Payroll Manager

A rapidly growing, private equity-backed organization operating across multiple business units within the power infrastructure, engineering, and energy services industries is seeking a hands-on Payroll Manager to lead and strengthen its payroll function.Following significant growth, multiple business integrations, and the addition of new subsidiaries, the organization has expanded to more than 500 employees quickly. This growth has created an exciting opportunity for a Payroll Manager to help build a scalable, consistent, and efficient payroll operation across six business groups.Key ResponsibilitiesPayroll Leadership & Execution: Oversee the full-cycle, end-to-end payroll process for approximately 500 employees across six business groups, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant weekly payroll for both salaried and hourly employees.Union Payroll Administration: Manage complex union and non-union payroll requirements, interpret collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), ensure proper application of labor agreements, and oversee required union reporting and month-end filings.Hands-On Team Management: Lead and develop one direct report while remaining actively involved in payroll processing, review, reconciliation, and issue resolution.Payroll System Implementation: Play a key role in transitioning multiple business units from existing payroll platforms to a consolidated system, helping coordinate implementation, data validation, process alignment, and ongoing optimization.Process Development & Standardization: Establish payroll standard operating procedures, process documentation, controls, and training materials to create consistent practices across business units.Accuracy & Internal Controls: Review payroll inputs, calculations, labor allocations, and pay rates to identify discrepancies, investigate root causes, and ensure employees are paid accurately in accordance with applicable agreements and company policies.Cross-Functional Partnership: Work directly with managers and internal stakeholders to resolve payroll questions, validate submitted information, and ensure payroll decisions are accurate and well-supported.Continuous Improvement: Evaluate existing practices, question inconsistencies, and recommend improvements to payroll workflows, controls, reporting, and overall operational efficiency.Compliance & Reporting: Maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local payroll requirements, wage and hour regulations, and relevant union contractual obligations.Qualifications5+ years of progressive payroll experience, including hands-on ownership of the full payroll cycle.Previous experience managing or supervising payroll staff.Direct experience processing union payroll and interpreting collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) is appreciated.Experience administering weekly payroll for both hourly and salaried employees.Strong understanding of payroll reconciliations, payroll controls, reporting requirements, and discrepancy resolution.Experience working directly with managers and business leaders to validate payroll information and resolve issues.Demonstrated ability to develop and document processes, procedures, and internal controls.Experience with payroll system implementations, conversions, or process standardization initiatives is highly preferred.Multi-state payroll experience and familiarity with applicable payroll compliance requirements are preferred.Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to identifying and resolving discrepancies.Ability to balance hands-on payroll execution with team leadership and process improvement initiatives.What Makes This Opportunity Unique?Build and shape the function: Establish processes, procedures, and controls in a growing organization where there is significant opportunity to make an immediate impact.Lead a major system transition: Help consolidate payroll operations across six business groups into a unified platform.Join a high-growth organization: Support a business that has expanded substantially through organic growth and acquisitions.Have a voice in how things are done: Work in an environment that values critical thinking, accountability, and recommendations for improvement rather than simply maintaining the status quo.Make a visible impact: Partner with leadership to strengthen payroll operations as the organization continues to scale.