Payroll Manager

What’s in it for you…

• Insurance enrollment available from DAY 1!
• Paid time off available from DAY 1!
• Holiday pay available from DAY 1!
• 401(k) enrollment after 30 days!
• Hotel and travel discounts at worldwide destinations!
• Professional development and promotion opportunities!

The impact you’ll make…

The Payroll Manager plays a critical leadership role in ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for associates across First Hospitality's hotel portfolio. This position oversees the day-to-day payroll function, supervises Payroll Specialists, and serves as a subject matter expert for payroll operations, compliance, reporting, and process improvement initiatives.

Responsible for the bi-weekly processing and oversight of payroll for approximately 50 hotel properties, the Payroll Supervisor ensures payroll accuracy, supports associates and operational leaders, maintains compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and drives continuous improvement within payroll processes and systems. This role partners closely with Human Resources, Accounting, Finance, Operations, and property leadership to deliver an exceptional associate experience and ensure payroll practices align with organizational objectives. The Payroll Manager reports to the VP People.

To foster connection and collaboration, this role follows ahybrid work schedule with four in-office days per week. One remote day may be offered, subject to departmental needs and leadership approval.

You’ll enjoy this job because…

• You're passionate about leading and developing people
• You enjoy improving processes and creating operational efficiencies
• You have a strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• You enjoy solving complex payroll challenges
• You're motivated by delivering exceptional customer service
• You thrive in a fast-paced, multi-unit environment
• You enjoy collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive results

What you’ll be doing…

• Payroll Operations & Compliance
  • Oversee and support the accurate and timely weekly and bi-weekly payroll processing in UKG Dimensions
  • Review payroll audits, exception reports, and payroll registers to ensure accuracy and compliance
  • Ensure payroll transactions, including tax withholding, direct deposits, wage distributions, garnishments, and deductions, are processed correctly
  • Maintain and administer the time and attendance system within UKG
  • Reconcile payroll-related reports and ensure timely filing of labor, tax, unemployment, and other required governmental reports
  • Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations and labor laws
  • Support year-end payroll activities, including W-2 and W-2C processing and distribution
  • Serve as the escalation point for complex payroll inquiries and issue resolution
  • Oversee payroll calendars, workflows, controls, and service-level expectations

• Leadership & Team Development

  • Supervise, coach, and develop Payroll Specialists to ensure high performance and professional growth
  • Establish priorities, manage workloads, and ensure payroll deadlines are consistently met
  • Conduct training and provide ongoing support related to payroll procedures, systems, and compliance requirements
  • Foster a collaborative, service-oriented team environment focused on accuracy and continuous improvement

• Process Improvement & Reporting

  • Research payroll discrepancies, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions
  • Recommend and lead process improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and associate experience
  • Develop and maintain payroll procedures, documentation, and internal controls
  • Partner with HR, Finance, Accounting, and Operations teams to support organizational initiatives and system enhancements
  • Analyze payroll data and prepare reports for leadership as needed
  • Participate in payroll system upgrades, testing, implementations, and process automation projects

• Associate Support

  • Serve as the organization's primary payroll subject matter expert
  • Provide exceptional customer service to associates, managers, and corporate teams regarding payroll-related questions and concerns
  • Build and maintain effective working relationships across the organization
  • Complete additional duties and special projects as assigned

• Financial & Reporting Responsibilities

  • Review payroll reports, reconciliations, labor reporting, and payroll-related accounting activities
  • Partner with Finance and Accounting teams to support month-end and year-end processes
  • Oversee year-end payroll activities, including W-2 and W-2C processing and distribution
  • Prepare payroll-related reporting and analysis for leadership as requested
  • Assist with payroll budgeting, forecasting, and labor-related reporting initiatives

• Additional Responsibilities

  • Lead special projects and strategic initiatives as assigned
  • Ensure payroll team readiness and business continuity planning
  • Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and service excellence

Requirements…

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred
• Minimum of seven years of payroll experience with a multi-state employer
• Minimum of three years of payroll leadership, supervisory, or team lead experience preferred
• Full-cycle payroll processing experience required
• Hospitality, multi-unit, or multi-property payroll experience preferred
• UKG Dimensions experience strongly preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local payroll regulations and compliance requirements
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, particularly Excel
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a high-volume environment
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop team members
• Strong customer service orientation and communication skills
• High level of integrity and professionalism with the ability to maintain confidentiality
• Collaborative team player with a continuous improvement mindset

About First Hospitality…

Founded in 1985 and based in Chicago, First Hospitality is a forward-thinking hotel development, investment, and management company. First Hospitality’s strategic vision is to create value for all through excellence and an openness to doing things differently.

First Hospitality seeks to attract and retain a high-performing and diverse workforce in which employee’s differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the customers we serve. FH fosters an inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility, and fairness. Equal Opportunity Employer.