Payroll Manager

MGIC is seeking a Payroll Manager to lead and strengthen the delivery of payroll administration and HR Shared Services, ensuring a consistent, accurate and high-quality co-worker experience. This role is ideal for a hands-on operational leader who thrives on building reliable processes, supporting teams, and delivering payroll excellence. The Payroll Manager oversees day-to-day execution while advancing process standardization, compliance, and continuous improvement across HR transactions. This position serves as a key leader within the HR Operations function, ensuring timely and accurate payroll processes, compliance with federal, state and local laws, effective case management, and responsive coworker support across the employee lifecycle. 

In this highly collaborative role, the Payroll Manager partners closely with HR team members, Finance, Legal, Internal Audit and external vendors to strengthen operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, data integrity and the delivery of HR Services that exceed co-worker needs and enable business success. 

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

The following statements describe the general nature of work performed by people assigned to this job, may not be performed by all individuals in this job, and are not a complete list of all job duties required. 

Management/Leadership 

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of direct reports into a highly effective group by setting clear performance expectations and goals, providing regular and honest feedback, and supporting individual development plans. 

• Guide team workload and workflow by distributing work effectively, providing timely direction, and helping team members understand the impact of their contributions. 

• Build team resilience and scalability by promoting knowledge sharing, clear documentation, and meaningful cross-training. 

• Partner closely with HR Partners, Finance, Legal, Internal Audit, IS, and other stakeholders to support business priorities and co-worker needs. 

• Champion standardization, automation, and simplification of HR Shared Service and Payroll processes to improve efficiency, accuracy, and scalability. 

• Analyze recurring issues, identify root causes, and implement corrective and preventive solutions that support department outcomes. 

• Lead the team through change within the department and across the organization to help deliver results aligned with MGIC’s business priorities. 

• Contribute to and lead HR workflow enhancements, shared service work intake, and process improvement initiatives. 

Responsibilities specific to this role: 

HR Shared Services 

• Lead the HR Shared Service team in delivering consistent, timely, and high-quality support for co-workers and alumni, including core HR processes and employee lifecycle transactions. 

• Shape and strengthen the service experience by establishing, monitoring, and improving service delivery standards, service level agreements, and key performance indicators; develop standards, best practices, and documentation that support consistent execution. 

• Serve as a trusted escalation point for complex or sensitive situations, ensuring issues are resolved accurately and managed appropriately. 

Payroll Administration and Governance 

• Oversee end-to-end payroll administration by leading the team in delivering accurate and timely payroll processing. 

• Safeguard the accuracy and integrity of HR and payroll data in Workday by ensuring internal checks and balances are completed. 

• Help protect compliant payroll operations by ensuring alignment with federal, state, and local regulations. 

• Support internal and external audits by providing documentation, responding to findings, and implementing remediation plans; serve as the liaison between HR and the Internal Audit team. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• 5+ years of experience in HR Operations, Payroll and/or HR Compliance. 

• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 

• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local HR and payroll regulations. 

• Understanding of payroll tax compliance and reporting requirements. 

• Experience with payroll and workforce management systems, such as Workday. 

• Ability to manage multiple priorities while staying organized and responsive. 

• Clear, professional, verbal, and written communication skills. 

• Project management experience that supports process improvement.