Senior Payroll Manager

SENIOR PAYROLL MANAGER — STRATEGIC, NOT TRANSACTIONAL

Location: Hybrid — 3 days onsite / 2 days remote Employment Type: Contract-to-Hire (3-6 months) Industry: Financial Services

WHY THIS ROLE?

High visibility from day one. You'll work directly with executive leadership, inherit a complex environment with real room for improvement, and have the mandate to define what "excellent" looks like. If you've been executing in a large org and want to finally own the function, this is that opportunity. Strong performers convert to permanent.

THE OPPORTUNITY

A well-established financial services organization is seeking a Senior Payroll Manager to oversee payroll accounting, compliance, and quality control across multiple entities. This is not a transactional payroll role. The ideal candidate operates as a strategic leader who brings structure, accountability, and a clear "what good looks like" mindset to the function.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Own payroll accounting, GL tie-outs, and pre/post-payroll reconciliations across multiple entities and input streams
• Establish and enforce best-in-class payroll controls -- be the person who catches issues before they become audit findings
• Ensure clean, accurate data flow in Oracle; partner with ADP to validate accuracy and completeness end-to-end
• Analyze payroll data and investigate variances with a strong tie-out mindset
• Drive automation, standardization, and process improvement initiatives -- you'll be building the playbook, not following one
• Collaborate cross-functionally and present insights and recommendations directly to senior leadership including CFO-level stakeholders

Qualifications:

WHAT YOU BRING (both accounting and payroll backgrounds are required)

• Proven experience in payroll accounting, not just payroll processing
• Hands-on experience in an ADP payroll environment
• Advanced account reconciliation skills with the ability to trace and explain variances
• Experience in a large, complex organization with multiple entities or data streams
• Strong payroll compliance and internal controls knowledge
• Confidence interacting with senior leadership
• Experience with automation, system optimization, or process transformation
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field required
• CPA and/or CPP strongly preferred; equivalent combination of certification and hands-on experience considered

Compensation

About Us

Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects highly qualified job seekers to opportunities at great companies. We offer contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions for finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support roles.

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All applicants applying for U.S. job openings must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Benefits are available to contract/temporary professionals, including medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance. Hired contract/temporary professionals are also eligible to enroll in our company 401(k) plan. Visit roberthalf.gobenefits.net for more information.

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