Senior Payroll Manager (Hybrid - Nashville, TN)

Our Customer is a leading provider of alternative and specialty parts to repair and accessorize automobiles and other vehicles with operations in North America, Europe, and Taiwan. They offer their customers a broad range of replacement systems, components, equipment, and parts to repair and accessorize automobiles, trucks, and recreational and performance vehicles.

We are seeking a Senior Payroll Manager responsible for leading the strategy, integrity, and delivery of all North American payrolls, ensuring compliance and shaping the future of payroll operations through Workday and emerging technologies. Serves as a strategic leader of payroll subject matter experts, building a high-performing team that delivers accurate, efficient, and scalable payroll services. Partners with HR, Finance, and business leadership to anticipate challenges, support growth and acquisitions, and drive continuous improvement across payroll operations.

Salary plus 15% bonus and 10k RSUs

Responsibilities:

• Evaluate existing and new payroll-related regulations to ensure compliance with applicable payroll and tax requirements across payroll activities and field operations
• Develop and maintain payroll processes and internal controls to ensure quality, efficiency, effectiveness, and regulatory compliance, including documentation and reviews for Sarbanes-Oxley compliance
• Lead payroll innovation by optimizing Workday Payroll, introducing automation technologies (AI/RPA), and streamlining workflows to reduce manual effort and improve accuracy
• Evaluate and recommend cost management opportunities while increasing service levels for internal and external customers
• Build and maintain a high-performing payroll team through training, evaluation, motivation, and rewards, including promotions and salary adjustments in alignment with budgets and guidelines
• Partner with HR, Benefits, and Accounting to align cross-departmental strategies and reconcile payroll-related data sharing
• Collaborate with stakeholders and cross-functional teams to ensure best-in-class operations and high levels of customer service
• Coordinate with corporate teams, regional management, and field organizations to align goals, provide reporting, and support operational effectiveness
• Develop departmental metrics and KPIs to monitor process effectiveness, policy adherence, and enforcement
• Oversee payroll activities, including account reconciliation, monthly variance analysis, accrual calculations, and journal entry reviews
• Serve as payroll systems leader, working with HRIS to ensure payroll accuracy, compliance, and scalability during organizational growth, acquisitions, or changes
• Develop payroll subject matter experts into future leaders through mentoring, coaching, and structured development plans
• Anticipate risks and design payroll strategies to address regulatory changes, organizational transformations, and growth
• Communicate payroll insights and risks to senior leadership with clear recommendations that support decision-making
• Lead payroll change management during system enhancements, acquisitions, and reorganizations
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Plan, assign, schedule, and review staff work, ensuring quality standards
• Manage hiring, training, development, performance reviews, corrective actions, and terminations for payroll staff

Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required
• 8+ years of progressive payroll experience in a large, complex, multi-entity environment, including 5+ years leading payroll teams
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation required
• Leadership experience managing payroll operations across multiple countries, including the U.S. and Canada, preferred
• Strong ability to compute rates, ratios, percentages, and interpret graphs
• Advanced skills with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; ability to create and maintain complex spreadsheets, documents, and presentations
• Proven ability to communicate complex information across departments, resolve delicate situations, and motivate and persuade others
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and solve varied, complex problems using knowledge, skills, and established practices
• Strong prioritization, organization, and project oversight skills

Preferred:

• Expertise with Workday Payroll strongly preferred; ADP, SAP, or Oracle payroll experience considered, with the ability to adapt to Workday
• Advanced degree preferred
• Experience leading payroll through Workday implementations, upgrades, acquisitions/divestitures, or ERP payroll systems
• Track record of developing and promoting payroll talent into senior-level roles
• Professional certifications such as APICS, PMP, or Lean Six Sigma are beneficial

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Primarily sedentary role with extended computer use
• Occasional lifting/moving of up to 25 pounds
• Periodic travel required, including overnight stays