Payroll Manager

Company: American Engineering Testing Inc
Location: Saint Paul
Posted on: March 1, 2025

Job Description:

Job SummaryThe Payroll Manager is responsible for overseeing and executing the payroll function for American Engineering Testing (AET), ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency in all payroll processes. This role requires expertise in ADP payroll systems and Microsoft Dynamics for timekeeping. The Payroll Manager will collaborate with HR, Finance, and leadership to develop and refine payroll policies, manage compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws, and support company-wide compensation strategies.Additionally, this position will play a key role in optimizing payroll workflows, identifying automation opportunities, and enhancing payroll-related reporting capabilities. The ideal candidate will have a strong analytical mindset, excellent attention to detail, and a commitment to maintaining confidentiality while delivering a seamless payroll experience for AET employees. Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesReasonable accommodation or workable solutions may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Manage and oversee the end-to-end payroll process using ADP, ensuring accurate, timely, and legally compliant payroll execution for all employees, including multi-state payroll processing.
• Review and validate Microsoft Dynamics timekeeping data, ensuring accurate tracking of hours worked, overtime, and paid leave; troubleshoot and resolve discrepancies in coordination with HR and department managers.
• Ensure strict adherence to federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, including FLSA regulations, tax compliance, wage garnishments, and payroll deductions.
• Oversee payroll tax filings, quarterly and annual tax reports, and W-2 distribution in collaboration with ADP and external regulatory agencies.
• Maintain proper payroll records, ensuring accuracy and compliance with internal policies, audit requirements, and record retention standards.
• Conduct routine payroll audits, reconciling payroll transactions, tax filings, and benefits deductions to prevent discrepancies and ensure financial accuracy.
• Analyze payroll trends, including overtime costs, labor expenses, and tax liabilities, to provide insights for budgeting and workforce planning.
• Prepare detailed payroll reports for Finance, HR, and senior leadership, including payroll variance analysis, compliance reports, and workforce cost assessments.
• Monitor and address payroll errors, discrepancies, or system issues, implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Serve as the primary administrator for ADP payroll and Microsoft Dynamics timekeeping, ensuring system configurations align with company policies, compliance requirements, and business needs.
• Collaborate with HR and IT to optimize payroll workflows, automate manual processes, and enhance system integrations between payroll, HRIS, and accounting platforms.
• Stay informed about system updates, regulatory changes, and best practices, ensuring AET's payroll operations remain efficient and compliant.
• Lead payroll system upgrades, testing, and implementations, working with vendors and internal stakeholders to ensure seamless adoption.
• Serve as the primary payroll point of contact for employees, responding to payroll inquiries with clear, accurate, and timely information regarding earnings, deductions, direct deposits, and tax withholdings.
• Educate employees and managers on payroll policies, timesheet submission procedures, and compliance with wage laws.
• Work closely with HR and Finance to resolve payroll-related employee concerns, ensuring a positive employee experience while maintaining confidentiality and compliance.
• Process Improvement & Strategic Support.
• Continuously evaluate payroll processes to identify inefficiencies, reduce errors, and implement best practices for payroll administration.
• Partner with HR and Finance to align payroll policies with company compensation strategies, incentive programs, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead payroll-related projects, such as compliance audits, process redesigns, and system enhancements, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Provide guidance to leadership on payroll trends, legislative updates, and industry best practices that may impact compensation planning. Supervisory Responsibility
  • Lead, mentor, and develop payroll staff, ensuring accurate execution of payroll processes and adherence to best practices.
  • Provide guidance and training to HR, Finance, and department managers on payroll policies, procedures, and compliance matters.
    Qualifications and Education Requirements
    • Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
    • 5+ years of payroll management experience, preferably in a multi-state environment with both exempt and non-exempt employees.
    • Expertise in payroll systems (ADP Workforce Now preferred), with experience managing integrations and troubleshooting payroll-related system issues.
    • Strong understanding of federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, payroll tax compliance, and regulations, including FLSA, FMLA, and multi-jurisdictional tax laws.
    • Experience with payroll audits, reconciliations, general ledger processing, and reporting.
    • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including data analysis, pivot tables, and payroll-related financial modeling.
    • Proven ability to lead process improvements, automate payroll functions, and implement technology-driven payroll solutions.
    • Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with high attention to detail and accuracy.
    • Ability to maintain strict confidentiality while handling sensitive payroll and compensation data.
    • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments and explain complex payroll matters to non-experts. Preferred Skills
      • Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) preferred.
      • Experience managing multi-state payroll operations and ensuring compliance with wage and tax regulations.
      • Strong proficiency in ADP Workforce Now and Microsoft Dynamics timekeeping, including system optimization and troubleshooting.
      • Advanced Microsoft Excel skills for payroll analysis, reporting, and reconciliations.
      • Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to explain payroll matters clearly to employees and leadership. Pay Transparency Base compensation is expected to be in the range of $82,300 - $102,900 per year based on skill set and experience. AET offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health benefits, insurance, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), long term savings, paid time off, and professional development opportunities. The selected candidate must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. without requiring visa sponsorship now or in the future. Work EnvironmentThis job primarily operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. This position will occasionally be required to operate in a field environment. Physical DemandsThe physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands or fingers, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. AAP/EEO StatementIt is the policy of AET to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Other DutiesPlease note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Notice to Third Party Agencies: AET does not accept unsolicited resumes from third party recruiting firms. Absent a signed Service Agreement by AET's Chief People Officer (CPO), AET reserves the right to pursue and hire these candidates without financial obligation to recruiters or agencies.
        
        Compensation details: 82300-102900 Yearly Salary
        
        
        
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Keywords: American Engineering Testing Inc, St. Paul , Payroll Manager, Human Resources , Saint Paul, Minnesota