Sr. Manager, Payroll & Tax

Job description

ABOUT THE COMPANY At Current, everything starts with people. We believe that when you invest in talent through opportunity, development, and support, you unlock growth for individuals, firms, and clients alike. That’s why we’ve built a platform designed to give our people access to more: more learning, more collaboration, and more ways to grow their careers than any single firm could offer on its own. Founded in 2023, Current has rapidly become one of the fastest-growing accounting platforms in the country, partnering with more than 40 leading accounting firms across the United States. Today, our community includes over 2,000 professionals, 30+ offices nationwide, and a growing global workforce that supports clients around the world. Backed by Thrive Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Springdale Industries, Current is investing heavily in technology, artificial intelligence, and workforce innovation to help modernize the profession. Our leadership team has a proven track record of building and scaling successful businesses, with prior ventures generating more than $3 billion in combined enterprise value. We’re building something bigger than a traditional accounting firm: a platform where talented people can grow faster, learn more, and do more meaningful work. Whether you join Current, one of our partner firms, or our global team, you’ll be part of a community shaping the future of the profession. ABOUT THE ROLE We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Senior Manager, Payroll to join our HR team. This position will be responsible for payroll processing for integrated entities on our platform. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in payroll administration, project management skills, and experience managing multiple pay groups. This role will support the payroll functions and supporting benefits functions of firms that have already been integrated onto the platform, and will support Payroll Processors/Admins on the team. Key Responsibilities: Payroll Leadership & Ownership: - Own end-to-end multi-state payroll execution for assigned pay groups, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and on-time delivery. - Serve as the process owner for payroll: maintain SOPs, define controls, and drive standardization across integrated entities. - Partner with Finance to ensure payroll-to-GL alignment, support accruals, and deliver recurring payroll reporting and analytics. - Lead payroll month-end/quarter-end/year-end activities, including reconciliations and audit support. - Oversee payroll data integrity across HRIS/payroll systems (e.g., UKG), including audits and troubleshooting. People Management & Team Development: - Manage, coach, and develop more junior Payroll Manager as well as Payroll Processors/Admins; set clear expectations, review work quality, and ensure cross-coverage. - Build scalable workflows and training to support growth, acquisitions, and changing pay group complexity. Compliance, Tax, and Benefits Collaboration: - Monitor changes in federal, state, and local payroll regulations and ensure timely implementation and communication. - Triage and resolve escalated employee inquiries related to pay, taxation, deductions, and benefits. - Coordinate with Benefits/Total Rewards and external partners to ensure accurate deductions, 401(k) changes/funding, and benefit reconciliations. Integration & Continuous Improvement: - Coordinate with cross-functional teams (HR, IT, Finance, and acquired-firm stakeholders) to onboard new entities and implement new processes/systems. - Lead system audits and data migration activities to ensure accuracy and completeness. - Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to reduce errors, improve cycle time, and strengthen controls. Qualifications: - Minimum of 7+ years of experience in multi-state payroll processing, with increasing responsibility. - 2+ years experience leading or managing a team (directly or as a lead) and owning a payroll process end-to-end. - Strong knowledge of payroll systems, benefits administration, and compliance requirements. UKG experience highly preferred. - Proven experience preparing, reconciling, and filing monthly, quarterly, and annual federal, state, and local payroll tax returns (Forms 941, 940, state withholding, state unemployment, etc.). - Strong working knowledge of multi-state tax compliance, including state-specific deposit schedules and filing requirements. - Experience with quarterly payroll tax reconciliations and resolving variances between payroll registers, general ledger, and tax filings. - Familiarity with electronic filing systems (e.g., EFTPS, state portals, local tax agency sites). - Demonstrated ability to research, resolve, and respond to tax notices from federal, state, and local agencies. - Experience preparing amended returns (941-X or state equivalents) when errors are identified. - Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. - Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and payroll software (e.g., UKG, Rippling, Paycom etc.). - Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. - Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. Preferred Qualifications: - Strongly preferred: background in either benefits administration OR US payroll taxation (or both). - Certification in Payroll (e.g., CPP) or Project Management (e.g., PMP) is a plus. - Experience with HRIS systems and data migration processes. - Familiarity with merger and acquisition processes and integration strategies. Work Environment: - Hybrid work environment - Flexible working hours may be required to accommodate project timelines and deadlines. We are excited to invite talented individuals to join our dynamic team! This position offers a competitive salary at $130-156k, plus offers a performance bonus both commensurate with experience and qualifications. Base salary may vary depending on candidate qualifications and location. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS The total rewards package at Current includes base salary and benefits. Our salary ranges are competitive within the accounting industry and are updated regularly using the most reliable compensation survey data for our industry. New hire offers are made based on a candidate’s experience, expertise, geographic location, and internal pay equity relative to peers. We provide a robust benefits package, including: - Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance (with options for fully paid employee only coverage for health and dental) - Company-Paid Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance - Ancillary Benefits such as supplemental life insurance and short-term disability options - Classic Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan with employer contributions - Opportunities for professional growth, learning, and development including access to Becker and LinkedIn Learning EQUAL OPPORTUNITY We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic.