Payroll Manager

Overview of Position

The Payroll Manager is responsible for leading both strategic and operational payroll activities across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. This role ensures payroll accuracy, regulatory compliance, and timely processing while optimizing vendor relationships and payroll technologies. Additionally, the manager steers a competent team, collaborates with senior stakeholders, and drives ongoing improvements and transformation efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee complete payroll processing including audits, reconciliations, year-end activities, garnishments, benefits, equity payments, and other special transactions.
• Maintain strict adherence to IRS, CRA, Puerto Rico Hacienda, and relevant state, provincial, and local laws as well as internal audit and SOX compliance.
• Develop and test payroll controls and risk mitigation procedures.
• Keep payroll tax settings updated and compliant with jurisdictional legislative changes.
• Safeguard confidential employee and payroll data consistently.
• Lead and mentor payroll specialists and analysts to foster a culture focused on accuracy, accountability, and positive employee experience.
• Provide technical guidance and deep payroll knowledge across North American jurisdictions.
• Support workforce planning, recruitment, and skill development aligned with future digital payroll capabilities.
• Produce and maintain payroll dashboards highlighting accuracy, timeliness, SLA adherence, tax error rates, and processing costs.
• Utilize analytics to detect trends, reduce errors, and improve operational workflows.
• Generate reports for Finance, Total Rewards, and Accounting functions including accruals, costing, and headcount data.
• Communicate key insights, risks, and opportunities to leadership stakeholders effectively.
• Manage multi-country payroll operations ensuring compliance, accuracy, and timeliness.
• Design and implement regional payroll strategies consistent with global policies and standards.
• Collaborate with senior HR, Finance, and Technology leaders to drive standardization and operational excellence.
• Serve as escalation point for complex payroll, tax, and compliance challenges.
• Demonstrate expertise in enterprise payroll systems and understand complete data flows to diagnose issues and support enhancements.
• Leverage payroll data, AI-powered insights, and dashboards to perform reconciliations, identify risks, and support decisions.
• Identify automation opportunities to reduce manual tasks, improve accuracy, and strengthen controls, working alongside IT and vendors.
• Apply AI tools responsibly in payroll operations while ensuring judgment, validation, and human oversight remain integral.
• Ensure all automated and AI-supported payroll processes uphold regulatory, data privacy, audit, and SOX standards through governance and collaboration.
• Oversee relationships with external payroll vendors such as ADP and Deel, managing SLA adherence and optimization.
• Work with HRIS and Workday teams to improve data quality, integration, and system configurations.
• Influence payroll technology advancements including automation, RPA, workflow tools, data analytics, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Lead root-cause analysis and implement sustainable solutions for payroll system issues.
• Partner cross-functionally with HR, Legal, Accounting, Total Rewards, and Time & Attendance teams on policy development and pay practices.
• Support due diligence for mergers & acquisitions, onboarding, and payroll system integrations.
• Coordinate with global payroll leadership on shared services strategy, governance, and process harmonization.

Team and Project Oversight

• Manage and lead a team consisting of 2 Payroll Analysts and 1 Payroll and Benefit Administrator.
• Hold project management responsibility for payroll-related initiatives.

Qualifications and Experience

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible payroll experience with substantial exposure to multistate U.S. payroll operations.
• Proven expertise with Canadian and Puerto Rico payroll requirements.
• Comprehensive understanding of payroll legislation and compliance within North America.
• Experience managing multi-country payroll teams or leading payroll functions.
• Proficient in Workday and principal payroll systems including ADP and Deel.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and payroll reporting skills.
• Capable of thriving within fast-moving, complex global environments.
• Background in shared services or Center of Excellence settings preferred.
• Advanced computer skills including Excel, Word, and various payroll vendor platforms.
• Excellent organizational, verbal, and written communication skills suitable for interaction across all management levels.

Preferred Additional Skills

• Bachelor’s degree along with CPP, FPC, PCP, or CPM certifications.
• Experience leading large-scale payroll transformations, vendor consolidations, or digital payroll initiatives.
• Knowledge of RPA, workflow automation, and process mining techniques.
• Lean or Six Sigma certification is desirable.

Additional Information

This role may be continuously accepting applications if no deadline is specified and offers salary consideration based on candidate experience, location, and potential growth within the position.

Assurant operates with a culture that embraces innovation, service, and risk-taking, recognized as a great workplace in multiple countries.

The company supports responsible and transparent use of AI and biometric technologies during employment processes, with a commitment to data privacy and compliance with applicable laws.

Employment is conditional upon identity verification which may include biometric checks.

Assurant is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to non-discriminatory hiring practices.

Applicants are warned against sharing sensitive personal information during the hiring process and advised to recognize potential job scams.