Job Description

Position Summary

The Payroll Manager is responsible for the accurate, timely, and compliant administration of NWS payroll while serving as a key resource for the organization’s UKG Ready HRIS and broader Finance operations.

This position will oversee the end-to-end payroll process, including payroll preparation, processing, reconciliation, deductions, employee changes, reporting, and issue resolution. The role will also provide HRIS support to employees and managers, maintain employee data integrity, assist with onboarding and offboarding, and support Finance initiatives and compliance requirements.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, service-focused, and comfortable working with confidential employee information. The position requires strong UKG Ready knowledge, payroll expertise, sound judgment, and the ability to partner effectively with People & Culture, Finance, IT, Compliance, Operations, and Sales.

Essential Responsibilities

Payroll Management

• Manage the complete biweekly/semi-monthly payroll process within UKG Ready for U.S. and Canadian employees, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Review payroll inputs, including timekeeping, earnings, deductions, benefits, commissions, bonuses, reimbursements, garnishments, and other payroll adjustments.
• Perform detailed pre- and post-payroll audits to identify and resolve discrepancies before payroll is finalized.
• Process employee status, compensation, department, position, tax, and direct-deposit changes.
• Maintain accurate federal, state, and local tax information within UKG Ready.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, provincial, and local payroll regulations
• Experienced in filing Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), Employer Health Tax (EHT), Relevé 1 for Quebec, and T2200 forms in Canada.
• Reconcile payroll registers, general ledger information, deductions, and other payroll-related reports.
• Research and resolve payroll discrepancies and employee questions in a timely and professional manner.
• Coordinate off-cycle, supplemental, and corrective payrolls when necessary.
• Support year-end payroll activities, including W-2's, T-4s preparation, reconciliation, and employee inquiries.
• Maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local wage and payroll regulations.
• Maintain appropriate payroll documentation, audit trails, and standard operating procedures.

UKG Ready HRIS Administration

• Serve as a primary internal resource and subject-matter expert for UKG Ready Payroll.
• Maintain payroll employee records and ensure HRIS data is accurate, complete, and current.
• Manage employee lifecycle transactions, including new hires, transfers, promotions, compensation changes, leaves, and terminations for payroll.
• Monitor system workflows and approvals to ensure transactions are completed accurately and on time.
• Partner with IT and UKG support resources to troubleshoot system issues and implement enhancements for Payroll functionality.
• Assist with UKG Ready configuration, testing, upgrades, and process improvements.
• Develop and maintain payroll and HR reports and dashboards to support business decision-making.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and improve HRIS efficiency.
• Maintain appropriate system security and access levels in partnership with People & Culture and IT.

HR Support

• Provide responsive support to employees and managers regarding payroll, benefits, HRIS, timekeeping, and general HR questions.
• Support the employee onboarding process, ensuring new hires are properly entered into UKG Ready and required payroll and HR information is completed.
• Assist with employee offboarding and final payroll processes.
• Support benefits administration, including deductions and reconciliation.
• Assist with leave and absence tracking and related HRIS processes.
• Support performance management and other UKG Ready modules as assigned.
• Maintain employee confidentiality and handle sensitive personnel information appropriately.
• Assist People & Culture with HR projects, audits, reporting, and special initiatives.
• Provide training and guidance to employees and managers on UKG Ready functionality and HR processes.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure payroll and HRIS practices comply with applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Support internal and external payroll, benefits, and HR audits.
• Maintain required payroll and personnel records in accordance with company policy and legal requirements.
• Monitor changes to payroll and HR requirements and communicate relevant impacts to People & Culture leadership.
• Partner with Compliance and People & Culture to ensure appropriate documentation and controls are maintained.

Cross-Functional Partnership

The Payroll Manager & HR Support role will work closely with:

• People & Culture — timekeeping/payroll, new hire verification, benefits deductions, 401K funding.
• Finance — payroll funding, reconciliations, accounting, reporting, and financial controls.
• IT — UKG Ready access, integrations, troubleshooting, security, and system enhancements.
• Compliance — regulatory requirements, audits, documentation, and risk management.
• Operations — timekeeping, employee changes, workforce data, and operational reporting.
• Sales — commissions, incentive compensation, new-hire onboarding, and employee changes.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of payroll administrative experience
• Hands-on experience processing U.S. payroll; Canadian payroll experience required
• Working knowledge of U.S. and Canadian payroll laws, taxes, and compliance requirements
• Strong organizational skills with experience managing physical and digital Payroll files
• High attention to detail and commitment to confidentiality
• Proficiency with HRIS and payroll systems (e.g., UKG Ready, Isolved, PayWorks, Payfluence, Ceridian, Quota Path, or similar)
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Payroll certification (CPP, PCP, or equivalent)
• Experience supporting multi-state U.S. payroll

Work Environment

• Hybrid role based in the Greensboro, NC office and Remote
• Regular interaction with multiple departments, HR, Finance, and employees across the U.S. and Canada
• Hands-on work involving digital systems

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking and long-term planning
• Strong analytical and financial acumen
• Problem-solving and risk assessment solving and risk assessment solving and risk assessment
• Relationship building and stakeholder management
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills

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