Contract Payroll Manager (Workday)

Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations through autonomous and intelligent platforms.

POSITION SUMMARY

Saronic Technologies is seeking an experienced Contract Payroll Manager to lead payroll operations during a period of rapid company growth. This role owns end-to-end payroll processing in Workday, ensures compliance with multi-state and federal payroll regulations, and partners closely with People, Finance, and Legal to keep payroll accurate, timely, and audit-ready. This is a fixed-term contract engagement suited to a hands-on payroll leader who can step in immediately and run payroll independently.

Key Responsibilities

- Own and manage end-to-end multi-state payroll processing in Workday for all employee types, including biweekly or semi-monthly cycles, off-cycle payments, and final pay

- Configure, maintain, and troubleshoot Workday payroll modules, including earnings/deduction codes, tax setups, retro pay, and integrations with time tracking and benefits systems

- Ensure accurate calculation and timely remittance of federal, state, and local payroll taxes, and manage tax filings across all applicable jurisdictions

- Lead payroll compliance efforts, including wage and hour law, FLSA classification, garnishments, and multi-state registration requirements

- Partner with People, Finance, Total Rewards, and Legal teams on payroll-related matters, including new hires, terminations, leaves of absence, equity/bonus payouts, and benefits deductions

- Manage and reconcile payroll general ledger entries, working closely with Accounting to support month-end close and payroll accruals

- Prepare and review payroll reports, audits, and analytics for internal stakeholders and external auditors

- Serve as the primary point of escalation for payroll discrepancies, employee inquiries, and system issues

- Drive process improvements and Workday payroll optimizations to increase efficiency and reduce manual work

- Maintain SOX-compliant payroll controls and documentation, supporting internal and external audit requests

- Stay current on federal, state, and local payroll law changes and ensure timely implementation of required updates

Required Qualifications

- 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including at least 3 years in a payroll management or lead role

- Deep, hands-on experience running payroll in Workday, including configuration, troubleshooting, and reporting

- Proven track record owning multi-state payroll for a company of 500+ employees

- Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax law, wage and hour regulations, and FLSA requirements

- Experience partnering cross-functionally with People, Finance, and Legal teams on payroll matters

- Experience supporting SOX controls, internal audits, or external payroll audits

- Demonstrated ability to manage payroll independently with minimal onboarding ramp time

- Advanced Excel/spreadsheet skills and strong attention to detail with high-volume, time-sensitive data

- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain payroll matters clearly to employees and leadership

- Ability to maintain strict confidentiality when handling sensitive compensation and personal data

Preferred Qualifications

- Prior experience in a fast-growing, venture-backed, manufacturing, defense, or hardware technology company

- Experience with Workday reporting tools (e.g., custom reports, calculated fields) beyond standard configuration

- Experience with equity compensation payroll treatment (RSUs, stock options) and multi-entity or multi-country payroll

- Experience implementing or migrating payroll systems onto Workday

Contract Details & Location

- Engagement type: Fixed-term contract (duration to be confirmed based on business need)

- Location: Open to on-site, hybrid, or remote depending on candidate location a …