Sr. Payroll Coordinator

Location: Onsite, four days per week - Kohler, WI

Opportunity

The Senior Payroll Coordinator - US plays a key role in the accurate, timely, and compliant delivery of US payroll operations across a complex, multi-state environment. This role is responsible for coordinating and validating payroll inputs, supporting complex payroll processing activities, resolving escalated payroll enquiries, and ensuring payroll outputs meet required controls, compliance, and service standards.

Working closely with the US Payroll Manager, HR, Finance, Legal, and external partners, the role acts as a senior point of coordination within the payroll process, helping to manage risk, improve data quality, strengthen controls, and support continuous improvement across payroll operations.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Processing & Administration

• Coordinate, validate, and review complex payroll data to support accurate and timely payroll processing
• Support payroll preparation for bank submission, funding, and posting to financial systems, ensuring appropriate review and control steps are completed
• Process and review manual, off-cycle, adjustment, retroactive, and exception payments where required
• Prepare and review payroll reports, journals, reconciliations, and variance analysis in accordance with internal controls
• Act as an escalation point for complex payroll processing issues, identifying root causes and coordinating resolution with relevant stakeholders

Compliance & Controls

• Support compliance with US federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including multi-state payroll requirements
• Ensure payroll activities adhere to Kohler policies, procedures, approval controls, and audit requirements
• Identify, assess, and escalate payroll discrepancies, control gaps, compliance risks, or recurring issues with appropriate recommendations
• Support internal and external audit requests by preparing accurate documentation, explanations, and evidence
• Contribute to year-end and periodic compliance activities, including payroll tax, reporting, and employee documentation processes

Data Management & Reporting

• Produce, review, and interpret payroll and HR reports using data from approved systems
• Perform detailed payroll reconciliations, investigate variances, and recommend corrective actions
• Maintain organised payroll documentation in line with audit, retention, and confidentiality requirements
• Monitor data quality across payroll inputs and partner with HR, Finance, and system teams to resolve recurring issues
• Use payroll data and reporting to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities

Employee & Stakeholder Support

• Respond to complex payroll enquiries from employees, HR, Finance, and managers, providing clear guidance and timely resolution
• Provide subject matter support on payroll processes, documentation requirements, deadlines, and exception handling
• Build effective working relationships with internal stakeholders and external providers to deliver a high-quality payroll service
• Communicate payroll requirements, risks, and actions clearly to stakeholders, ensuring issues are followed through to closure

Process Improvement & Continuous Learning

• Support the development and embedding of standardised payroll processes with a focus on accuracy, efficiency, compliance, and employee experience
• Participate in payroll system testing, enhancements, implementations, and process changes, including user acceptance testing where required
• Identify opportunities to simplify, automate, or strengthen payroll processes and controls
• Support knowledge sharing across the payroll team and contribute to process documentation, training materials, and best-practice ways of working
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of payroll practices, regulations, systems, and technology relevant to US payroll operations