Mgr, Payroll - TEMP

 Salary Range: $112,406.00 - $168,608.00 

Position Summary:

The Payroll Manager is responsible for leading the accurate and timely processing of multi-state payroll for a diverse workforce, including hourly manufacturing employees and a small Canadian employee population. This role oversees payroll operations, timekeeping administration, compliance with U.S. and Canadian payroll regulations, payroll system integrations, and continuous process improvements while supervising the payroll team. The Payroll Manager partners closely with HR, Finance, and external vendors to ensure payroll accuracy, regulatory compliance, and exceptional employee service in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

This is a 6 month temporary contract requiring onsite work three days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) in Cypress, CA.

Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

• Manage end-to-end bi-weekly payroll processing for exempt and non-exempt employees, including hourly manufacturing/production staff, across multiple states
• Process payroll for a small group of Canada-based employees, ensuring compliance with applicable Canadian federal and provincial requirements (e.g., CPP, EI, income tax withholdings, and year-end T4 reporting)
• Administer and maintain timekeeping in ADP eTime, including timecard review, exception resolution, approvals workflow, and pay rule configuration support
• Supervise, coach, and support payroll team members; review work for accuracy and completeness
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour regulations (including California-specific requirements such as meal/rest premiums and final pay rules)
• Process off-cycle payments, terminations, retro adjustments, garnishments, levies, and wage attachments
• Manage payroll tax filings, amendments, and agency notices in coordination with ADP
• Partner with HR to accurately reflect 401(k) deferral changes, loans, and other benefits deduction updates in payroll.
• Support year-end processing, including W-2 review and issuance
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries with professionalism and discretion
• Maintain payroll process documentation and internal controls; identify and recommend process improvements
• Support internal and external audits (financial, 401(k), workers' compensation) as needed
• Lead or support system integration projects across the payroll/HRIS landscape, including planning, testing, issue resolution, and cross-functional coordination
• Continuously review and recommend improvements to payroll processes to increase efficiency and accuracy
• Participate in ad hoc projects and other duties as assigned

Qualifications, Skills and Education:

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience, including 2+ years in a payroll management or supervisory role
• Hands-on experience with ADP Workforce Manager
• Hands-on experience with ADP eTime / Enhanced Time
• Year end W2 experience
• Strong knowledge of multi-state payroll processing and wage and hour compliance, especially California
• Experience processing payroll for a manufacturing or hourly production workforce
• Proficiency in Excel (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, pivot tables)
• Strong attention to detail, confidentiality, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment
• Flexibility and adaptability to manage shifting priorities and time-sensitive requests with a calm, solutions-oriented approach
• Ability to start quickly and manage responsibilities with minimal training
• Hands-on experience with California FLSA regular rate calculations, including testing, validating, troubleshooting, and making payroll adjustments for complex earnings scenarios.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with ADP–SAP SuccessFactors integration (strong plus) — including data flow between HRIS and payroll, integration error resolution, and employee data synchronization
• CPP or FPC certification
• Experience supporting payroll during system transitions, implementations, or interim leadership coverage

Perks and Benefits:

We hope that you’re excited by the possibilities that come along with working at Exemplis! With us, TEAM comes first.  We bring integrity, passion, and excellence to work each day.  Being part of our team means living our core values and thriving in an environment of constant innovation and positive change.

In addition to our unique culture, we also offer these fun perks and benefits.

• Competitive Salary: Our compensation philosophy is to be externally competitive, internally fair, and not win or lose on compensation. Salary ranges are developed with the support of national benchmarks and industry best practices that adjusts to your cost of labor, years of relevant experience, skill set, and education.

• Hybrid Work Schedule: We believe in supporting a healthy work–life balance and offer a flexible hybrid schedule, with remote work on Mondays and Fridays and onsite collaboration on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

• Health Insurance: We offer a variety of health insurance options (medical, dental, vision, etc.) for all of our team members. Eligible the first month following your start date.

• 401(k): We match 100% up to 3% and then 50% of the next 2% deferred.

• Time Off: Taking time off to recharge is a must whether it is for your personal health or vacation; paid time off starts accruing day 1!

• Observed Holidays: 10 company observed holidays: New Years, Martin Luther King, President’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day.

• Employee Discounts: We offer discounts to our employee across all of our product lines.

• Hit our Numbers Lunch: When we hit our monthly milestones, we all celebrate!

• Tuition Scholarships: Partnership with UMASS Global for 10%-20% off tuition for you and/or your family.

About Us:

It all started in a small warehouse in California with just three employees, a fax machine and a bell that rang out every time a chair came down the conveyor belt. 30 years later, Exemplis continues to lead, innovate and disrupt an array of industries through its growing family of brands — including SitOnIt Seating, Timbuk2, X-Chair, Maverick, Mavix, Edloe Finch, and Albany Park.
From sustainable manufacturing to outreach programs and more, we strive to make a positive impact on everyone we serve. We make sure our people (and their communities) are at the core of our organization. To make a difference, we must be a champion of diversity, inclusion, service and social justice — above all else. 
Are you ready to be a part of something special? We have headquarters, offices and retail stores across the U.S. (plus a variety of flexible work opportunities). Learn more and apply today.
Exemplis is an Equal Opportunity Employer and our company adheres to the equal employment opportunity guidelines set forth by federal, state, and local laws. Read our full statement on our careers page.