Payroll Manager

Kennedy Jenks is seeking a Payroll Manager in Portland, Oregon to oversee accurate, compliant, and efficient payroll operations across our teams, functions, and business priorities. This is an opportunity where you are accountable for multi-state payroll processing, compliance, controls, reconciliations, and continuous process improvement.

You’ll play a key role in ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time, payroll processes remain compliant and well-controlled, and payroll systems and workflows continue to evolve with the needs of the business.

What You’ll Do

As a Payroll Manager, you’ll contribute across key focus areas such as payroll operations, compliance, and process improvement.

Lead payroll processing: Oversee accurate and timely multi-state payroll processing, including deductions, garnishments, benefits, leave, adjustments, and off-cycle payments.

Ensure compliance: Manage payroll tax compliance and monitor applicable wage and hour requirements, including FLSA and prevailing wage requirements.

Maintain payroll controls: Reconcile payroll and related accounting entries, investigate discrepancies, and maintain quality assurance and internal control procedures.

Manage systems and processes: Administer payroll, HRIS, and ERP systems and identify opportunities to improve workflows, automation, and data accuracy.

Support audits and documentation: Coordinate payroll audits and maintain process documentation, SOPs, training materials, and other resources that support consistent payroll practices.

Partner across the organization: Collaborate with Human Resources, Finance, managers, employees, and external partners to resolve payroll issues and support business needs.

What Makes This Role Different

End-to-end ownership: You will own critical payroll processes and controls that directly impact every employee across the organization.

Multi-state complexity: You’ll manage payroll requirements across multiple states and navigate evolving tax, wage, and compliance requirements.

Cross-functional impact: You’ll serve as a payroll subject matter expert, partnering closely with HR and Finance to ensure payroll data and processes work effectively across systems and functions.

What You Bring

Relevant experience: 5+ years of progressive payroll administration experience, including 2+ years in a Payroll Manager, Lead Payroll Specialist, or senior payroll role.

Functional expertise: Strong knowledge of multi-state payroll processing, payroll tax compliance, wage and hour requirements, payroll reconciliation, deductions, garnishments, benefits, and leave administration.

Communication and collaboration: Ability to work effectively with employees, managers, HR, Finance, auditors, and external partners while handling sensitive and confidential information.

Problem-solving and execution: Strong analytical and attention-to-detail skills with the ability to investigate discrepancies, manage competing deadlines, and improve processes.

Tools and systems: Experience with payroll, HRIS, and ERP systems and advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including PivotTables, lookup functions, data validation, reconciliation analysis, and exception reporting.

Work style: Organized, proactive, dependable, and comfortable taking ownership of complex processes and sensitive information.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.

Experience: 5+ years of progressive payroll experience with multi-state payroll processing required.

Areas of Knowledge: Multi-state payroll tax compliance, FLSA and wage and hour requirements, payroll accounting and reconciliation, internal controls, and quality assurance.

Certifications, licenses, or professional registrations: CPP or FPC certification preferred but not required.

Additional preferred qualifications: Experience in a project-based or professional services organization, prevailing wage administration, and payroll process documentation or workflow design.

Kennedy Jenks supports a healthy work-life balance and utilizes a hybrid model of home and office work, with a minimum of two days per week in the office. This approach empowers our people to thrive, collaborate, and do their best work.

Salary range for this position is anticipated to be $70,000 and $100,000, and may vary based upon education, experience, qualifications, licensure, certifications, and geographic location.

Benefits summary: Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; a health savings account; a 401(k); bonus programs; tuition reimbursement; employee ownership opportunity; professional registration support; business travel assistance; competitive paid time off and holidays; an employee assistance program; and additional programs that support your wellbeing and professional growth.

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