Payroll Manager - Exceptional Career Opportunity in Pittsburgh, PA

Are you a seasoned payroll professional seeking a leadership role that combines strategic oversight, team management, and process innovation? Robert Half is excited to partner with a prestigious organization in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to find a dynamic Payroll Manager for a contract-to-hire position. This pivotal role oversees payroll operations for faculty, staff, and student workers, ensuring unwavering accuracy, compliance, and efficiency. If you thrive in fast-paced environments and have a passion for optimizing payroll systems while leading high-performing teams, this opportunity offers the perfect platform to showcase your expertise.

In this contract-to-hire Payroll Manager position, you'll play a central role in driving operational excellence within a collaborative university setting. Pittsburgh's vibrant job market for finance and HR professionals makes this an ideal location to advance your career with Robert Half's renowned support. With bi-weekly and monthly payroll cycles demanding precision, your leadership will directly impact the organization's financial integrity and employee satisfaction.

About the Role

The Payroll Manager position is tailored for experienced leaders who excel in managing complex payroll environments. Reporting to senior finance leadership, you'll spearhead all aspects of payroll processing, from data validation to final disbursements. This role emphasizes compliance in a regulated higher education landscape, where accuracy for diverse employee groups—including faculty, staff, and students—is paramount. As a contract-to-hire opportunity, it provides a low-risk entry into a stable, growth-oriented organization, with full-time conversion based on performance. Located in the heart of Pittsburgh, PA, this position offers hybrid flexibility and the chance to contribute to an institution renowned for innovation and community impact.

Robert Half specializes in placing top-tier talent like you in Payroll Manager roles across the U.S., and our expertise ensures seamless transitions. Key highlights include leading payroll transformations, mentoring teams, and integrating cutting-edge software solutions to reduce processing times by up to 30%.

Key Responsibilities

As Payroll Manager, your impact will span operational, strategic, and interpersonal domains:

• Orchestrate end-to-end payroll operations for bi-weekly and monthly cycles, guaranteeing 100% accuracy across thousands of employee records.
• Build and mentor a dedicated team of payroll specialists, cultivating a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Champion compliance with evolving federal (FLSA, FICA), state (PA UC Law), and local regulations, mitigating risks through proactive audits.
• Direct comprehensive payroll reporting, reconciliations, and audits, delivering actionable insights for finance stakeholders.
• Foster seamless collaboration with HR, Finance, and IT to troubleshoot discrepancies, automate workflows, and enhance data integrity.
• Assess and upgrade payroll platforms like ADP, Workday, or UKG, implementing features that boost efficiency and user experience.
• Deliver tailored training sessions for university departments, demystifying payroll policies and keeping teams abreast of regulatory changes.
• Contribute to compensation strategies, annual budgeting, and ad-hoc projects such as year-end processing or system migrations.

Required Qualifications

To succeed in this Payroll Manager role, candidates must bring:

• A Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, HR Management, or equivalent, plus 5-7 years in payroll leadership.
• Proven track record managing multi-cycle payrolls in complex environments, ideally higher education or public sector.
• Deep expertise in tax compliance, garnishments, benefits integrations, and multi-state payroll nuances.
• Advanced proficiency in payroll/HRIS systems (ADP Workforce Now, Paychex, Ceridian, etc.) and Microsoft Excel for analytics.
• Exceptional leadership skills, with experience in team development, performance coaching, and conflict resolution.
• Analytical mindset for auditing large datasets and resolving high-stakes discrepancies swiftly.
• Strong communicator adept at presenting to executives and training diverse audiences.
• CPP, FPC certification, or equivalent highly preferred; SHRM-CP a plus.

Pittsburgh's competitive payroll job market values these skills, positioning you for rapid advancement.

Why Join Us?

Partnering with Robert Half opens doors to unparalleled benefits and growth. Enjoy an estimated salary of $90,000 - $120,000 based on Pittsburgh market data, plus full benefits upon conversion: medical/dental/vision, 401(k) match, PTO, and professional development funds. Work in a supportive, mission-driven environment where your contributions enhance thousands of lives. Pittsburgh offers an unbeatable quality of life—affordable living, cultural hubs like the Carnegie Museums, and proximity to top universities. This Payroll Manager role isn't just a job; it's a career-defining step. Apply today through Robert Half and elevate your payroll expertise!

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