Payroll Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Payroll Manager

Job Description

This contract Payroll Manager/Senior Payroll Consultant role focuses on stabilizing day-to-day payroll operations during a period of acquisition, payroll harmonization, and system transition. You will lead and support a developing payroll team, ensure accurate and timely payroll processing across the U.S. and Canada, and provide experienced guidance in a fast-changing environment.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate and timely day-to-day payroll operations throughout an acquisition integration and team transition period.
• Review payroll results prepared by payroll specialists, including payroll registers, exceptions, deductions, taxes, funding, and gross-to-net calculations, and ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Provide daily direction, coaching, and support to an eight-person payroll team that is still developing broader payroll knowledge.
• Troubleshoot payroll issues related to timekeeping, pay codes, overtime, union rules, employee data, deductions, taxes, and payroll corrections, and drive timely resolution.
• Support weekly union payroll, biweekly payroll, and semi-monthly payroll cycles while the organization works toward harmonizing payroll frequencies.
• Partner closely with HR, HRIS, Finance, plant leadership, and payroll team members to resolve payroll issues quickly and collaboratively.
• Assist with payroll harmonization as the organization works to move one employee population into a unified payroll environment.
• Help design and implement consistent payroll processes across legacy company groups to support standardization and scalability.
• Support payroll testing, reporting, troubleshooting, and transition activities related to system or process changes.
• Ensure compliance with multi-state payroll requirements and union payroll rules, including adherence to applicable wage and hour regulations.
• Apply sound payroll judgment and provide recommendations proactively rather than waiting for step-by-step direction.
• Help stabilize the payroll team by identifying process gaps, recommending improvements, and escalating risks before they result in payroll issues.
• Support a high-volume, high-change environment by quickly ramping up on existing processes and adapting to evolving business needs.
• Contribute to payroll process improvement, documentation, and standardization efforts as needed.

Essential Skills

• Strong payroll background with progressive experience where payroll is the core focus of the career, rather than primarily HR or benefits.
• Hands-on multi-state U.S. payroll experience, including compliance with varying state regulations.
• Experience reviewing payroll, validating accuracy, identifying discrepancies, and ensuring payroll is completed accurately and on time.
• Ability to lead and support a developing payroll team, providing hands-on guidance, coaching, and day-to-day leadership.
• Experience processing both hourly and salaried payroll populations.
• Union payroll experience, with exposure to working under multiple union agreements or collective bargaining agreements.
• Strong compliance knowledge in payroll tax, wage and hour requirements, deductions, garnishments, overtime, pay practices, and payroll controls.
• Ability to operate effectively in a high-change, high-volume environment and to jump in with minimal ramp-up time.
• Experience with payroll processing, data entry, and payroll operations using modern payroll systems.
• Experience managing payroll for multi-state and multi-country employee populations, particularly in the U.S. and Canada.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with the specified primary payroll system is strongly preferred; experience with Ceridian, UKG, ADP, or Workday may be considered if the primary system becomes a constraint.
• Exposure to global payroll operations, with experience in Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, and Canada considered especially helpful.
• Experience with payroll harmonization, acquisition integration, or mergers and acquisitions-related payroll work.
• HRIS implementation, payroll system migration, testing, or configuration experience.
• Manufacturing payroll experience, including working with multiple locations and varied work schedules.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification or similar professional payroll credential.
• Experience supporting payroll process improvement, documentation, and standardization initiatives.
• Experience working with multiple legal entities, locations, pay groups, and payroll frequencies.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Auburn Hills, MI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $62.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Auburn Hills,MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 10, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.