Payroll Supervisor/Manager/Director

Description We are looking for an experienced payroll leader to oversee accurate and compliant payroll operations for a large, multi-state workforce in Newark, New Jersey. This role manages weekly and bi-weekly payroll processing for salaried, hourly, and union employees while partnering closely with HR and Finance to maintain strong controls, clean reporting, and dependable employee payments. The position also plays a key role in audits, accounting support, benefit deduction reviews, and ongoing process improvement across payroll workflows.

Responsibilities:

• Direct end-to-end payroll processing for weekly and bi-weekly pay groups, ensuring employees are paid correctly and on schedule across multiple employee populations.

• Monitor payroll activity for compliance with applicable wage and hour rules, tax withholding requirements, and company payroll policies in New York and New Jersey.

• Examine payroll registers, employee deductions, garnishments, and final payments before release, resolving discrepancies ahead of processing deadlines.

• Work closely with People & Organization teams to audit benefit elections, enrollment records, and payroll deductions so that employee data remains accurate across systems.

• Establish and maintain effective payroll review practices for benefits, fringe programs, and compensation changes, including proper tax treatment and payroll setup.

• Oversee payroll-related journal entries, labor distributions, and account reconciliations to support accurate financial statements and alignment with the general ledger.

• Prepare and review union reporting, fringe benefit remittances, and retirement contribution funding, ensuring timely submissions and compliance with plan and contract requirements.

• Interpret collective bargaining agreements to apply correct pay rates, benefit contributions, and union-specific deductions within payroll processing.

• Lead payroll support for annual workers’ compensation and retirement plan audits, and perform quarterly reconciliation analysis related to payroll tax filings such as Form 941.

• Drive payroll process improvements through workflow documentation, automation opportunities, cross-functional coordination, and finance support for forecasting, labor analysis, and compliance projects. Requirements • 5+ years of experience managing full-cycle payroll operations in a high-volume environment.

• Proven background processing payroll for 500 or more employees, including hourly, salaried, and union populations.

• Experience administering multi-state payroll with strong knowledge of payroll tax, wage and hour, and deduction requirements.

• Hands-on proficiency with ADP Workforce Now and related payroll reporting tools.

• Ability to review payroll accounting activity, including journal entries, reconciliations, and payroll expense reporting.

• Familiarity with benefit deduction audits, retirement contributions, garnishments, and union remittance processes.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to investigate variances, maintain accuracy, and meet strict payroll deadlines.

• Effective collaboration and communication skills for working with HR, Finance, auditors, and other internal stakeholders.

Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects highly qualified job seekers to opportunities at great companies. We offer contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions for finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support roles.

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All applicants applying for U.S. job openings must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Benefits are available to contract/temporary professionals, including medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance. Hired contract/temporary professionals are also eligible to enroll in our company 401(k) plan. Visit roberthalf.gobenefits.net for more information.

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