Sr Payroll Manager

<p>The Senior Payroll Manager is responsible for overseeing the end-to-end payroll function for a large, multi-state workforce, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and efficiency across all payroll operations. This strategic role manages the payroll team and partners closely with HR, Accounting and Finance, Legal, and external vendors to optimize systems, processes, and service delivery. The Senior Payroll Manager plays a key role in payroll and tax compliance risk mitigation, audit readiness, and driving process innovation to support the company’s growth and scalability. This individual will serve as the company’s top payroll subject matter expert, accountable for leading high-impact projects such as system integrations, tax compliance initiatives, internal process redesign, and policy governance.</p> <p>PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:</p> <ul> <li>Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing payroll team, ensuring accurate and timely processing of payroll for a workforce of 5,000+ employees across multiple states and business units.</li> <li>Own the payroll strategy and roadmap, driving continuous improvement, automation, and alignment with enterprise priorities.</li> <li>Oversee and refine internal controls, data integrity practices, and payroll compliance to mitigate risk and ensure audit readiness.</li> <li>Serve as a strategic partner to Finance, Accounting, HR, and Legal, providing payroll insights and aligning payroll processes with business and regulatory requirements.</li> <li>Manage vendor relationships, including third-party payroll providers, tax agencies, and system vendors, ensuring accountability and service excellence.</li> <li>Lead or co-lead payroll system implementations, upgrades, and integrations with timekeeping, HRIS, and financial systems.</li> <li>Ensure accurate calculation and application of complex pay components including bonuses, equity, commissions, retro pay, garnishments, and various leave types.</li> <li>Stay up to date on evolving payroll legislation and translate regulatory changes into clear, compliant policies and workflows.</li> <li>Develop and deliver KPIs and executive-level reporting to support strategic decision-making and resource planning.</li> <li>Act as escalation point for complex or sensitive payroll issues requiring judgment, cross-functional coordination, or executive visibility.</li> <li>Management of the payroll team.</li> </ul> <p>QUALIFICATIONS:</p> <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field required; Master’s degree or MBA a plus.</li> <li>Minimum of 8–10 years of progressive payroll experience, including 3+ years in a people management role.</li> <li>Strong experience managing payroll operations in a high-growth, multi-state environment with 5,000+ employees.</li> <li>Expertise with Workday Payroll, UltiPro (UKG Pro) or a comparable enterprise payroll platform is required; system implementation experience highly preferred.</li> <li>Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) strongly preferred.</li> </ul> <p>KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:</p> <ul> <li>Expert-level knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll regulations, tax compliance, and reporting requirements.</li> <li>Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity, drive results, and influence stakeholders across departments.</li> <li>Strong analytical and critical thinking skills; able to diagnose complex issues and implement sustainable solutions.</li> <li>Proven ability to manage confidential information with discretion and integrity.</li> <li>Exceptional communication skills, with experience presenting to senior leadership and external auditors.</li> <li>Process improvement and systems-savvy mindset, with a track record of streamlining payroll operations and leveraging technology.</li> <li>Will be overseeing payroll team.</li> </ul><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description"><p></p> <p><strong><span style="color: #000000;">Compensation & Total Rewards </span></strong></p> <p><span style="color: #000000;">This range reflects a good-faith estimate of the base pay we reasonably expect to offer at the time of  hire. Final compensation will vary based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000;">This position is also eligible for additional compensation and benefits through Natera’s robust Total Rewards program, including:</span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="color: #000000;">Annual performance incentive bonus</span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="color: #000000;">Long-term equity awards</span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="color: #000000;">Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision)</span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="color: #000000;">401(k) with company match</span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="color: #000000;">Generous paid time off and company holidays</span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="color: #000000;">Additional wellness and work-life benefits</span></p> </li> </ul> <p></p></div><div class="title">Compensation Range </div><div class="pay-range"><span>$132,000</span><span class="divider">—</span><span>$165,000 USD</span></div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion"><p><strong>OUR OPPORTUNITY</strong></p> <p>Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.</p> <p>The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers and many other professionals from world-class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.</p> <p><strong>WHAT WE OFFER</strong></p> <p>Competitive Benefits - Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents. Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits. Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more. We also offer a generous employee referral program!</p> <p>For more information, visit <a href="http://www.natera.com/" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.natera.com/">www.natera.com</a>.</p> <p>Natera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace environment, and welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. Inclusive collaboration benefits our employees, our community and our patients, and is critical to our mission of changing the management of disease worldwide.</p> <p>All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable laws.</p> <p><em>If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents. </em></p> <p>Link: <a href="https://www.natera.com/notice-of-data-collection-california-residents" target="_blank">https://www.natera.com/notice-of-data-collection-california-residents/</a></p> <p>Please be advised that Natera will reach out to candidates with a @<a href="http://natera.com/" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://natera.com&source=gmail&ust=1657718972773000&usg=AOvVaw3zRwaIiu7070kJKNG4hjRm">natera.com</a> email domain ONLY. Email communications from all other domain names are not from Natera or its employees and are fraudulent. Natera does not request interviews via text messages and does not ask for personal information until a candidate has engaged with the company and has spoken to a recruiter and the hiring team. Natera takes cyber crimes seriously, and will collaborate with law enforcement authorities to prosecute any related cyber crimes.</p> <p>For more information:<br>- <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/12261-bbb-tip-employment-scams" target="_blank">BBB announcement on job scams</a> <br>- <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/cyber" target="_blank">FBI Cyber Crime resource page</a> </p></div>