Payroll Senior Manager

WHAT MAKES US A GREAT PLACE TO WORK

We are proud to be consistently recognized as one of the world’s best places to work. We are currently the top ranked consulting firm on Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work list and have earned the #1 overall spot a record seven times.

Extraordinary teams are at the heart of our business strategy, but these don’t happen by chance. They require intentional focus on bringing together a broad set of backgrounds, cultures, experiences, perspectives, and skills in a supportive and inclusive work environment. We hire people with exceptional talent and create an environment in which every individual can thrive professionally and personally.

WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH

When you join this finance team, you join a rapidly expanding global organization where the hierarchy is relatively flat and you’ll get to interface with senior people early on. Almost every decision at Bain comes back to the numbers, which means at some point, we are involved in supporting all Bain’s commercial decisions and ambitions. If you want to see the impact of your work, already have a specialty, and are reliable, these finance jobs are rich with opportunity.

WHERE YOU'LL FIT WITHIN THE TEAM 

The Senior Manager will be responsible for leading the strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of payroll processing operations nationwide, ensuring best-in-class service, accuracy, and compliance. This role will oversee and build a high-functioning payroll team, partnering closely with HR, Finance, Legal, and external vendors to optimize payroll processes using Workday and other enterprise systems. The ideal candidate will be a proactive leader with deep technical payroll expertise, superior analytical skills, and a demonstrated ability to lead in a dynamic, multi-jurisdictional environment.

WHAT YOU'LL DO  

Payroll Processing and Team Development

• Provide strategic direction for U.S. payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely processing across multiple states and entities. 
• Manage all payroll operations, including pay calculations, employee status changes, benefit deductions, levies/garnishments, taxable fringe benefits, and vacation balance tracking. Review, approve, and oversee all payroll settlements and direct deposit files.
• Design and implement new policies, procedures, and internal controls to increase quality of service. 
• Maintain electronic checklists in FloQast to ensure and document compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Deliver a best-in-class employee experience by managing the team’s responses to inquiries, ensuring the issue is solved thoughtfully in a compliant manner with a high degree of customer satisfaction in mind.
• Manage and develop the U.S. payroll team through strategic performance management, targeted development planning, and engagement initiatives that deliver consistently high team NPS results.

Shaping the Future of Payroll

• Champion continuous process improvement, automation, and risk mitigation by leveraging insights from internal reviews and external benchmarks.
• Identify opportunities to fully optimize system capabilities, develop and execute detailed implementation plans, and drive them to successful completion.
• Embrace emerging technologies to advance payroll operations beyond current standards while ensuring the highest levels of data privacy and protection.

Foster Collaboration Across Payroll and Cross-Functional Teams

• Partner cross-functionally to ensure compliance and excellence in payroll tax operations, including multi-state and year-end processes.
• Collaborate with local and global HR leadership to elevate organizational capability through strategic training and knowledge development.
• Lead collaboration across HR teams to ensure strategic alignment, data accuracy, and optimized information flow that supports an efficient remuneration process.
• Champion a holistic employee experience by embedding Payroll as a key driver of engagement and operational excellence across the “hire-to-retire” lifecycle.

ABOUT YOU 

Education

• Required:
  • Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, or related fields.
• Preferred:
  • Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation

Experience

• Required:
  • 10+ years of payroll experience, including 5+ years in leadership roles overseeing teams and large-scale payroll operations.
  • Experience managing payroll operations and collaborating with external payroll vendors; includes proficiency in Workday Payroll or in-depth module knowledge.
  • Experience with ADP Smart Compliance.
• Preferred:
  • Experienced in working effectively within hybrid teams and under remote leadership.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Required:
  • Demonstrated expertise in payroll systems, tax regulations, garnishments, tax levies, and compliance standards.
  • Demonstrates strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with a proactive, detail-oriented approach and the ability to connect insights to broader business objectives.
  • Proven ability to modernize and transform payroll operations to drive efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
  • Communicates effectively across all levels of the organization, with exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.
  • Exercises sound judgment and independent decision-making to identify, analyze, and resolve complex issues efficiently.
  • Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, remaining flexible, resourceful, and professional under pressure.
  • Proficient in systems and advanced Excel functions; experience with Workday and ADP in-house payroll systems is highly desirable.
  • Upholds the highest standards of integrity, ethics, and confidentiality while demonstrating a growth mindset and commitment to continuous learning.
• Preferred:
  • Experience leading cross-functional efforts with technical teams to design, implement, and transform payroll systems.

U.S. COMPENSATION INFORMATION

Compensation for this role includes base salary, annual discretionary performance bonus, 401(k) plan with an annual employer contribution based on years of service and Bain’s best in class benefits package (details listed below). 

Some local governments in the United States require a good-faith, reasonable salary range be included in job postings for open roles. For all other locations, the good-faith, reasonable annualized full-time salary range for this role is commensurate with competitive geographic market rates for this role and will vary based on several factors including, but not limited to experience, education, licensure/certifications, training and skill level

In Massachusetts, the good-faith, reasonable annualized full-time salary range for this role is between $124,000 - $149,500 placement within this range will vary based on several factors including, but not limited to experience, education, licensure/certifications, training and skill level

• Annual discretionary performance bonus
  • This role may also be eligible for other elements of discretionary compensation
• 4.5% 401(k) company contribution, which increases after 3 years of service and is 100% vested upon start date

Bain & Company's comprehensive benefits and wellness program is designed to help employees achieve personal independence, protection and stability in the areas most important to you and your family. 

Bain pays 100% individual employee premiums for medical, dental and vision programs, offering one of the most comprehensive medical plans for employees without impacting your paycheck

• Generous paid time off, including parental leave, sick leave and paid holidays
• Fully vested 401(k) company contribution
• Paid Life and Long-Term Disability insurance
• Annual fitness reimbursements