Payroll Manager

Job Description
Position Summary

The Payroll Manager is responsible for the overall administration, accuracy, timeliness, compliance, and integrity of all payroll operations for The London NYC, a Luxury Collection Hotel. This position serves as the primary owner of the hotel’s payroll function and is responsible for ensuring that all team members are paid accurately and in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws; hotel policies and procedures; benefit plan requirements; and applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Operating in a complex luxury hospitality environment, the Payroll Manager oversees payroll for a diverse workforce that may include salaried, hourly, union, non-union, management, and tipped/service charge-eligible team members. The position requires a strong understanding of hospitality payroll practices, time and attendance administration, union pay requirements, overtime and premium calculations, service charges, gratuities, retroactive payments, benefit deductions, and payroll-related financial reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Processing:
Own and manage the end-to-end payroll process, ensuring accurate and timely processing in accordance with established payroll calendars and deadlines.
Review and validate payroll inputs, including regular and overtime hours, premium pay, PTO, sick time, holidays, bonuses, commissions, retroactive payments, severance, gratuities, service charges, and other earnings.
Ensure accurate employee pay rates, classifications, pay groups, cost centers, departments, and payroll coding.
Maintain a working knowledge of applicable collective bargaining agreements and ensure payroll practices comply with contractual requirements.
Process and review payroll-related employee lifecycle changes, including new hires, transfers, promotions, compensation changes, leaves of absence, and terminations.

Compliance & Reporting:
Perform comprehensive pre-payroll and post-payroll audits to identify discrepancies, unusual payments, duplicate payments, missing time, incorrect rates, unauthorized adjustments, or other exceptions.
Prepare payroll information, supporting documentation, and reports required for union audits
Maintain appropriate payroll records and documentation in accordance with company policy, legal requirements, and record-retention standards.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of payroll legislation and hospitality wage rules.

Systems & Process Management:
Ensure timecards are reviewed, approved, and finalized within established deadlines.
Partner with department leaders to reinforce manager accountability for accurate scheduling, timekeeping, approvals, missed punches, and payroll submissions.
Review timekeeping exceptions and identify patterns, recurring issues, or control weaknesses requiring corrective action.
Partner with Human Resources and Accounting to ensure employee master data and payroll-related changes are accurately reflected across all systems.
Develop, maintain, and continuously improve payroll procedures, checklists, calendars, and standard operating procedures.
Continuously improve payroll processes to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
Financial Support:
Support the month-end and year-end close process for payroll-related accounts.
Prepare or support payroll accruals, including accrued wages, vacation, bonuses, incentives, payroll taxes, benefits, and other employee-related liabilities.
Analyze payroll and labor cost trends and identify significant variances, unusual activity, or potential financial risks.
Support annual budgeting, forecasting, labor cost analysis, and other financial planning activities as requested.
Assist with annual payroll tax reporting, W-2 reconciliation, year-end processing, and other required payroll filings and reporting.
Service Excellence:
Provide prompt and discreet support to employees regarding payroll inquiries.
Uphold the hotel’s service standards in all internal communications.
Coordinate with HR on employee lifecycle changes (onboarding, terminations, promotions).

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
2–5 years of payroll experience, preferably in a complex hospitality, hotel, union, or multi-department environment.
Experience processing payroll for both union and non-union employees strongly preferred.
Experience with ADP strongly preferred
Luxury or full-service hotel experience preferred.
Experience with high-volume, complex payroll involving multiple pay groups, departments, rates, earnings codes, and employee classifications preferred.
Strong knowledge of payroll principles, wage and hour practices, payroll taxes, deductions, and compliance requirements.
Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, confidentiality, and integrity.
Strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.