Our client in Grand Prairie, Texas is seeking a Payroll Manager / HR Operations Lead to approve payroll, provide backup support to the Payroll Specialist, and help build out the broader HR function. This role is ideal for someone with payroll experience who is interested in pursuing or maintaining a payroll certification and becoming well-rounded in HR.
The Payroll Manager will ensure payroll is accurate, timely, compliant, and aligned with company policies. In addition to payroll oversight, this person will support HR operations, benefits, compensation, compliance, and employee relations as the department continues to grow.
Key Responsibilities
Payroll Approval & Backup Support
- Serve as the designated payroll approver, reviewing payroll for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
- Provide backup support to the Payroll Specialist for payroll processing as needed.
- Review payroll data, including hours, earnings, deductions, adjustments, bonuses, commissions, reimbursements, garnishments, and employee status changes.
- Ensure payroll is processed on time and in accordance with company policies and applicable wage and hour laws.
- Partner with the Payroll Specialist, Finance, and HR to resolve payroll discrepancies and employee questions.
- Support payroll-related changes tied to new hires, terminations, promotions, compensation changes, benefits deductions, leaves of absence, and status updates.
- Help improve payroll workflows, documentation, controls, and accuracy.
HR Operations & Department Build-Out
- Help build, document, and improve HR processes, workflows, policies, and procedures.
- Support the development of scalable HR practices as the department grows.
- Assist with HRIS, payroll system, and timekeeping process improvements.
- Maintain accurate payroll, benefits, and employee records.
- Serve as a resource for employees and managers on payroll, benefits, policies, and general HR questions.
Compensation & Benefits Support
- Support compensation processes, including pay adjustments, promotions, job changes, and compensation reviews.
- Help ensure pay changes are properly documented and processed.
- Support benefits administration, including enrollment, eligibility, deductions, employee questions, and open enrollment.
- Assist with benefits-related processes for leaves of absence and return-to-work situations.
Employee Relations & Compliance
- Support employee relations matters with professionalism, confidentiality, and sound judgment.
- Help document and resolve employee questions, concerns, and workplace issues.
- Assist with HR compliance, recordkeeping, audits, and policy updates.
- Escalate complex or high-risk matters to leadership or legal counsel as appropriate.
Professional Development
- Pursue or maintain a payroll certification, such as Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC).
- Stay current on payroll laws, wage and hour requirements, HR compliance, and payroll best practices.
- Continue developing broader HR knowledge in areas such as benefits, compensation, employee relations, HRIS, and compliance.
Qualifications
- Prior experience in payroll, HR operations, HR management, compensation, benefits, or a similar role.
- Hands-on payroll experience required.
- Experience reviewing, approving, or auditing payroll strongly preferred.
- Ability to serve as backup support for payroll processing as needed.
- Strong understanding of payroll practices, wage and hour rules, deductions, taxes, garnishments, and employee status changes.
- Interest in obtaining or maintaining a payroll certification such as CPP or FPC.
- Broader HR experience or strong interest in growing into a well-rounded HR role.
- Experience with benefits administration, open enrollment, leave processes, or compensation changes preferred.
- Strong attention to detail, confidentiality, communication, and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and support a growing HR department.
- Experience with HRIS, payroll systems, and timekeeping systems preferred.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a payroll-focused HR professional who can confidently approve payroll and serve as backup to the Payroll Specialist. They are detail-oriented, dependable, and interested in becoming certified in payroll while expanding their knowledge across HR.
This person enjoys creating structure, improving processes, supporting employees and managers, and helping build a growing HR department.