Job Title: Associate Payroll Director / Senior Payroll Manager
Location: Downtown Chicago / Hybrid
Duration: Contract assignment with an approximate 6-month duration, with the possibility of extension
Rate: $ 75-85/hr.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) options
- Weekly pay through Brilliant
About Us
Brilliant® is an award-winning contract and consulting practice headquartered in Chicago, specializing in accounting, finance, technology, and business solutions across the Midwest and Southeast U.S. labor market
Our client is a well-established professional services organization with a large and complex workforce and a strong reputation within its industry. The organization is seeking a Senior Payroll Manager / Associate Director, Payroll to provide senior-level leadership across its payroll operations.
About the Role
This is a highly visible senior leadership role for an experienced payroll professional with deep Workday Payroll expertise and a track record of managing complex, high-volume payroll environments. The Senior Payroll Manager / Associate Director will have broad responsibility for payroll operations, oversight, and continuous improvement, serving as a senior payroll and Workday subject matter expert. This individual will partner closely with HR, Finance, Accounting, Benefits, and other stakeholders to ensure accurate, compliant, efficient, and scalable payroll operations while driving process and system improvements.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for a large, complex payroll function.
- Oversee end-to-end payroll operations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, compliance, and appropriate internal controls.
- Serve as a senior Workday Payroll subject matter expert, overseeing system functionality, issue resolution, configuration, testing, enhancements, and ongoing optimization.
- Lead the evaluation and improvement of payroll processes, systems, controls, and workflows.
- Manage payroll complexities associated with a professional-services environment, including variable compensation, commissions, bonuses, travel and expense-related payments, and contractor populations.
- Partner with HR, Finance, Accounting, Benefits, IT, and other business leaders on payroll-related initiatives and organizational priorities.
- Oversee payroll reconciliations, reporting, audits, general ledger interfaces, and other financial controls.
- Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
- Provide leadership and direction to payroll team members, including workload planning, coaching, development, and performance management.
- Establish and maintain appropriate payroll policies, procedures, documentation, and controls.
- Identify opportunities to automate and streamline payroll processes while maintaining accuracy and compliance.
- Lead or participate in Workday enhancements, implementations, integrations, upgrades, and other technology initiatives impacting payroll.
- Develop reporting and analytics to provide visibility into payroll performance, trends, issues, and opportunities.
- Serve as a senior escalation point for complex payroll matters and provide thoughtful, timely resolution.
- Partner with leadership to assess payroll risks, establish priorities, and develop long-term strategies for the payroll function.
- Support year-end activities, including W-2s, reconciliations, audits, and regulatory reporting.
- Build strong relationships across the organization and promote a culture of accountability, accuracy, service, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications
- 10+ years of progressive payroll experience, with significant experience leading complex payroll operations.
- Extensive hands-on Workday Payroll experience is required.
- Experience leading payroll within a professional services, consulting, engineering, accounting, legal, or similarly complex organization strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience managing large or highly complex payroll populations.
- Experience with variable compensation, commissions, bonuses, travel and expense-related payments, and contractor populations.
- Strong understanding of payroll accounting, reconciliations, controls, taxation, and regulatory compliance.
- Experience with multi-state payroll required; multi-entity payroll experience preferred.
- Demonstrated experience leading payroll process improvements and technology initiatives.
- Experience managing, mentoring, and developing payroll professionals.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify root causes and implement sustainable solutions.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively partner with senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Ability to operate effectively in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment while maintaining a high degree of accuracy.
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business, or a related field preferred.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a hands-on payroll leader and strategic business partner who can navigate complex payroll operations while partnering effectively with senior leadership. This individual brings strong judgment, ownership, and a continuous-improvement mindset, with the ability to identify challenges, streamline processes, and drive practical solutions. Experience in a Senior Payroll Manager, Associate Director, Payroll Director, or similarly senior payroll leadership role is strongly preferred.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Brilliant Staffing, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
