Payroll Manager
Northeastern Junior College · Denver, CO
Department Information
Love Colorado? There is no better way to define your future and build your career than to work for the State of Colorado.
Finding Your Purpose
When you work for the State of Colorado, you're working to improve your community, impact the lives of those around you, and ensure that our shared natural resources will be available for generations to come.
Finding Your Passion
Each position makes a difference by helping people, enhancing our livelihood and making Colorado a better place to live. Learn more about the mission of each of our Departments and Institutions and the unique roles they serve!
Colorado for All
The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.
Colorado For All - Colorado Employee Reflections
Department Information
Colorado Governor Jared Polis is committed to building a Colorado For All, a place where everyone has an opportunity to succeed and live the Colorado way of life. Governor Polis is focused on lowering health care costs for hardworking Coloradans, transitioning the state to renewable energy sources, ensuring every Colorado child gets a quality education, making housing more affordable and available, improving public safety, and building an economy that works for everyone. The Office of the Governor's staff includes budgeting, communications and outreach, legal counsel, legislative liaison, operations, policy and research, and scheduling.
Description of Job
Position Title: Payroll Manager
Department: Finance Office within Office of the Governor
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Denver Metro, Colorado
Primary Physical Work Address: 200 E Colfax Ave and 1375 Annex Building, Denver, CO 80203
Opening Date: 10/05/26
Closing Date: 10/12/26, 5:00 pm
Job Type: Full Time
Expected Annual Travel: None
Remote Work/Hybrid: In office 3 days a week, Remote 2 days a week. Please note: These working arrangements are subject to change based on departmental needs.
Summary of Functions:
The Payroll Department, operating within the Finance Office, delivers comprehensive payroll compliance services to approximately 500 staff members across the Office of the Governor, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, and the Colorado Energy Office (Offices of the Governor). Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Payroll Manager serves as a hands-on working manager who oversees accurate, timely payroll processing while providing direct team leadership and staff development.
In addition to providing team guidance, tools, and oversight, the Payroll Manager establishes and monitors operational procedures to ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. The role requires building expert-level knowledge of state payroll and financial systems, alongside exercising sound, independent judgment and creative problem-solving to address complex operational challenges.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Plans and administers the payroll operation for the Offices, including analysis and evaluation of matters that impact different offices; increases efficiency and effectiveness of payroll processes.
- Accurate and effective management of the Office payrolls, including monthly, bi-weekly, and manual payrolls.
- Providing expert guidance as the primary point of contact for all payroll escalations.
- Responsible for advising and assisting Departmental management and other personnel concerning payroll matters; notifies Offices and HR partners about changes in procedures, forms, or policies relating to payroll matters.
- Analyzes and interprets personnel rules, policies and laws as they relate to the management of payroll for the Offices, and determines the appropriate process for payroll data entry and documentation for the Offices.
- Develops and implements policies, procedures, and systems regarding the payroll operation for the Offices of the Governor, and maintains payroll policy and procedure manuals.
- Serves as the primary Office of the Governor liaison with the Central Payroll unit of the Office of the State Controller and Division of Human Resources of the Department of Personnel and Administration with regard to payroll issues.
- Analyzes and troubleshoots payroll related problems and issues, and resolves them in collaboration with supervisor, other HR personnel, as applicable.
- Oversees the configuration and maintenance of Labor Distribution Profiles (LDPR) labor allocation process
- Assists the CFO with payroll-related audit inquiries for all internal and external audits concerning agency payroll operations
- Reviews work of Payroll Officer with regard to documentation and requests from the Offices to ensure that requests are processed in accordance with established policies and procedures.
- Overseeing the UKG timekeeping system, including, but not limited to, providing training and technical assistance to the Offices
- Supervision and development of the payroll staff, including onboarding, performance management, and corrective action when needed.
- Conducting regular one-on-one meetings with each payroll staff member to review priorities, workload, and professional development.
- Building and maintaining cross-training and succession plans so that no critical, deadline-driven payroll process depends on a single individual.
- Setting team priorities and workload distribution in alignment with departmental and Office of the Governor deadlines.
- Fostering a team culture of documentation, knowledge-sharing, and continuity so payroll operations remain resilient to staff turnover.
- Other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibility: Has supervisory accountability for one employee. Plans, directs, and coordinates activities for a unit. Duties include scheduling and assigning of work, training in all facets of work, quality control, and decisions impacting the pay, status and tenure of others. Conducts performance appraisals and provides input into and participates in discipline, dismissal, and hiring processes. This position supervises the following position(s):
Payroll Officer
Payroll accountant/Accounting technician
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Education/Experience:
- Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business or public administration, human resources, or related field.
- At least two years of payroll analysis experience in payroll or personnel management systems, leave systems, methods and procedures, forms, process design or other related fields.
- Supervisory experience preferred
- Additional work experience in these or other related fields may be substituted on a year for year basis for the required formal education.
OR
- At least 3 years of experience managing and/or processing payroll within the State of Colorado payroll system.
Conditions of Employment
Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado; however, applicants must reside in Colorado at the time of employment.
Supplemental Information
To Apply:
A cover letter and resume must be submitted with the application for consideration. Your cover letter and resume must provide sufficient detail about your background and experience to allow the screening panel to properly assess your experience in the required elements, includin