Since 1927, the Mariner Finance family of companies has provided customers with creative, flexible, and convenient lending options. Headquartered in Baltimore, Mariner Finance operates coast-to-coast with physical locations in over half the states. With a growing number of employees, superior customer service remains the cornerstone of our business, and we pride ourselves in delivering a variety of loans with an enhanced focus on exceptional service. We work with customers to find options that are beneficial to their specific needs, which is why we are recognized by our customers as one of the community’s consumer finance companies of choice.

In this role, you will...

Provide operational leadership for Mariner's payroll function, ensuring payroll is processed accurately, timely, and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Lead payroll operations, technology, compliance, reporting, audits, and process improvement initiatives while partnering with Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, and business leaders to deliver exceptional service, mitigate risk, and continuously enhance the employee payroll experience.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Lead the end-to-end payroll function, executing the full-cycle, multi-state payroll processing, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant processing of biweekly payroll for all team members.
• Own payroll operations, including calculating, validating, balancing, locking, approving, and confirming payroll each pay cycle.
• Administer and maintain payroll systems, coordinating testing, upgrades, system enhancements, and issue resolution to support accurate and efficient payroll operations.
• Develop, document, and continuously improve payroll processes and internal controls to increase efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.
• Audit payroll transactions including earnings, deductions, taxes, garnishments, bonuses, incentive payments, referrals, and off-cycle payments, resolving discrepancies promptly.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local payroll, wage and hour, tax, and reporting requirements.
• Serve as the organization's subject matter expert on payroll laws, tax regulations, and payroll best practices, proactively communicating regulatory changes and business impacts.
• Partner closely with Human Resources, HRIS, Finance, Accounting, Benefits, Compensation, Legal, and external vendors to advance organizational initiatives and ensure payroll accuracy.
• Lead payroll-related audits including external financial audits, Workers' Compensation audits, retirement plan audits, tax audits, and regulatory requests, ensuring ongoing audit readiness and timely response to requests.
• Own and execute year-end payroll activities, including W-2 processing, ACA filings, reconciliations, and other required tax and regulatory reporting.
• Research and resolve complex payroll issues, tax notices, garnishments, and employee inquiries while delivering exceptional customer service.
• Analyze payroll metrics and trends, identifying opportunities to improve service levels, controls, efficiency, and compliance.
• Establish and monitor payroll controls to safeguard confidential employee information and reduce organizational risk.
• Develop business continuity and succession plans for payroll operations.
• Manage relationships with payroll software providers and third-party vendors to maximize system capabilities and service quality.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, organizational changes, and new business initiatives impacting payroll operations.
• Responsible for managing employee(s) and managerial matters such as performance appraisals and goal setting, promotions, salary recommendations, and terminations in accordance with the company hiring process, personnel policies, and budget requirements.
• Foster a collaborative and results-oriented work environment, promoting teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Stay current on changes to payroll regulations, tax codes, and applicable laws, and ensure consistent team adherence to regulatory requirements, internal processes, and company policies.
• Perform additional duties as needed to support payroll operations and business needs.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management, Finance, Accounting, or a related field of study. Four (4) years of college coursework or four (4) years of additional experience can be substituted for a bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum of six (6) years of progressive payroll experience, including extensive experience processing multi-state payroll in a high-volume environment with complex compensation structures.
• Demonstrated experience administering payroll for a large (1,500+ employee) workforce with a high degree of accuracy and compliance.
• Demonstrated experience leading payroll operations in a hands-on capacity and managing team performance and employee development.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll laws, tax regulations, and compliance requirements, with the ability to apply requirements to complex payroll scenarios.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Advanced proficiency in payroll systems and HRIS platforms, including experience in troubleshooting complex system issues and leading integrations.
• Experience managing payroll audits (internal and external) and ensuring audit readiness.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify discrepancies, assess risk, and implement effective solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet critical deadlines in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively respond to employee, vendor, and leadership inquiries.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong working relationships across HR, Finance, IT, and vendor partners.
• High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and commitment to maintaining confidentiality and handling sensitive information with discretion.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.
• Experience with Dayforce, UKG, or similar enterprise payroll platforms.
• Financial services or highly regulated industry experience.

Hours of Work:

Work hours will depend on the business hours of the time zone serviced. To the extent permitted by law, the Company may, in its sole discretion, change the work schedule to address business needs. 

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to move about. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty (20) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

EEO:

Mariner Finance is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, familial or caregiver status, citizenship status, status as a victim of domestic violence, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, or status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran. Employee must be able to perform the essential duties/functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential duties/functions of their job, absent undue hardship. Drug/Alcohol/Smoke-free workplace. 

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time or without notice.

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