Payroll Manager- East Region

Position Summary

The Payroll Manager is responsible for leading payroll operations for Applied Aerospace & Defense's East Region, supporting six operating locations, while also managing Enterprise/Corporate payroll. This role provides end-to-end oversight of payroll processing, controls, compliance, systems, and integrations to ensure team members are paid accurately and timely.

Applied is currently transitioning to a new Enterprise payroll and workforce management environment, making this a highly hands-on, working manager role. The Payroll Manager will be expected to work directly in UKG Pro Payroll and UKG Pro Workforce Management (WFM), actively participating in payroll processing, configuration, testing, troubleshooting, reconciliations, and issue resolution. This is not a role focused primarily on delegation or oversight; the successful candidate must be comfortable owning and executing the work while also providing leadership and direction.

The Payroll Manager will partner closely with People Services, Finance, Accounting, IT, and site leadership to stabilize, standardize, and continuously improve payroll operations, including integrations between UKG, ERP/timekeeping systems, and other business applications.

Why This Role Matters

Payroll is one of the most important commitments we make to our team members. As Applied continues to grow and standardize how we operate across the Enterprise, this role will help build a scalable, well-controlled payroll operation supporting six East Region locations and Enterprise/Corporate payroll.

This is more than a payroll processing role. The Payroll Manager will connect people, systems, operations, and financial controls to strengthen processes, improve integrations, reduce manual work, and deliver accurate and consistent payroll experiences across a complex, multi-site organization.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Operations & Leadership

• Lead end-to-end payroll operations for six East Region locations and Enterprise/Corporate payroll, ensuring accurate and timely processing.
• Oversee regular and off-cycle payrolls, bonuses, incentive and equity-related payments, adjustments, deductions, garnishments, taxes, and year-end activities.
• Review and approve payroll, ensuring appropriate validation, reconciliation, controls, and issue resolution.
• Establish consistent payroll processes and service standards across supported locations and serve as the escalation point for complex payroll matters.

Systems, UKG & Integrations

• Serve as the payroll subject matter expert for UKG Pro Payroll and UKG Pro Workforce Management (WFM), including configuration, testing, troubleshooting, and optimization.
• Partner with HRIS, IT, Finance, and integration resources to support the flow of payroll and timekeeping data between UKG, ERP/timekeeping applications, and downstream financial systems.
• Understand and support integrations involving APIs, middleware, inbound/outbound files, data mapping, error handling, and reconciliation.
• Identify opportunities to automate processes, strengthen controls, and reduce manual intervention.

Compliance, Controls & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local payroll, wage and hour, tax, and recordkeeping requirements.
• Maintain strong payroll controls, approvals, documentation, audit trails, and SOX-compliant processes.
• Partner with Finance and Accounting on payroll reconciliations, general ledger activities, audits, and financial controls.
• Drive standardization and continuous improvement across locations while supporting acquisitions, integrations, and other organizational changes.

Union Payroll & Collective Bargaining Agreements

• Administer payroll for union and non-union populations and ensure collectively bargained provisions are accurately reflected in payroll and timekeeping.
• Partner with People Services and Operations to interpret and operationalize CBA provisions, including wage schedules, premiums, differentials, overtime, paid time, and other contractual requirements.
• Support implementation and testing of negotiated wage increases, pay rule changes, and other CBA-related updates within UKG and applicable timekeeping systems.

Qualifications and Experience

Required

• 8-10+ years of progressive payroll experience, including complex, multi-state payroll operations.
• Prior experience in a Payroll Manager, Senior Payroll Analyst/Administrator, or comparable payroll role.
• Demonstrated experience as a hands-on payroll leader, with the ability and willingness to personally execute payroll activities while also providing functional leadership and oversight.
• Experience administering payroll for union and non-union populations, including interpretation and administration of CBA provisions.
• Strong knowledge of payroll taxation, wage and hour requirements, deductions, garnishments, year-end processing, and multi-jurisdictional compliance.
• Strong understanding of ERP/payroll integrations and the movement and reconciliation of data between payroll, timekeeping, ERP, and financial systems.
• Experience with payroll reconciliations, general ledger interfaces, financial controls, and audit support.
• Strong analytical, Excel, problem-solving, and cross-functional communication skills.

Preferred

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation or comparable payroll certification strongly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• Experience in multi-site manufacturing, aerospace & defense, or another complex operating environment.
• Experience with SOX-controlled payroll operations.
• Experience supporting acquisitions, payroll conversions, or HRIS/payroll implementations

This position is currently accepting applications.

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