Payroll Associate Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

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Position Summary

The Payroll Director will serve as a senior leader within Managed HR Services, reporting to the Principal of MS HRS Payroll & HR. This individual will be responsible for overseeing payroll operations, leading a team of 10-15 professionals, driving revenue growth, and shaping the strategic direction of payroll services. The role requires deep functional payroll expertise, strong leadership, and the ability to build scalable systems, processes, and client solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, develop, and manage a team of payroll associates, implementation specialists, and managers (10-15 team members)
• Establish clear performance expectations, accountability, and development plans
• Foster a high-performing, collaborative, and client-focused culture across a distributed team
• Provide leadership in managing remote teams effectively and efficiently

Client Delivery & Operational Excellence

• Oversee end-to-end payroll service delivery, including processing, review / support, compliance, issue resolution, and client communication
• Ensure timely response and resolution of payroll issues, aligning with service expectations (e.g., rapid response for critical issues)
• Maintain high standards of payroll accuracy, compliance, and client satisfaction across all engagements
• Partner with implementation teams to ensure seamless onboarding, system configuration, and payroll transitions

Systems, Implementation & Process Design

• Lead payroll system implementations, including configuration, data migration, testing, and go-live execution
• Design, build, and optimize scalable payroll processes and operational workflows
• Identify opportunities to streamline manual processes and improve efficiency through technology and automation
• Collaborate with internal and external technology partners (including ADP and Intuit) to optimize system performance and integrations

Technology & Innovation

• Leverage payroll technologies, including ADP platforms (RUN and Workforce Now preferred), to deliver scalable client solutions
• Drive adoption of emerging tools, including AI-enabled capabilities, to improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, and insights
• Ensure alignment between payroll systems, HRIS platforms, and financial integrations

Growth & Strategic Development

• Support and drive payroll revenue growth through client expansion, cross-sell opportunities, and service enhancements
• Identify and develop new market segments and client demographics for payroll services
• Contribute to go-to-market strategy, service offerings, and pricing approaches
• Partner with firm leadership on long-term strategy and scaling the payroll practice

Client Relationship Management

• Serve as a senior escalation point and trusted advisor for key client relationships
• Ensure strong communication, transparency, and responsiveness in all client interactions
• Deliver consultative insights to clients related to payroll operations, compliance, and system optimization

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelors degree
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)
• Twelve (12) plus years of progressive payroll experience
• 3-5+ years of people management experience
• Deep functional knowledge of payroll operations, compliance, and multi-state payroll requirements
• Proven ability to lead teams and manage complex payroll environments
• Experience building systems, processes, and operational infrastructure from scratch
• Strong ability to operate autonomously and make independent decisions

Preferred

• Experience with Intuit and ADP payroll platforms, including ADP RUN and ADP Workforce Now
• Background in a consulting or outsourced services environment
• Experience managing payroll implementations across diverse client environments
• Familiarity with integrating payroll with HRIS, timekeeping, benefits, and financial systems
• Experience leveraging AI or advanced tools to enhance payroll processes

Success Profile

The ideal candidate is:

• Strategic yet hands-on
• Highly organized and execution-oriented
• Adaptable and responsive to changing client and market needs
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and building structure where none exists
• Focused on quality, scalability, and continuous improvement

Why This Role Matters

This role is critical to scaling the payroll function, enhancing service delivery, and positioning the firm for growth across new client segments. The Payroll Director will play a central role in shaping the future of payroll services and delivering measurable business impact.