Manager, Payroll Operations

Manager, Payroll Operations

Summary

ICON builds robotic systems that construct multi-story buildings. ICON launched Titan, its first commercially available construction system for external builders, in March 2026, has raised $550M+ to date, and holds $360M+ in government contracts across the Army, Air Force, DARPA, and NASA. For payroll, that means a multi-state, mixed hourly and salaried workforce that includes field and construction crews, new tax jurisdictions as projects open, and benefit programs that have to reconcile cleanly every cycle.

The Manager, Payroll Operations owns end-to-end payroll processing in Workday, payroll tax compliance, and the reconciliation of benefit deductions and contributions across carriers, recordkeepers, and HRIS. Accounting owns the general ledger and close; this role owns the accuracy of the payroll inputs to it.

You will work daily with Total Rewards, People Operations, and Accounting, be the first point of contact for employees on anything pay related, and be accountable for every pay cycle being accurate, compliant, and on time. This role is based on ICON's Austin, TX campus and reports to the Director, Total Rewards.

Responsibilities

Payroll Processing

• Administer end-to-end payroll processing in Workday, including reviewing and verifying timesheets, earnings, deductions, and miscellaneous payments before each run.
• Ensure every pay cycle is processed accurately and on time in accordance with federal, state, and local law and ICON policy.
• Manage the relationship with ICON's external payroll treasury vendor, including funding, tax remittance, and issue resolution.
• Address and resolve payroll discrepancies, disputes, and questions promptly and accurately.

Benefits Reconciliation 

• Reconcile payroll deductions and contributions for health insurance, retirement plans, and other employee benefits every cycle.
• Audit and reconcile carrier and recordkeeper platforms against Workday HRIS records to ensure enrollments, rates, and contributions match.
• Administer the retirement plan from the payroll side, including contribution funding, loan and deferral changes, nondiscrimination testing data, and annual plan audit requests.

Tax, Compliance & Government Reporting

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, reporting requirements, and employment laws, including researching and registering new payroll tax jurisdictions as ICON expands.
• Prepare, audit, and submit required government reports and filings accurately and on time.
• Maintain current knowledge of payroll regulations, laws, and best practices and apply changes to ICON's processes.

Accounting Partnership, Policies & Procedures

• Collaborate closely with Accounting to reconcile payroll accounts and support month-end close.
• Develop and maintain internal policies and procedures for payroll and benefits administration in line with industry standards.

Employee Experience

• Act as the main point of contact for employees on payroll-related inquiries.
• Communicate complex payroll and benefits information to employees in clear, understandable terms.
• Participate in employee education sessions on payroll and benefits topics.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in multi-state payroll and benefits administration.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience with retirement plan administration.
• Proficiency with Workday Payroll and Benefits modules.
• Prior experience paying a large non-exempt employee population.
• Strong understanding of employee benefits programs, retirement plans, and related compliance.
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail, with a focus on accuracy and data integrity.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information professionally and with a high level of integrity.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with employees at all levels.
• Able to work on-site in Austin, TX.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• CPP, FPC, CEBS, or comparable certification.
• Experience in construction, manufacturing, or another industry with field-based hourly crews.
• Workday Payroll or Benefits implementation or configuration experience.