Manager, Payroll Operations

Location Designation: Hybrid - 3 days per week
Be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of talent at New York Life. As part of Human Resources, you'll contribute to a comprehensive strategy that attracts, develops and retains top talent. Whether it's identifying future leaders, crafting engaging learning experiences, enhancing offerings that support our people or fostering a workplace culture where everyone feels they belong, your work directly empowers individuals and fuels the company's growth. Join us and play a vital role in making New York Life an employer of choice for generations to come.
Position Summary
The Payroll Manager is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of New York Life's biweekly payroll for approximately 13,000 employees. This role leads the day-to-day payroll operation, supervising two New York Life employees and coordinating the work of two offshore resources to ensure payroll is processed in a timely, accurate, and compliant manner.
The Payroll Manager oversees payroll operations within SAP Employee Central Payroll (ECP), ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. The role establishes team priorities, maintains operational controls, delivers a high level of customer service, and supports payroll system enhancements through testing for SAP releases, configuration changes, and new wage type implementations.
What You'll Do:

• Manage the end-to-end processing of biweekly payroll for approximately 13,000 employees using SAP Employee Central Payroll (ECP).
• Supervise, coach, and develop two New York Life employees while coordinating the work and deliverables of two offshore resources.
• Establish team priorities, manage the payroll calendar, and ensure all payroll processing activities, approvals, and regulatory deadlines are completed accurately and on time.
• Ensure payroll is processed accurately, timely, and in compliance with company policies and all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Oversee payroll operations including biweekly payroll processing, overtime validation, employee terminations and final pay processing, direct deposit administration, garnishment administration, unemployment claims processing, payroll adjustments, and off-cycle payrolls.
• Review payroll results, identify discrepancies, resolve issues, and approve payroll prior to completion.
• Monitor the Payroll team mailbox to ensure employee inquiries, service requests, and payroll transactions are assigned, tracked, and resolved accurately, professionally, and within established service level expectations.
• Monitor payroll metrics and operational controls to ensure compliance with service level agreements (SLAs), audit requirements, established payroll procedures, and internal controls.
• Partner with HR Central, HRIS, Benefits, Finance, Tax, Technology, and other business partners to resolve payroll issues, implement process improvements, and support business initiatives.
• Participate in testing for SAP Employee Central Payroll (ECP) releases, enhancements, configuration changes, and new wage type implementations by developing test scenarios, validating results, documenting defects, and supporting user acceptance testing (UAT).
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, strengthen controls, increase operational efficiency, and enhance the employee experience.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience preferred.
• Five or more years of progressive payroll operations experience, including processing payroll for a large employee population.
• Prior experience supervising employees and/or managing offshore resources.
• Experience with SAP Employee Central Payroll (ECP) or SAP Payroll.
• Strong working knowledge of end-to-end payroll processing, overtime administration, employee terminations and final pay requirements, direct deposit administration, garnishments, unemployment administration, and payroll tax and regulatory compliance.
• Experience supporting payroll system testing, system upgrades, and user acceptance testing.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to build effective working relationships across the organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.
• Experience with SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central.
• Experience working in a large, complex corporate environment supporting high-volume payroll operations.
• Knowledge of payroll controls, audit practices, and continuous process improvement methodologies.

Pay Transparency
Salary Range: $81,000-$104,000
Overtime eligible: Exempt
Discretionary bonus eligible: Yes
Sales bonus eligible: No
Actual base salary will be determined based on several factors but not limited to individual's experience, skills, qualifications, and job location. Additionally, employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition to base salary, employees may also be eligible to participate in an incentive program.
Company Overview
At New York Life, our 180-year legacy of purpose and integrity fuels our future. As we evolve into a more technology-, data-, and AI-enabled organization, we remain grounded in the values that drive lasting impact.
Our diverse business portfolio creates opportunities to make a difference across industries and communities-inviting bold thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and purpose-driven innovation. Here, you'll find the rare balance of long-standing stability and forward momentum, supported by an inclusive team that honors tradition while embracing progress.
As a Fortune 100 mutual company, we offer a place to grow your skills, contribute to meaningful work, and deliver solutions that matter. Your ideas drive what's next, and your growth powers it.
Our Benefits
We provide a full package of benefits for employees - and have unique offerings for a modern workforce, including leave programs, adoption assistance, and student loan repayment programs. Based on feedback from our employees, we continue to refine and add benefits to our offering, so that you can flourish both inside and outside of work.Click hereto discover more about our comprehensive benefit options or visit our NYL Benefits Site.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
At New York Life, fostering an inclusive workplace is fundamental to who we are and how we serve our communities. We have a longstanding commitment to creating an environment where individuals can contribute their best and succeed together. This foundation is rooted in our core values of humanity and integrity, ensuring that every employee feels valued and supported. By embracing a broad range of perspectives and experiences, we achieve greater success and fulfill our promise of providing financial security and peace of mind to families across all communities. Click here to learn more about New York Life's leadership in this space.
Recognized as one of Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies, New York Life is committed to improving local communities through a culture of employee giving and volunteerism, supported by the Foundation. We're proud that due to our mutuality, we operate in the best interests of our policy owners. To learn more about career opportunities at New York Life, please visit the Careers page of www.NewYorkLife.com.
Visit our LinkedIn to see how our employees and agents are leading the industry and impacting communities.
Visit our Newsroom to learn more about how our company is constantly evolving to meet our clients' and employees' needs.
Job Requisition ID: 94482
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