Manager, Payroll

Location: On-site Springfield, MO Office (with ability to support teams across TX, MO, NM, IL, KS, IN and 30+ remote work states)
Department: Employee Relations, Payroll & Benefits
Reports To: Executive Director of Employee Relations, Payroll & Benefits

About the Role

Every pay period, more than 8,000 caregivers, nurses, and support staff across our organization open their paycheck and trust that it's right. For many, that paycheck is what lets them keep showing up for our patients and families during some of life's hardest moments. This role is what makes that trust possible.

We're seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead payroll operations for our growing, multi-state healthcare organization. You'll oversee a team of five Payroll Specialists, ensuring every employee is paid accurately and on time, while driving the kind of process improvements that let your team work with confidence instead of catching fires. It's a role built on precision, but it's also a role built on care, for the people who spend their days caring for others.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of five Payroll Specialists.
• Establish workflows, training, quality standards, and accountability.
• Partner with HR, Finance, Scheduling, Clinical Operations, and Employee Relations to support payroll operations.

Payroll Operations

• Oversee multi-state payroll for hourly, salaried, clinical, remote, and specialized employees.
• Validate payroll data from UKG, seven EMRs, timekeeping, and scheduling systems.
• Ensure compliance with wage and hour laws, overtime, shift differentials, on-call pay, bonuses, mileage, multi-rate pay, and state-specific regulations.
• Manage payroll taxes, garnishments, benefit deductions, year-end reporting, audits, and payroll controls.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Serve as the payroll lead for UKG and partner with HRIS to resolve issues and improve workflows.
• Identify and implement process improvements, automation, and efficiencies.
• Support system upgrades and integrations between UKG and other payroll-related systems.

Compliance & Audit

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, Medicare, Medicaid, and healthcare payroll regulations.
• Support internal and external audits by providing documentation and implementing corrective actions.
• Partner with Employee Relations on complex payroll matters.

Reporting & Stakeholder Support

• Provide payroll reports and data to leadership, Finance, and regulatory agencies.
• Support reimbursement, cost reporting, and compliance initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in Accounting, Finance, Business, HR, or related field.
• 5+ years of payroll experience with 3+ years in a leadership role.
• Multi-state, high-volume payroll experience required; healthcare experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of UKG or similar payroll systems (ADP, Workday, Viventium a plus).
• Knowledge of payroll taxes, wage and hour laws, garnishments, audits, and compliance.
• Advanced Excel skills, including PivotTables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, and macros.
• Strong leadership, communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

What We Offer

• Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits
• Medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans
• Generous PTO and paid holidays
• Supportive, mission-driven culture
• The chance to lead a team whose work quietly makes it possible for thousands of caregivers to keep showing up for the people who need them most