Payroll Manager

JOB SUMMARY

The Payroll Manager is responsible for leading Lindblad Expeditions' payroll function, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing while continuously improving payroll operations, controls, and employee experience. This role serves as the day-to-day owner of payroll operations and is expected to proactively identify issues, drive resolutions, implement process improvements, and partner closely with Accounting, HR, IT, and external providers.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on payroll leader who enjoys building efficient processes, solving complex problems, and elevating the payroll function beyond transactional processing.

This position follows a hybrid work schedule, with an expectation of working onsite in our New York City office three days per week and remotely two days per week.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the end-to-end payroll function, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant payroll processing for all U.S. payrolls.
• Own all payroll administration activities, including processing payroll related to new hires, terminations, promotions, bonuses, commissions, equity compensation, leave of absence, garnishments, and off-cycle payrolls.
• Review, validate, and approve payroll inputs, calculations, reconciliations, and audit reports prior to payroll processing.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for payroll-related issues, investigating root causes and driving timely, sustainable resolutions.
• Continuously evaluate payroll processes, controls, and workflows to improve efficiency, accuracy, scalability, and the employee experience.
• Partner with HR, IT, and Finance to support payroll system enhancements, testing, implementations, integrations, and upgrades.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance payroll policies, procedures, documentation, and internal controls to support a scalable payroll function.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, wage and hour laws, and company policies.
• Support internal and external audits by preparing documentation, responding to inquiries, and maintaining compliance with SOX and other internal control requirements.
• Serve as the payroll subject matter expert for employees, managers, HR, Accounting, Tax, Benefits, and external payroll providers.
• Stay current on payroll legislation, regulatory changes, and industry best practices, recommending changes as appropriate.
• Perform other payroll, accounting, and Finance-related responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.
• 6+ years of progressive payroll experience, including experience leading payroll operations.
• Strong understanding of multi-state payroll processing, payroll taxes, wage and hour requirements, and payroll accounting.
• Demonstrated experience leading payroll process improvements and implementing operational efficiencies.
• Experience managing payroll within an integrated HRIS/payroll environment (Rippling, ADP, Dayforce, UKG, or similar).
• Strong analytical and reconciliation skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Advanced Excel skills including Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP, and reconciliation reporting.
• Experience supporting public company internal controls and SOX compliance preferred.
• Must be available to work onsite at least 3 days per week in our New York City-area office.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification.
• Experience supporting publicly traded companies and SOX compliance.
• Experience with equity compensation and bonus administration.
• Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, or payroll integrations.
• Experience with payroll accounting, reconciliations, and month-end close.
• Experience in hospitality, travel, transportation, or multi-location organizations.