Hybrid Payroll Manager

at Claire's

• Job title: Payroll Manager
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Mid level, Senior
• Salary: $82,446 - $109,928 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Hoffman Estates, United States

About the role

• Payroll Manager overseeing multi-state payroll operations for Claire's. Partnering with HR and Finance to ensure compliance, accuracy, and efficiency in payroll processes.

Responsibilities

• Coach, mentor, and develop a high-performing, engaged, and results-oriented payroll team
• Oversee the North American Payroll function, including processing, compliance, procedures, and payroll tax for approximately 5,000 employees, ensuring accurate and timely payroll operations
• Work with third-party vendor to update configuration to the payroll system to meet business needs, including earnings codes, deduction codes, and benefit calculations, while ensuring compliance with U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canadian wage and hour laws.
• Provide oversight to the successful execution and development of the company’s payroll practices
• Develop training and coaching programs for employees, cultivate a culture of customer service and build relationships with key internal stakeholders
• Collaborate with third-party vendors to ensure the accurate and timely payment of the company’s tax liabilities to all tax agencies
• Maintain high standards of legal compliance and protection of sensitive employee and company information
• Serves as the payroll subject matter expert (SME) during Payroll, Timekeeping and HRIS upgrades and implementations
• Respond to employee inquiries, regulatory requests and special projects providing guidance on taxes, payroll withholding, projections and reporting for senior management
• Author and maintain documentation of payroll processes and procedures
• Ensures SOX and privacy compliance and monitor internal controls, including weekly audits, reconciliations and all quarterly and year-end payroll activities, resolving complex tax and compliance issues as needed
• Identify, research and resolve payroll issues in a timely and accurate manner
• Recommend and implement payroll technology and process improvements to drive efficiency and continuous improvement
• Provide proactive, high-quality customer service to internal stakeholders, communicating payroll updates and delivering required payroll data
• Work with third party vendors to complete post payroll tasks as required

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Tax, Accounting/Finance or relevant experience
• 5 - 7 years of payroll experience in a multi-state retail environment
• 3 years people management experience
• HCM systems experience required; Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG) payroll system preferred
• 5 -7 years payroll experience in a multi-state environment (retail preferred)
• Experience reconciling and preparing W-2 and W-2c forms, W2-PR forms and Canadian T4 and RL-1 forms
• Thorough understanding of current payroll tax laws and regulations, including multi-state and local experience with a strong understanding of cross border and reciprocity taxation
• Multi FEIN exposure required
• Experience utilizing a third-party payroll provider required
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy and quality and the ability to meet strict deadlines
• Working knowledge of HR and payroll laws, taxes and garnishment rules by state
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office with expert level Excel skills including complex formulas, pivot tables and data analysis
• Ability to work in a fast pace changing environment.

Benefits

• medical, dental, and vision insurance
• voluntary welfare plans
• bonus plan eligibility
• 401(k) match
• vacation time
• sick time* and paid leave