Payroll Lead/Supervisor

 

As the leading transit bus manufacturer in the United States, GILLIG buses play a critical role in the environmental and social initiatives in communities across our nation.  GILLIG is on the forefront in the transition to zero-emission vehicles and has an unmatched reputation in the industry for quality, reliability, durability, service, and support.  From initial design through final assembly, each GILLIG bus is designed and built in Livermore, CA. 

WHY GILLIG

• Leader in environmentally friendly mobility solutions including battery electric, hybrid electric, near-zero CNG and clean diesel transit buses
• Renowned for its inclusive team/family-oriented culture
• Stable, successful, and growing organization – a Bay Area business for over 132 years!
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Excellent compensation including company paid medical premiums, generous retirement plan and other comprehensive benefits

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for an experienced Temporary Payroll Lead/Supervisor to oversee and execute end-to-end payroll operations during a critical period of stabilization and optimization. This role is hands-on and highly visible, with responsibility for ensuring payroll accuracy, compliance, and system effectiveness across the organization.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll, UKG Time & Attendance (Kronos), and advanced Excel to support payroll analysis, reconciliations, audits, and reporting.

Your ultimate goal will be to maintain compliance, streamline payroll procedures for efficiency, and stay current with payroll regulations and best practices. As the Payroll Lead, you will play a vital role in safeguarding the financial well-being of the organization and ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time.

This is an on-site, temporary position at our Livermore, CA Headquarters and reports to the Director of Human Resources.

IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL 

Payroll Operations & Compliance

• Lead and manage end-to-end payroll processing for hourly and salaried employees
• Oversee and direct corporate payroll procedures, ensuring timely and accurate payroll execution
• Research and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, garnishments, deductions (SUI, SDI, etc.), earnings, and tax regulations
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge of all payroll-related laws and regulations, including multi-state payroll and taxation
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of payroll updates, including new hires, terminations, merit increases, pay rate changes, and manual/off-cycle checks
• Resolve complex payroll issues, including retro pay, corrections, garnishments, and adjustments
• Oversee payroll audits, reconciliations, tax filings, and year-end activities (e.g., W-2s)

Systems, Reporting & Process Management

• Serve as a subject matter expert for SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll
• Support payroll integrations and data accuracy between UKG Time & Attendance (Kronos) and SuccessFactors
• Implement, maintain, and review payroll processing systems (timekeeping, HRIS, payroll) to ensure accuracy and compliance
• Lead payroll data analysis, reconciliations, and audits using advanced Excel (pivot tables, complex formulas, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, data validation)
• Maintain accurate payroll records and reports
• Identify, recommend, and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and internal controls

Cross-Function