Payroll Supervisor/Manager/Director

We are looking for a payroll leader to oversee a complex, multi-state payroll operation in Chesapeake, VA. This role is responsible for ensuring employees are paid accurately and on schedule while maintaining strong compliance with payroll tax and wage regulations. The ideal candidate brings deep payroll expertise, strong analytical skills, and the ability to guide a team through daily operations, reporting, and process improvement.

Responsibilities:

• Direct the full payroll cycle for a large employee population across multiple states, ensuring accurate and timely payroll execution.

• Administer payroll changes such as hires, separations, compensation updates, benefit deductions, garnishments, and tax withholdings with a high level of accuracy.

• Lead the preparation, review, and submission of payroll tax filings and deposits, including quarterly and annual reporting requirements.

• Reconcile payroll records to the general ledger, validate tax and deduction balances, and investigate discrepancies to resolution.

• Maintain payroll documentation, reports, and supporting records to strengthen internal controls and support audit readiness.

• Monitor federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including wage and hour rules and state leave programs, and adjust payroll practices as needed.

• Partner with leadership by delivering payroll and expense reporting to the Controller and other stakeholders.

• Oversee department operations, including staff development, training, performance management, and hiring activities.

• Coordinate payroll setup and tax registration requirements when employees begin working in new states.

• Evaluate payroll systems and procedures, recommending enhancements that improve efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years of hands-on payroll experience, including ownership of full-cycle payroll processing.
• Experience managing payroll across multiple states and navigating varying tax and compliance requirements.
• Prior leadership experience with responsibility for supervising, mentoring, or managing payroll staff.
• Working knowledge of payroll tax filings, unemployment reporting, reconciliations, and year-end processing.
• Proficiency with ADP Workforce Now and strong familiarity with payroll operations for an employee base of more than 500.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with close attention to detail.
• Certified Payroll designation is preferred.