Financial Consulting Manager - Payroll Services

Consulting Manager Payroll Services

The Consulting Manager Payroll Services leads client engagements that assess, transition, and optimize payroll operations for clients looking to transform their internal payroll operations or to prepare for an outsourcing service delivery model. This role serves as a trusted advisor to organizations to establish compliant, efficient, and scalable payroll service delivery across multi-state and complex environments.

The manager oversees payroll assessments, operating model design, transition and implementation activitiesbridging consulting strategy with operational execution. This position plays a critical role in delivering measurable value, strengthening client relationships, and advancing the growth of the managed payroll practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Managed Payroll Advisory & Assessment
• Lead comprehensive payroll operational assessments spanning governance, compliance, controls, technology, vendor landscape, and service delivery maturity.
• Identify risks, inefficiencies, and cost drivers; develop actionable optimization roadmaps, to include outsource readiness.
• Define future-state payroll operating models, including roles/responsibilities, SLAs, KPIs, and escalation frameworks.
• Present recommendations and business case outcomes to executive stakeholders.
• Process Optimization & Service Delivery Excellence
• Standardize payroll processes, controls, and documentation across managed clients.
• Establish operational metrics, quality assurance frameworks, and continuous improvement routines.
• Drive automation, error reduction, cycle-time improvement, and employee experience enhancements.
• Support remediation of complex payroll issues, audits, and compliance inquiries.
• Engagement & Program Management
• Manage multiple client engagements across scope, budget, timeline, and resource allocation.
• Lead cross-functional coordination among payroll operations, HR, finance, IT, and third-party vendors.
• Maintain governance cadence including status reporting, risk management, and executive steering updates.
• Ensure adherence to PMO, change management, and managed services transition methodologies.
• Practice Development
• Serve as primary relationship lead during assessment, transition, and stabilization phases.
• Build trusted advisor relationships with managed payroll onboarding team.
• Mentor consultants and analysts; review deliverables for quality and consistency.
• Contribute to prospect scoping/proposals, solution design, and thought leadership supporting managed payroll growth.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, HR, Information Systems, or related field.
• 6+ years of experience in payroll consulting, payroll operations, or payroll managed services.
• Demonstrated experience leading payroll outsourcing transitions or payroll system implementations.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. payroll tax, wage and hour regulations, and compliance controls
• Proven project and stakeholder management across complex, multi-entity environments.
• Ability to translate operational challenges into scalable solutions.

Preferred

• Experience within a consulting firm or managed services provider.
• Exposure to high-volume, multi-state, or global payroll operations.
• Familiarity with major payroll and HRIS platforms (Workday, ADP, Dayforce, UKG, SAP, Oracle, etc.).
• Professional certifications such as CPP, PMP, or Lean/Six Sigma.
• Experience designing SLAs, KPIs, and governance frameworks for outsourced services.
• Knowledge of Canada or other global payroll tax, wage and hour regulations, and compliance controls.

Core Competencies

• Managed services operating model design
• Payroll compliance and risk mitigation
• Transition and implementation leadership
• Client advisory and executive communication
• Operational excellence and continuous improvement
• Team leadership and talent development
• Commercial awareness and practice growth mindset

At RSM, we offer a competitive benefits and compensation package for all our people. We offer flexibility in your schedule, empowering you to balance life's demands, while also maintaining your ability to serve clients. Learn more about our total rewards.

All applicants will receive consideration for employment as RSM does not tolerate discrimination and/or harassment based on race; color; creed; sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances; sex (including pregnancy or disabilities related to nursing); gender; sexual orientation; HIV Status; national origin; ancestry; familial or marital status; age; physical or mental disability; citizenship; political affiliation; medical condition (including family and medical leave); domestic violence victim status; past, current or prospective service in the US uniformed service; US Military/Veteran status; pre-disposing genetic characteristics or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process and/or employment/partnership. RSM is committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, interview, or otherwise participate in the recruiting process, please call us at 800-274-3978 or send us an email at careers@rsmus.com.

RSM does not intend to hire entry level candidates who will require sponsorship now OR in the future (i.e. F-1 visa holders). If you are a recent U.S. college / university graduate possessing 1-2 years of progressive and relevant work experience in a same or similar role to the one for which you are applying, excluding internships, you may be eligible for hire as an experienced associate.

RSM will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records. For those living in California or applying to a position in California, please click here for additional information.

At RSM, an employee's pay at any point in their career is intended to reflect their experiences, performance, and skills for their current role. The salary range (or starting rate for interns and associates) for this role represents numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, education, skills, work experience, certifications, location, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range.

Compensation Range: $81,400 - $153,500

Individuals selected for this role will be eligible for a discretionary bonus based on firm and individual performance.