Manager, Payroll & Total Rewards

Job Title: Manager Payroll & Total Rewards

Location: Hybrid in Herndon VA (3 days/week on site)
Clearance Required: None
Duration: Full-time Permanent
Pay Type: W2 employee
Reporting to: Director of Human Resources and Training
Dotted Line to: Director of Finance
Management Duties: None
Compensation: DOE

Position Overview
The Manager Payroll & Total Rewards is a key member of the Finance and HR teams responsible for owning the accurate and compliant delivery of multi-state payroll managing the companys compensation programs and assisting with broader total rewards administration. This individual contributor role partners with the Director of Human Resources to support total rewards strategy and program execution and collaborates with the Director of Finance to maintain payroll accuracy financial integrity and appropriate internal controls. The role combines strategic ownership of payroll systems and processes with hands-on execution of day-to-day payroll operations. The ideal candidate brings deep payroll expertise strong attention to detail sound judgment and the ability to build and maintain efficient repeatable processes in a fast-paced growth-oriented environment.

Essential Functions

• Own and manage end-to-end biweekly payroll processing for approximately 100 employees ensuring accuracy timeliness and compliance.
• Partner with the HR Director to ensure complex situations such as garnishments and leaves of absence (STD LTD parental leave furloughs etc.) are managed appropriately employees are paid accurately and benefits deductions are processed accordingly.
• Partner with the Director of Finance to support payroll reconciliations general ledger alignment internal controls and audits.
• Ensure compliance with all federal state and local payroll regulations and wage and hour laws. Ensure compliance with specific contract standards and specialized GovCon legislation (e.g. SCA) where applicable.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for compensation and payroll-related employee inquiries and issue resolution escalating to Director of Finance and/or Director of HR where necessary.
• Support year-end payroll processes and required compliance reporting including ACA and W-2 preparation and distribution.
• Administer accurate monthly short-term incentive long-term incentive commission and other bonus programs including eligibility tracking payment calculations in support of accounting accruals and payment processing. This high-visibility process will require interaction with the Controller Director of Finance Director of HR and potentially the Chief Executive Officer as needed.
• Support administration of the companys 401(k) retirement plan in partnership with HR and Finance.
• Serve as a subject matter expert during the companys Workday implementation and make recommendations regarding new Payroll vendor selection which is currently underway.
• Review timesheets ensuring their accuracy by verifying changes and resolving issues.
• With the Director of HR build and maintain market-aligned salary ranges across the organization and ensure updates are reflected in the HRIS.
• Review and process compensation changes to ensure alignment with company pay practices and established ranges.
• Prepare reports and analyze data related to payroll benefits and compensation programs including internal equity reviews.
• Maintain accurate employee data across HRIS and payroll systems. Regularly perform audits and support system improvements to increase efficiency accuracy and scalability.
• Draft and distribute employee communications related to payroll and total rewards programs. Support employee education initiatives related to payroll benefits wellness programs and total rewards offerings.
• Provide operational support to the HR Director on benefits administration including open enrollment new hire enrollments life event changes employee benefit terminations and COBRA notifications.
• Maintain confidentiality and compliance with all applicable laws and company policies.
• Participate in special projects and cross-functional initiatives as needed.
• Lead the continued scaling of Payroll and Total Rewards operations in a growing multi-state environment.
• Support special projects as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

What We Offer

• Competitive pay and benefits (medical dental vision 401k with match company-paid life/short-term disability long-term disability insurance paid time off all federal holidays off etc.)
• Great company culture and perks (regular office happy hours peer-to-peer recognition program free building gym access hybrid work environment etc.)
• Opportunity to shape and improve Payroll & Total Rewards foundations in a growing organization.
• Collaborative environment with room for professional development and learning.

Qualifications

• 7 years of experience in payroll administration including multi-state payroll processing and full-cycle payroll processing.
• 5 years of experience supporting compensation with exposure to broader total rewards programs preferred.
• Strong knowledge of payroll benefits and employment laws and regulations including FLSA ACA COBRA ERISA SCA and HIPAA.
• Experience working with HRIS and payroll systems required; Paycor and/or Workday experience with specific emphasis on ERP implementations is strongly preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data reporting tools.
• Demonstrated experience calculating and processing bonus and commission payments.
• Prior experience supporting broader benefits/total rewards programs preferred.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to partner effectively across HR Finance and leadership teams.
• High level of discretion and ability to manage confidential information.
• Ability to operate independently prioritize effectively and maintain a high standard of accuracy and follow-through. Must be able to execute tasks independently once trained.
• Exceptional attention to detail analytical proficiency and organization skills.
• Level-headed with sound judgment and demonstrated discretion in handling confidential information.
• An appreciation for both the strategic importance of strong HR/Payroll systems and the necessity of hands-on execution to keep those systems running.
• A desire to continue growing and learning new things.
• A collaborative proactive mindset. Good team player.

Physical Requirements:

The work is generally sedentary and performed in an office or remote setting; however some travel to government or partner sites may be required. The position may require:

• Visual acuity to view computer screens read technical documents and perform data analysis and data entry
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods
• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard mouse and other office equipment
• Occasional lifting or carrying of equipment boxes or documents (typically under 40 lbs)
• Ability to hear and speak clearly in virtual and in-person meetings

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

About the Company
Four Inc. is a fast-growing public sector IT provider with a long history of delivering exceptional results in the federal and SLED markets. We are a multi-state employer and our culture is collaborative driven and people-focused. We are building for scale and were looking for teammates who are energized by building structure and improving processes while providing excellent customer service whoever your customer is. With a proven track record of success and a strong collaborative culture we are expanding our team to continue driving innovation and digital transformation in the public sector.

Four Inc. is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer including disabled persons and veterans. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. We actively seek to recruit hire and promote qualified veterans and individuals with disabilities.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a position please contact us at

This job opening will be listed with the appropriate state workforce agency as required under the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA).

Required Experience:

Manager