Automotive Accounting Payroll Manager

About This Role

Lead payroll operations for a multi-dealership automotive group, ensuring accurate and compliant processing of complex pay plans and integrating payroll with accounting.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing across multiple dealership entities
• Administer and validate dealership pay plans, including commissions, guarantees, draws, and incentives
• Ensure accuracy for all employee types, such as sales staff, technicians, and service advisors
• Review payroll calculations prior to submission to ensure alignment with approved pay plans and company policies
• Provide hands-on backup support for payroll staff as needed
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, including automotive-specific regulations
• Manage payroll tax filings and reconciliations on a per-pay, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis
• Maintain strong internal controls to prevent payroll errors and compliance risk
• Oversee payroll-related general ledger postings, including bank activity and accrual entries
• Lead and supervise a payroll team of three or more employees, including hiring, training, and performance management

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of payroll experience within an automotive dealership environment
• Proven experience processing commission-based and flat-rate payrolls
• Minimum 2 years of hands-on experience with payroll systems
• Expert-level understanding of dealership payroll structures
• Strong knowledge of payroll taxes, wage and hour laws, and internal controls in automotive retail
• Advanced Excel skills

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Accounting, or a related field preferred
• Minimum 5 years of payroll experience within an automotive dealership environment; Minimum 2 years of hands-on experience with payroll systems (ADP Workforce Now preferred)

Nice to Have

• Multi-rooftop or high-volume dealership experience
• ADP Workforce Now experience

Skills

* Required skills

Benefits

Certifications