Sr. Manager, Payroll

OpenGov is the leader in AI and ERP solutions for local and state governments in the U.S. More than 2,000 cities, counties, state agencies, school districts, and special districts rely on the OpenGov Public Service Platform to operate efficiently, adapt to change, and strengthen the public trust. Category-leading products include enterprise asset management, procurement and contract management, accounting and budgeting, billing and revenue management, permitting and licensing, and transparency and open data. These solutions come together in the OpenGov ERP, allowing public sector organizations to focus on priorities and deliver maximum ROI with every dollar and decision in sync. Learn about OpenGov’s mission to power more effective and accountable government and the vision of high-performance government for every community at OpenGov.com.

Job Summary

OpenGov powers more effective and accountable government, and our Accounting team builds the operations that let us grow with that mission. The Senior Manager, Payroll owns US payroll end-to-end and is accountable for its accuracy, completeness, and compliance across every jurisdiction where we employ people. This leader sets the long-term direction for payroll operations: documenting processes, strengthening controls, and improving systems and automation so payroll scales with the business before we add headcount. The role supervises our lead payroll specialist, works across Finance, Accounting, HR, Enterprise Applications & Engineering and Legal, and may expand over time to include equity administration. This is an in-office role in San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, or Boston.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end payroll processing for the United States, ensuring every payroll is accurate, complete, timely, and compliant with federal, state, and local requirements

• Manage payroll tax compliance across all jurisdictions, including resolving compliance issues, processing adjustments and driving audits to completion in a timely manner with federal, state, and local authorities

• Partner with HR on 401(k), HSA, and FSA administration by ensuring employee and employer contributions are calculated correctly and remitted on time, and process all deductions accurately and in compliance with legal requirements

• Provide tax information and withholding calculations for RSU settlements, and over time take on administration of RSU settlement process in partnership with Accounting and Legal

• Manage quarterly and year-end employment tax reporting, including W-2, 1099, Form 940/941 filings, state and local returns

• Own payroll general ledger reconciliations and support month-end close in partnership with Accounting, and oversee payroll-related audits such as 401(k) and workers' compensation

• Design, document, and maintain payroll controls, including review and approval steps, reconciliations, checks for completeness and accuracy across spreadsheets and systems and keep the function ready for internal and external audits

• Improve processes and systems, using automation where it strengthens accuracy and efficiency, so the function scales before headcount is added

• Supervise and develop the lead payroll specialist

Requirements and Preferred Experience

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field, or equivalent work experience

• 8+ years of US payroll experience, including 3+ years managing payroll staff, with in-depth knowledge of federal, state, and local employment requirements and multi-state payroll tax

• Hands-on experience with Workday Payroll and ADP SmartCompliance

• Exceptional attention to detail and a record of delivering accurate, complete payroll on tight deadlines, with proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets, including complex formulas and analysis of large datasets

• Sound judgment and a bias for action: spots issues early, escalates them promptly with a proposed resolution, and drives them to closure

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, a record of working cross-functionally, and discretion with confidential employee information

• Comfortable using AI-native tools to accelerate workflows and improve efficiency.

• Ability to work in office in San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, or Boston

Preferred Experience

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC)

• Experience designing payroll controls and supporting internal or external audits

• Experience improving payroll processes through automation while maintaining accuracy and control

• Experience with equity compensation (RSU) payroll tax and reporting

• Experience in a SaaS or technology company, including integrating payroll for acquired companies

Compensation

Chicago, IL: $182,000 - $203,000

On target ranges above include base plus a portion of variable compensation that is earned based on company and individual performance.

The final compensation will be determined by a number of factors such as qualifications, expertise, and the candidate’s geographical location.

Why OpenGov?

A Mission That Matters.

At OpenGov, public service is personal. We are passionate about our mission to power more effective and accountable government. Government that operates efficiently, adapts to change, and strengthens public trust.  Some people say this is boring.  We think it’s the core of our democracy.

Opportunity to Innovate

The next great wave of innovation is unfolding with AI, and it will impact everything—from the way we work to the way governments interact with their residents. Join a trusted team with the passion, technology, and expertise to drive innovation and bring AI to local government. We’ve touched 2,000 communities so far, and we’re just getting started.

A Team of Passionate, Driven People

This isn’t your typical 9-to-5 job; we operate in a fast-paced, results-driven environment where impact matters more than simply clocking in and out. Our global team of 800+ employees is united in our commitment to challenge the status quo. OpenGov is headquartered in San Francisco and has offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dubuque, Dallas, and Pune.

A Place to Make Your Mark

We pride ourselves on our performance-based culture, where every employee is encouraged to jump in head-first and take action to help us improve. If you have a great idea, we want to hear it. Excellent performance is recognized and rewarded, and we love to promote from within.

Benefits That Work for You

Enjoy an award-winning workplace with the benefits to match, including:

• Comprehensive healthcare options for individuals and families

• Flexible vacation policy and paid company holidays

• 401(k) with company match

• Paid parental leave, wellness stipends, and HSA contributions

• Professional development and growth opportunities

• A collaborative office environment with weekly catered lunches.