Posting Title
Accounting Payroll Manager .
Location
CO - Golden .
Position Type
Regular .
Hours Per Week
40 .
Working at NLR
NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.
Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.
At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.
Job Description
The Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) is seeking a qualified and motivated Payroll Manager to serve as part of the Financial Operations group. Financial Operations facilitates all transactional and accounting activity at NLR and tracks, records, and manages functions such as accounts payable, general ledger, billing, revenue generation, payroll, travel, and more.
The Payroll Manager leads accurate, timely, and compliant multi-state payroll operations; develops and supervises payroll staff; and serves as the organization’s payroll subject matter expert. The role ensures compliance with federal, state, and local requirements, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Department of Energy (DOE) contractual requirements, and National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) policies and procedures.
The position strengthens controls and improves payroll processes, systems, and automation while partnering with Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, vendors, and organizational leadership to deliver efficient, responsive service.
Key Responsibilities
Direct accurate, timely multi-state payroll processing, resolve complex issues and escalations, and ensure compliance with tax filings, W-2s, statutory reporting, registrations, and organizational requirements.
Supervise, lead, coach, and develop payroll staff while fostering accountability, collaboration, customer service, and continuous improvement.
Strengthen payroll processes, systems, automation, policies, procedures, and controls by analyzing performance, identifying risks, and implementing improvements and corrective actions.
Oversee payroll accounting, including journal entries, accruals, general ledger activity, reconciliations, close support, variance analysis, and management recommendations.
Manage payroll providers, banking partners, benefits vendors, and other third parties, ensuring effective governance and service delivery.
Partner with HR, Finance, IT, vendors, and payroll staff to resolve system issues and support implementations, upgrades, integrations, testing, and configuration improvements.
Coordinate payroll-related audits, maintain supporting documentation, address findings, and ensure effective risk management and compliance.
Responsible for other accounting and Financial Operations duties as assigned.
Act as management delegate as needed, on a short-term basis.
Research complex, technical payroll issues and provide analysis of regulations and statutory standards to determine impact on financial reporting and provide recommendations to apply those standards to new and unusual transactions.
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Basic Qualifications
Previous management and budget adherence experience may be required. Degree in…