Payroll Supervisor

Title: Payroll Supervisor Company Industry: Life Sciences Compensation: Up to $105k base salary Location: La Jolla, CA Position Overview Our client, a growing organization within the life sciences and research space, is seeking a Payroll Supervisor to lead payroll operations and oversee a small payroll team. This individual will play a key role in supporting a rapidly scaling employee population and ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing across a complex, multi-state environment. The ideal candidate is hands-on, adaptable, and experienced managing high-volume payroll operations with strong attention to detail and a collaborative mindset. Key Responsibilities Lead, mentor, and oversee payroll staff, including workload management, coaching, and performance oversight Manage end-to-end payroll processing for salaried, hourly, and stipend-based employees Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations across a multi-state workforce Review payroll data including timekeeping, compensation updates, deductions, and employee changes Maintain payroll records and ensure integrity within payroll systems Partner closely with HR, Finance, Benefits, and other cross-functional teams to resolve payroll matters and support employee inquiriesConduct payroll audits and reconciliations to ensure accuracy and compliancePrepare payroll reporting and support leadership requests as neededOversee payroll and tax compliance related to foreign national employees and non-employeesAdminister Glacier, including treaty application tracking, tax residency determinations, and required documentationSupport year-end and periodic tax reporting, including 1042 and 1042-S filingsAssist with payroll process improvements, policy development, and operational best practices Must-Have Qualifications Experience processing high-volume payroll in a complex environment, ideally supporting significant organizational growth Strong knowledge of multi-state payroll compliance, including experience supporting employees across numerous states Ability to adapt quickly in a fast-paced, evolving environment with shifting priorities Proven ability to maintain accuracy and meet strict payroll deadlines under pressure Minimum 3 years of recent payroll supervisory experience, including team leadership and performance management Experience partnering cross-functionally with HR, Finance, Benefits, and related teams Preferred Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred 5+ years of progressive payroll experience Experience with payroll systems such as Workday and/or UKG Advanced Excel and systems proficiency CPP certification preferred Experience supporting international or foreign national payroll processes is a plus