The Payroll Manager is responsible for ensuring the calculation, preparation, and execution of payroll for Northwest Permanente in accordance with Federal and State rules and regulations. This position provides guidance and manages the day-to-day operations of the Payroll Department serving clinicians, locums, and administrative staff. The Payroll Manager is responsible for fostering a team environment with a strong focus on maintaining confidentiality, delivering timely and quality customer service to Northwest Permanente employees, and driving a consistent positive employee experience. This role serves as a subject matter expert and escalation point for resolving issues, while continually looking for improvements in operational processes and designs.
Major Responsibilities / Essential Functions –
- Manages the operations of the payroll function including departmental priority setting and staffing requirements; resource management; ensures compliance with corporate policies and procedures to provide an accurate and effective service to the organization.
- Directs, coaches, and develops team members to ensure the team continues to grow and is current in their understanding of payroll best practices, regulatory matters pertaining to payroll (e.g., wage and hour law, payroll tax requirements, etc.) and institutes policies and procedures applicable to the payroll function.
- Plans, schedules, and directs the staff to promote efficiency in completing their job responsibilities. Develops, implements, and generates performance metrics and annual evaluations for Payroll personnel.
- Responds to sensitive payroll matters and provides guidance, recommendations, and solutions for escalated customer issues.
- Provides management direction and oversight for all payroll activities including planning, organizing, prioritizing, and delegating payroll assignments to ensure staff is meeting assigned deadlines and objectives in a timely and accurate manner ensuring that payroll customer needs are addressed effectively.
- Develops and maintains Payroll policies and procedures.
- Prepares and/or reviews employee communication materials related to Payroll.
- Remains current on new legislation and regulatory rulings impacting payroll. Enforces adherence to requirements and advises senior management on required actions.
- Manages all aspects of payroll taxation activities including payroll tax reporting, monitoring, interpreting, and implementing Federal, and State laws/policies/regulations including tax law, garnishment and labor laws which may impact payroll and ensures compliance with these laws.
- Responsible for the accuracy of payroll related information (time sheets, direct deposits, wage attachments, etc.) to ensure accurate distribution of funds and payroll.
- Works with HRIS team on new reporting and functions within HCM system for the payroll functionalities.
- Assists with ensuring data integrity, testing of system changes, reporting writing, and analyzing data flows for process improvement opportunities.
- Leads and/or participates in committees, projects, and initiatives to analyze, recommend, and implement new products/services/technology/processes improving payroll service delivery models and maintaining high quality payroll procedures.
Minimum Qualifications -
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or related field, or four (4) years directly related experience.
- Minimum eight (8) years of experience in Payroll.
- Minimum three (3) years in a payroll leadership role (such as management, lead function, or sole payroll administrator responsibilities).
- Advance knowledge of payroll regulations as it relates to garnishments, child support, tax levies, FLSA and various labor laws.
- Comprehensive understanding of payroll Federal, State, and Local payroll regulations.
- Knowledge in report writing within an HR/Payroll system.
- Strong technical skills with experience in testing HR/Payroll system functionalities.
- Have strong leadership abilities, sound judgement, decision making and problem-solving skills to effectively manage the payroll team.
- Must have superior ability to build relationships and promote an environment focus on team development and continuous improvement.
- Proficient in Excel.
Preferred Qualifications -
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) status is desired. Five (5) years of experience processing payroll in healthcare organization.
- Experience administering multi-state payroll is strongly preferred.
- Familiarity with UKG/UltiPro is preferred.
Join Our Medical Group
Northwest Permanente is a self-governed, physician-led, multi-specialty group of 1,500 physicians, surgeons, and clinicians, caring for 630,000 members in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Kaiser Permanente is one of the nation's preeminent health care systems, a benchmark for comprehensive, integrated, value-based, and high-quality care.
Equal Opportunity Employer
At Northwest Permanente, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Northwest Permanente believes that equity, inclusion, and diversity among our employees are critical to our success, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.
