Senior Payroll Manager - Lead Payroll Operations & Compliance

As Senior Manager, Payroll, you will lead the delivery of accurate, compliant, and timely payroll services for a complex U.S. employee population.

This role blends strategic leadership with operational excellence, partnering across HR, Finance, Technology, and external vendors to ensure payroll processes scale with the business while maintaining strong controls and a positive employee experience.

Responsibilities • Lead outsourced payroll operations supporting more than 65,000 U.S. employees across multiple payroll entities, ensuring timely and accurate payroll delivery. • Provide strategic oversight of payroll vendors, including service performance, compliance, and continuous improvement opportunities. • Own payroll configuration and process design within Workday Payroll, Time, and Absence, ensuring alignment with pay policies and schedules. • Guide payroll activities related to mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and year-end processing, minimizing disruption and risk. • Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local payroll tax, wage, and regulatory requirements. • Oversee payroll accounting activities including reconciliations, disbursements, garnishments, and unemployment services. • Maintain strong internal controls, including SOX compliance, audit readiness, and documentation. • Partner with Accounting, Finance, Legal, IT, and HR Centers of Excellence to assess impacts of system or process changes and drive effective communication. • Contribute to HR Operations RFPs, vendor evaluations, and contract development as a payroll subject matter expert.

Qualifications Required Qualifications • Minimum of 10 years of progressive payroll operations experience in a large, complex organization. • At least 2 years of experience leading or managing payroll teams or vendor relationships. • Deep knowledge of U.S. payroll regulations, taxation, and compliance requirements. • Hands-on experience with Workday Payroll, Time, and Absence modules. • Demonstrated ability to lead complex payroll initiatives such as system implementations, integrations, or organizational change. • Strong ability to communicate complex payroll concepts to senior HR and Finance leaders.

Preferred Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, or a related field. • Experience supporting payroll activities during mergers, acquisitions, or divestitures. • Strong analytical skills with the ability to anticipate regulatory impacts and business risks.

If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload.

For this position, we anticipate offering an annual salary of 131,500 - 219,100 USD / yearly, depending on relevant factors, including experience and geographic location.

This role is also anticipated to be eligible to participate in an annual bonus plan.

At The Cigna Group, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, with a focus on supporting your whole health.

Starting on day one of your employment, you’ll be offered several health-related benefits including medical, vision, dental, and well-being and behavioral health programs.

We also offer 401(k), company paid life insurance, tuition reimbursement, a minimum of 18 days of paid time off per year and paid holidays.

About The Cigna Group Doing something meaningful starts with a simple decision, a commitment to changing lives.

At The Cigna Group, we’re dedicated to improving the health and vitality of those we serve.

Through our divisions Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services, we are committed to enhancing the lives of our clients, customers and patients.

Join us in driving growth and improving lives.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, disability, sex, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical conditions including but not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the online application process, please email seeyourself@thecignagroup.com for assistance.

Please note that this email inbox is dedicated to accommodation requests only and cannot provide application updates or accept resumes.

The Cigna Group has a tobacco-free policy and reserves the right not to hire tobacco/nicotine users in states where that is legally permissible.

Candidates in such states who use tobacco/nicotine will not be considered for employment unless they enter a qualifying smoking cessation program prior to the start of their employment.

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington State.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances.