Payroll Tax Risk and Controls Manager
Role description
From the employerJoin us on a journey of endless possibilities At Strada, possibility isn’t just a promise – it’s the foundation of everything we do. We believe in unlocking potential for every colleague, creating a journey of growth, discovery, and impact. With the support, resources, and opportunities we provide, you’ll build a fulfilling future – working on meaningful projects that span industries and regions, contributing to outcomes that matter.
Strada is a people, payroll, and technology leader simplifying international workforce management. Operating in 180+ countries, we design and deliver people-first solutions powered by cloud-based technology – helping organizations grow and enabling workforces to perform at their best. Learn more at www.
stradaglobal. com To learn more about us, visit stradaglobal.
Position Summary
The Payroll Tax Risk and Controls Manager is responsible for building, implementing, and overseeing operational controls across the Payroll Tax Filing organization. This role will lead internal audits, risk assessments, control testing, and compliance initiatives to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll tax operations for clients. This individual will create scalable control frameworks, identify operational gaps, monitor high-risk processes, and partner with leadership teams to improve service quality, reduce client risk, and strengthen accountability across teams.
The role
will also support SOC compliance initiatives, audit readiness, process governance, and continuous improvement efforts. The ideal candidate has
experience
in payroll tax operations, internal audit, risk management, compliance, or operational controls within a payroll, tax, finance, or professional services environment. Key
Responsibilities
Design and implement a comprehensive controls framework for Payroll Tax Filing operations Establish control standards, audit procedures, and monitoring processes across teams Conduct internal operational audits to identify gaps, risks, and process failures Perform recurring control testing to ensure procedures are operating effectively Develop risk mitigation plans and partner with operational leaders on corrective actions Monitor high-risk client accounts and operational trends to identify recurring issues Support SOC audit activities, documentation, evidence gathering, and remediation tracking Create reporting dashboards and metrics related to compliance, audit findings, operational health, and control effectiveness Review workflows and identify opportunities for automation, standardization, and process improvement Ensure teams are following documented procedures, escalation protocols, and compliance
requirements
Partner with leadership to establish governance standards and accountability measures Lead root cause analysis efforts for operational failures, missed filings, notices, penalties, or client escalations Develop and maintain process documentation, control narratives, and standard operating procedures Provide recommendations to improve operational accuracy, client satisfaction, and service delivery consistency Collaborate cross-functionally with payroll, tax filing, compliance, implementation, client services, and technology teams Required
Skills
and
Experience
5+ years of
experience
in payroll tax filing, payroll operations, compliance, audit, risk management, or operational controls
Experience
creating or managing internal controls frameworks in a service-based or operational environment Strong understanding of payroll tax filing processes, tax notices, amendments, agency compliance, and operational workflows
Experience
conducting audits, control testing, process reviews, or compliance assessments Knowledge of SOC controls, operational risk management, or governance frameworks Strong analytical and problem-solving
skills
with the ability to identify trends and operational risks
Experience
managing remediation efforts and driving process improvements Ability to work across multiple teams and influence operational change Strong organizational
skills
with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines Excellent written and verbal communication
skills
Advanced Excel and reporting
skills
preferred
Experience
working in high-volume, deadline-driven operational environments Preferred
Qualifications
Experience
within payroll services, HCM, tax filing, or professional services organizations
Experience
supporting SOC 1 or SOC 2 audits Familiarity with process improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement frameworks
Experience
with operational KPI reporting and service delivery metrics
Experience
working with enterprise payroll platforms and tax filing systems Prior
experience
in a consulting or advisory environment is a plus Preferred Certifications Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) CPA preferred but not required Six Sigma certification preferred Certified Risk and Compliance Management Professional (CRCMP) What Success Looks Like in This Role Reduction in missed filings, penalties, and client escalations Improved operational consistency across teams Stronger audit readiness and compliance documentation Increased visibility into operational risks and service gaps Measurable improvement in client health and operational KPIs Sustainable controls framework implemented across Payroll Tax Filing operations At Strada, our values guide everything we do: Anticipate Customer Needs – We stay ahead of trends so our customers can grow and succeed.
Own the Outcome – We take responsibility for delivering excellence and ensuring things get done right. Challenge Ourselves to Work Smarter – We move faster than the world around us to drive change and accomplish more. Empower Each Other to Solve Problems – We tackle challenges head on, ask tough questions, and collaborate to find the best solutions.
Care About Our Work and Our People – We understand that what we do impacts millions, and we have a responsibility to get it right.
Benefits
At Strada, we support your whole self—offering a range of
benefits
for your health, wellbeing, finances, and future. These include health coverage, wellbeing programs, paid leave (vacation, sick, parental), retirement plans, learning opportunities, and more. All offers are contingent on successful completion of background checks, where permitted by law and as appropriate for the role.
These may include identity, education, employment, and in some cases, criminal history verification, checks against global watchlists, credit reports, and/or drug testing.
your role
and location during the recruitment process. Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion Strada is dedicated to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We believe that embracing differences strengthens our teams and drives innovation and success. Diversity Policy Statement Strada is an
Equal Opportunity
Employer and prohibits discrimination based on legally protected characteristics. Applicants may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting their recruiter. Authorization to work in the Employing Country To be considered, you must have current and future work authorization in the country where you're applying, without the need for visa sponsorship by Strada. Please note: This
job description
does not limit Strada’s right to assign or reassign responsibilities, including to subsidiaries, partners, or future business purchasers. We offer you a competitive total rewards package, continuing education & training, and tremendous potential with a growing worldwide organization. Salary Pay Range Minimum - Maximum: $85,190.
00 - $158,210. 00 Pay Transparency Statement: Strada considers a variety of factors in determining whether to extend an offer of employment and in setting the appropriate compensation level, including, but not limited to, a candidate’s experience, education, certification/credentials, market data, internal equity, and geography. Strada makes these decisions on an individualized, non-discriminatory basis.
Bonus and/or incentive eligibility are determined by role and level.
job description
restricts management's right to assign or reassign
duties
and
responsibilities
of this job to other entities; including but not limited to subsidiaries, partners, or purchasers of Strada business units. Strada provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, veteran, marital, parental, citizenship, or domestic partner status, or any other status protected by applicable national, federal, state or local law.
Strada is committed to a diverse workforce and is an affirmative action employer. As pioneers in payroll, human capital and financial management solutions, we blend leading-edge technology with human ingenuity to keep you moving forward.
experience
to businesses around the globe helping them design and deliver at scale. Supporting over 1,400 customers across 33 countries, we embed ourselves at every stage of your journey, to help you drive your vision to value. Not finding the right fit?
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