Payroll Manager - Your Payroll Department (In Person)
Kaizen CPAs + Advisors.com
Office
Antioch, IL, United States
Full Time
Company Description
Who Is Kaizen?
At Kaizen CPAs + Advisors & Your Payroll Department, weโre a people-first firm dedicated to helping businesses overcome financial challenges and achieve their goals. With decades of experience, we focus on practical, forward-thinking solutions that put people at the heart of everything we do.
Our work is guided by four core values:
- Own It: Take pride in solving problems and delivering results. ๐ช๐
- Be an Ideal Team Player: Collaboration and support are key to our success. ๐ค๐
- Make a Positive Impact: Weโre committed to making a difference for our clients, team, and community. ๐๐
- Embrace a Growth Mindset: Constant learning and evolving helps us growโtogether. ๐๐
At Kaizen and YPD, we prioritize the growth and well-being of our people. Youโll join a supportive team where challenges are turned into opportunities, and where your work truly makes a difference for our clients, the team, and your career. Join us and experience a people-first culture that values your success and development!
Job Description
Are you passionate about developing people and building strong teams? Do you thrive in creating clarity, supporting growth, and keeping others energized and motivated? Weโre looking for a Payroll Manager to join our growing firm and help lead our nine-member payroll department.ย
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In this newly redesigned role, youโll focus on the people side of leadershipโproviding coaching, training, and clear communication to ensure our payroll team thrives. Youโll hold regular 1:1s, coordinate workflow, and be the first point of contact for staff support and development. Partnering closely with our Director of Payroll, who leads technical operations, youโll bring balance to the department by keeping the team aligned, engaged, and growing. Youโll also serve as a key communicator with clients and vendors, ensuring positive relationships and smooth collaboration.ย
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What You'Ll Do:
- Lead & Develop the Team: Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, and support, including regular 1:1s and quarterly conversations, staff training, hiring, and fostering a culture of accountability and growth.ย
- Oversee Payroll Operations: Manage daily and weekly workflows to ensure payrolls, taxes, reconciliations, and ACH files are processed accurately and on time. Handle corrections, supplemental runs, audits, and compliance research as needed.ย
- Collaborate Across Teams: Partner closely with the Director of Payroll, COO, and accounting team to align goals, resolve issues, and drive continuous improvement.ย
- Ensure Client & Vendor Success: Serve as the first point of contact for client and vendor communication, ensuring timely resolution of issues, invoice reconciliation, and positive relationships.ย
- Drive Departmental Efficiency: Lead weekly team meetings, manage the YPD calendar, ensure adequate staffing coverage, approve PTO and draw-down requests, and support smooth operations across payroll and finance functions.
Qualifications
Required:
- Proven experience in people leadership; strong track record of mentoring, coaching, and developing staffย ย
- Commitment to delivering exceptional client service, with a strong desire to consistently exceed expectations and hold others accountable to the same standards
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey complex information clearlyย ย
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate workflows in a deadline-driven environment
Preferred:
- Bachelor's degree in business, accounting, HR, or related field; orย
- 3โ5+ years in payroll, accounting, or operations managementย
Premium:
- Previous experience managing a multi-faceted payroll operations team
- Experience with isolved payroll platform
- CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation or pursuit of certificationย
- Experience with EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) tools and practicesย
- Familiarity with payroll tax laws and multi-state compliance requirements
Additional Information
Hereโs a peek at whatโs ahead as we get to know each other:
โจ Please note: Progression through each step of the interview process is based on fit and qualifications and is not guaranteed for all applicants. We kindly ask that you do not contact us directly regarding your application, as doing so may result in disqualification.
๐ Apply: Submit your resume for review.
๐ Phone Screen: If we think there might be a great fit based on your resume, a brief call with HR will be scheduled to learn more about you and share details about the role.
๐ค First Panel Interview: Meet with the hiring team to discuss your experience, skills, and alignment with our core values.
๐ Assessments & References: Complete relevant assessments and provide professional references to help us get a full picture of your potential.
๐ฌ Second Panel Interview: A deeper conversation with the team to explore fit, expectations, and next steps.
๐ Offer: If itโs a match, weโll extend an offer and begin onboarding!
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Perks of Being Part of Our Team โจ๐ผ
Compensation: Starting at $75k per year, based on experience.
Benefits:ย We offer a competitive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and work-life balance. Benefits may include:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Short-Term & Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance
- Cafeteria/Section 125 Plan
- Retirement/401(k): Employer match with 100% vesting on day one of eligibility
- Paid Vacation: Starting at 2 weeks, available for use from day one
- Paid Personal Time (PTO): 32 hours available to use from day one
- Paid Holidays: New Yearโs Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (if it falls during the work week), and Christmas Day
Note: Benefits are subject to change or revocation at the sole discretion of the Firm.
Equal Opportunity Employer:ย Kaizen CPAs + Advisors is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, free from discrimination and harassment. We prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, genetics, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, termination, leave of absence, compensation, and training.
Payroll Manager - Your Payroll Department (In Person)
Office
Antioch, IL, United States
Full Time
August 28, 2025