Payroll & HR/Finance Coordinator

Job Summary

The Payroll Manager is responsible for owning and executing the full end‑to‑end payroll function for the new food manufacturing site in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. This role is critical during a period of rapid growth, supporting the scale‑up to approximately 300 employees over the next five years.

The position ensures accurate, compliant, and timely U.S. payroll processing, delivers meaningful labor cost and workforce insights, supports audits and regulatory compliance, and serves as the primary U.S. backup for Australian payroll operations. The Payroll Manager partners closely with HR, Finance, and site leadership to support operational efficiency and informed decision‑making.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Administration

·Own and manage the full end‑to‑end U.S. payroll cycle, ensuring all employees are paid accurately and on time.

·Maintain payroll integrity across hourly and salaried employee populations (shift differentials, overtime, bonuses)

·Ensure accurate time and attendance processing, including production schedules, rotating shifts, and weekend work.

·Oversee garnishments, levies, child support orders, and other payroll deductions.

·Ensure payroll is processed accurately and on time in accordance with company calendars.

·Manage payroll adjustments, corrections, and employee payroll inquiries.

Audit & Compliance

·Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations including FLSA.

·Manage internal and external payroll audits.

·Maintain accurate documentation, processes, and payroll controls.

·Maintain accurate payroll documentation and records in line with retention requirements.

System Implementation & Optimization

·Serve as the payroll system subject matter expert

·Lead or support the implementation and ongoing optimization of the US Rippling HRIS platform.

·Ensure accurate system configuration for payroll, time and attendance, and reporting.

·Drive continuous improvement of payroll processes as the site scales.

·Resolve complex payroll discrepancies and system issues.

Stakeholder Management

·Act as the primary point of contact for payroll-related inquiries from employees and managers.

·Partner with HR on onboarding, offboarding, benefits deductions, leave administration, and workers’ compensation.

·Manage payroll vendors and third-party providers.

·Support Finance with payroll reporting, accruals, and reconciliations.

Global Payroll Support

·Act as the designated backup for Australian payroll operations, executing payroll processes as required.

·Maintain working knowledge of Australian payroll timelines, processes, and compliance requirements.

Labor Analytics & Reporting

·Produce detailed labor and payroll reports, including headcount, overtime, and labor cost trends.

·Develop and maintain key operational metrics such as cost of labor per unit manufactured and employee retention

·Partner with Finance and Operations to support efficiency, budgeting, and forecasting.

Time & Attendance

·Coordinate closely with managers of hourly employees to ensure accurate time capture and approvals.

·Review and resolve time and attendance discrepancies prior to payroll processing.

HR & Reporting Support

·Provide payroll and employee data to support HR activities including benefits administration, onboarding, and offboarding.

·Support workforce analytics including retention, turnover, and compliance reporting.

Occupational Safety, Health and Environment

·Champion a culture of safe working

·Ensure all company safety, wellness and environmental policies and procedures are adhered to in accordance with OHSA (Occupational Safety and Health) and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) requirements

·Ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers while they are at work

·Ensure consultation with employees on safety and health issues

Food Safety

·Ensure operations are according to our food safety policies and processes including FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and USDA (US Department of Agriculture) compliance plus our HACCP and GMP programs.

·Ensure control of any food safety risks.

Key Qualities

Qualifications, Skills & Experience (Essential):

·Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, or related field preferred.

·5+ years proven experience managing end‑to‑end U.S. payroll, preferably in a manufacturing/hourly workforce environment.

·Strong knowledge of U.S. payroll regulations and compliance requirements.

·Experience working with HRIS and payroll systems (Rippling experience highly desirable).

·Experience with hourly workforces, overtime rules, and time & attendance systems.

·Advanced Excel and payroll reconciliation skills.

·High attention to detail and accuracy