Vice President – Payroll Manager

At Customers Bank, we believe in working hard, working smart, working together to deliver memorable customer experiences and having fun. Our vision, mission, and values guide us along our path to achieve excellence. Passion, attitude, creativity, integrity, alignment, and execution are cornerstones of our behaviors. They define who we are as an organization and as individuals. Everyone is encouraged to have personal development plans. By doing so, our team members are on their way to achieve their highest potential and be successful in their personal and professional lives.

Must be legally eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship, now or in the future, to be considered.

Who is Customers Bank?

Founded in 2009, Customers Bank is a super-community bank with over $22 billion in assets. We believe in dedicated personal service for the businesses, professionals, individuals, and families we work with.

We get you further, faster. 

Focused on you: We provide every customer with a single point of contact. A dedicated team member who’s committed to meeting your needs today and tomorrow.

On the leading edge: We’re innovating with the latest tools and technology so we can react to market conditions quicker and help you get ahead.

Proven reliability: We always ground our innovation in our deep experience and strong financial foundation, so we’re a partner you can trust.

What you’ll do:

The Payroll Manager is a leadership role responsible for strategic direction, operational excellence and regulatory compliance for the Bank’s payroll function. This role ensures accuracy and timely delivery in managing all aspects of bi-weekly payroll processes and procedures for team members across 32 U.S. states while maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity, and compliance. Beyond core payroll responsibilities, the Payroll Manager role supports and influences broader HR (People Experience Team – PXT) operations within the Workday HRIS platform, benefits administration and compensation processes.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in payroll operations and management, excellent analytical skills and a deep understanding of federal and multi-state regulatory and statutory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Workday HRIS & Payroll Operations

• Lead end-to-end bi-weekly payroll processing for approx. 800 exempt and non-exempt team members using Workday and ADP Smart Compliance ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Conduct post-processing reconciliation between Workday and ADP Smart Compliance.
• Manage timecards for approx. 150 team members.
• Review leave-of-absence pay in coordination with the Benefits Manager.
• Process final pay and severance for terminated team members in compliance with state-specific regulations.
• Manage payroll accounting, reconciliations, and reporting in collaboration with Finance.
• Oversee year-end and year-begin tasks such as benefit testing, calendar setup, and PTO accruals.
• Ensure compliance with wage and hour laws, tax regulations, and internal policies.
• Manage Salesforce and Workday transactions, including salary changes, bonuses, transfers, manager updates, and business title changes.
• Monitor and respond to internal and external inquiries from various email sources.
• Document, maintain and improve payroll processes ensuring alignment with SOX and audit standards.
• Manage one Payroll Analyst.

Tax Compliance & ADP Smart Compliance

• Manage all quarterly and annual payroll tax filings.
• Ensure accurate tax elections and proper state/local setup for new hires and work location and home address changes.
• Oversee setup of new tax jurisdictions and handle tax amendments.
• Respond to and resolve tax notices and ensure accurate W-2 processing.
• Calculate imputed income for applicable fringe benefits ensuring proper tax treatment and reporting.

Equity, Bonus & Benefits Coordination

• Confirm appropriate tax treatment for and properly report equity-based award vesting (e.g., RSUs).
• Manage RSU grant and vesting activity and ESPP quarterly processes, including communications and file submissions to third-party record-keeper (UBS).

HRIS Transactions & Case Management

• Manage Salesforce and Workday transactions, including salary changes, bonuses, transfers, manager updates, and business title changes.
• Monitor and respond to internal and external inquiries from various email sources.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Systems Support

• Provide support across PXT functions including onboarding, benefits, compensation, audits, and finance.
• Act as a subject matter expert for payroll systems, driving process improvements and automation.
• Support Workday-related projects within the People Experience Team.
• Ensure compliance with HRIS and payroll SOX controls through proper documentation and audit readiness.
• Serve as a critical payroll liaison between PXT, Finance, Banking Operations and IT, ensuring seamless integration of systems and processes that impact employee pay, benefits, and payroll data management.
• Drive process improvements, automation initiatives, and operational efficiency across the department.

What do you need?

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
• Proven success leading multi-state payroll operations with over 10 years of experience.
• Strong decision-making skills and ability to collaborate effectively across departments.
• Experience supervising direct reports and managing team performance.
• Demonstrated ability to understand platform interdependencies and anticipating downstream impacts.
• Communicates system and process implications clearly to stakeholders to ensure seamless integrations.
• Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to interpret complex data and identify trends or discrepancies.
• Proactively resolves issues using audit tools and reporting insights to maintain accuracy and compliance.
• Drives operational efficiency through continuous process improvement and documentation.
• Focused on streamlining workflows and enhancing organizational effectiveness.
• Capable of independently managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Skilled in balancing short-term deliverables with long-term strategic goals.
• Delivers high-quality internal customer service with sensitivity to team member needs.
• Maintains compliance while fostering a supportive and responsive work environment.

Technology Skills

• Workday HRIS and Payroll.
• ADP Smart Compliance
• Sales Force
• Microsoft Office Suite; advanced Excel and Powerpoint skills preferred.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or (FPC)

Customers Bank is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

We also provide “reasonable accommodations”, upon request, to qualified individuals with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws. 

Diversity Statement:

At Customers Bank, we believe in working smart, working together, and having fun while delivering innovative solutions and memorable experiences for our customers. We are committed to the continual advancement of a culture which reflects the value we place on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We honor the diverse experiences, perspectives, and identities of our team members, and we recognize that it is their passion, creativity, and integrity that drives our success. Step into your future with us! Let’s take on tomorrow.