Payroll Manager (Hybrid)

About the Role

At Claire’s, we are passionate about creating a safe, fun, and inspiring environment where self-expression shines. Our Payroll Manager plays a critical role in ensuring the accuracy, timeliness, and compliance of payroll operations across the organization.

This role goes beyond payroll processing, it’s about ensuring accuracy, compliance, and a seamless employee experience. The Payroll Manager partners with HR, Finance, and business leaders to oversee payroll, drive process improvements, and build and lead a high-performing team. With a focus on operational excellence, strong controls, and continuous improvement, this role ensures Claire’s runs efficiently and supports our people.

Key Responsibilities

• Coach, mentor, and develop a high-performing, engaged, and results-oriented payroll team
• Oversee the North American Payroll function, including processing, compliance, procedures, and payroll tax for approximately 5,000 employees, ensuring accurate and timely payroll operations
• Work with third-party vendor to update configuration to the payroll system to meet business needs, including earnings codes, deduction codes, and benefit calculations, while ensuring compliance with U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canadian wage and hour laws.
• Provide oversight to the successful execution and development of the company’s payroll practices
• Develop training and coaching programs for employees, cultivate a culture of customer service and build relationships with key internal stakeholders
• Collaborate with third-party vendors to ensure the accurate and timely payment of the company’s tax liabilities to all tax agencies
• Maintain high standards of legal compliance and protection of sensitive employee and company information
• Serves as the payroll subject matter expert (SME) during Payroll, Timekeeping and HRIS upgrades and implementations
• Respond to employee inquiries, regulatory requests and special projects providing guidance on taxes, payroll withholding, projections and reporting for senior management
• Author and maintain documentation of payroll processes and procedures
• Ensures SOX and privacy compliance and monitor internal controls, including weekly audits, reconciliations and all quarterly and year-end payroll activities, resolving complex tax and compliance issues as needed
• Identify, research and resolve payroll issues in a timely and accurate manner
• Recommend and implement payroll technology and process improvements to drive efficiency and continuous improvement
• Provide proactive, high-quality customer service to internal stakeholders, communicating payroll updates and delivering required payroll data
• Work with third party vendors to complete post payroll tasks as required

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, Tax, Accounting/Finance or relevant experience
• Experience:
  • 5 - 7 years of payroll experience in a multi-state retail environment
  • 3 years people management experience

Skills and Abilities:

• HCM systems experience required; Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG) payroll system preferred
• 5 -7 years payroll experience in a multi-state environment (retail preferred)
• Experience reconciling and preparing W-2 and W-2c forms, W2-PR forms and Canadian T4 and RL-1 forms
• Thorough understanding of current payroll tax laws and regulations, including multi-state and local experience with a strong understanding of cross border and reciprocity taxation
• Multi FEIN exposure required
• Experience utilizing a third-party payroll provider required
• Demonstrated ability to manage and lead a team of payroll professionals
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy and quality and the ability to meet strict deadlines
• Working knowledge of HR and payroll laws, taxes and garnishment rules by state
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office with expert level Excel skills including complex formulas, pivot tables and data analysis
• Ability to work in a fast pace changing environment

Claire’s is committed to adhering to all applicable company policies and federal, state, and local laws and regulations. All positions will be compensated at or above the legally mandated minimum wage for the location in which work is performed. The final compensation will be determined by various factors such as relevant work experience, education, certifications, skills, and geographic location.

Benefits for full-time employees included medical, dental, and vision insurance, voluntary welfare plans, bonus plan eligibility, 401(k) match, vacation time, sick time* and paid leave.

Benefits for part-time employees included voluntary welfare plans, 401(k) match, vacation time, sick time* and paid leave in required states.

*Sick Time: For the State of Washington, all employees will accrue paid sick time at the rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked.

Claire's is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and we encourage applications from members of all underrepresented groups, including those with disabilities. We will accommodate applicants' needs, upon request, throughout all stages of the recruitment process. Please inform us of the accommodation(s) that you may require.

Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially. To request accommodation, please email [email protected]. Only messages sent for this purpose will be considered.