
• Maintain accurate employee and payroll data across HR and payroll systems.
• Partner with finance and accounting teams to support reconciliations and accurate financial reporting.

Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local payroll laws and regulations.
• Coordinate with third-party providers on payroll tax filings, reporting, and year-end activities.
• Prepare, review, and submit required payroll reports.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes that may affect payroll operations.
• Maintain appropriate payroll controls, documentation, and audit-ready records.
• Analyze payroll information and present findings, trends, and recommendations to leadership.

Vendor Management

• Manage the day-to-day relationship with the outsourced payroll provider.
• Monitor vendor performance and ensure established service levels are achieved.
• Identify service concerns and coordinate corrective action when necessary.
• Assist with vendor evaluations, contract discussions, and process improvements.
• Work with external partners to resolve system, processing, tax, or compliance issues.

Team Leadership and Employee Support

• Supervise or support payroll specialists and coordinators.
• Provide training, guidance, coaching, and performance feedback to payroll team members.
• Promote consistent payroll processes across corporate and manufacturing locations.
• Educate employees, managers, and HR teams on payroll procedures and system use.
• Build collaborative relationships with plant leadership, HR, finance, and accounting teams.

Projects and Process Improvement

• Lead payroll-related projects, including system implementations, integrations, upgrades, and process changes.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, controls, and the employee experience.
• Support HRIS and payroll-system testing, troubleshooting, and implementation activities.
• Develop and maintain payroll procedures, workflows, and training documentation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• At least five years of experience in payroll operations, HR data management, or payroll coordination.
• Payroll experience within a manufacturing, industrial, or similarly complex multi-site organization.
• Hands-on ADP payroll processing experience.
• Experience coordinating with outsourced payroll providers or other third-party payroll partners.
• Proficiency with Workday, ADP Lyric, or comparable HRIS and payroll platforms.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll requirements.
• Strong analytical, reconciliation, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to support employees and leaders at multiple locations.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and resolve time-sensitive payroll issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP), Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), or a related certification.
• Experience managing payroll for multiple manufacturing plants or business locations.
• Experience supervising or mentoring payroll professionals.
• Familiarity with payroll reporting, data analysis, system integrations, and financial controls.
• Experience leading payroll implementations, upgrades, or process-improvement initiatives.

Work Environment

This is an onsite position based in Charlotte, NC. The Payroll Operations Manager will work closely with corporate teams, plant leadership, HR representatives, employees, and external payroll partners in a collaborative and deadline-driven environment.

Interview Process

• Initial recruiter conversation
• Video interview with the hiring manager
• Panel interview with team members, which may include an onsite meeting