We are the leading provider of professional services to the middle market globally, our purpose is to instill confidence in a world of change, empowering our clients and people to realize their full potential. Our exceptional people are the key to our unrivaled, culture and talent experience and our ability to be compelling to our clients. You’ll find an environment that inspires and empowers you to thrive both personally and professionally. There’s no one like you and that’s why there’s nowhere like RSM.
Consulting Manager – Payroll Services
Payroll Transformation Team
Position Summary
The Consulting Manager – Payroll Services leads client engagements that assess, transition, and optimize payroll operations for Clients looking to transform their internal payroll operations or to prepare for an outsourcing service delivery model. This role serves as a trusted advisor to organizations to establish compliant, efficient, and scalable payroll service delivery across multi-state and complex environments.
The manager oversees payroll assessments, operating model design, transition and implementation activities—bridging consulting strategy with operational execution. This position plays a critical role in delivering measurable value, strengthening client relationships, and advancing the growth of the managed payroll practice.
Key Responsibilities
Managed Payroll Advisory & Assessment
Lead comprehensive payroll operational assessments spanning governance, compliance, controls, technology, vendor landscape, and service delivery maturity.
Identify risks, inefficiencies, and cost drivers; develop actionable optimization roadmaps, to include outsource readiness.
Define future-state payroll operating models, including roles/responsibilities, SLAs, KPIs, and escalation frameworks.
Present recommendations and business case outcomes to executive stakeholders.
Process Optimization & Service Delivery Excellence
Standardize payroll processes, controls, and documentation across managed clients.
Establish operational metrics, quality assurance frameworks, and continuous improvement routines.
Drive automation, error reduction, cycle-time improvement, and employee experience enhancements.
Support remediation of complex payroll issues, audits, and compliance inquiries.
Engagement & Program Management
Manage multiple client engagements across scope, budget, timeline, and resource allocation.
Lead cross-functional coordination among payroll operations, HR, finance, IT, and third-party vendors.
Maintain governance cadence including status reporting, risk management, and executive steering updates.
Ensure adherence to PMO, change management, and managed services transition methodologies.
Practice Development
Serve as primary relationship lead during assessment, transition, and stabilization phases.
Build trusted advisor relationships with managed payroll onboarding team.
Mentor consultants and analysts; review deliverables for quality and consistency.
Contribute to prospect scoping/proposals, solution design, and thought leadership supporting managed payroll growth.
Qualifications
Required
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, HR, Information Systems, or related field.
6+ years of experience in payroll consulting, payroll operations, or payroll managed services.
Demonstrated experience leading payroll outsourcing transitions or payroll system implementations.
Strong knowledge of U.S. payroll tax, wage and hour regulations, and compliance controls
Proven project and stakeholder management across complex, multi-entity environments.
Ability to translate operational challenges into scalable solutions.
Preferred
Experience within a consulting firm or managed services provider.
Exposure to high-volume, multi-state, or global payroll operations.
Familiarity with major payroll and HRIS platforms (Workday, ADP, Dayforce, UKG, SAP, Oracle, etc.).
Professional certifications such as CPP, PMP, or Lean/Six Sigma.
Experience designing SLAs, KPIs, and governance frameworks for outsourced services.
Knowledge of Canada or other global payroll tax, wage and hour regulations, and compliance controls.
Core Competencies
Managed services operating model design
Payroll compliance and risk mitigation
Transition and implementation leadership
Client advisory and executive communication
Operational excellence and continuous improvement
Team leadership and talent development
Commercial awareness and practice growth mindset
At RSM, we offer a competitive benefits and compensation package for all our people. We offer flexibility in your schedule, empowering you to balance life’s demands, while also maintaining your ability to serve clients. Learn more about our total rewards at https://rsmus.com/careers/working-at-rsm/benefits.
All applicants will receive consideration for employment as RSM does not tolerate discrimination and/or harassment based on race; color; creed; sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances; sex (including pregnancy or disabilities related to nursing); gender; sexual orientation; HIV Status; national origin; ancestry; familial or marital status; age; physical or mental disability; citizenship; political affiliation; medical condition (including family and medical leave); domestic violence victim status; past, current or prospective service in the US uniformed service; US Military/Veteran status; pre-disposing genetic characteristics or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process and/or employment/partnership. RSM is committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, interview, or otherwise participate in the recruiting process, please call us at 800-274-3978 or send us an email at careers@rsmus.com.
RSM does not intend to hire entry level candidates who will require sponsorship now OR in the future (i.e. F-1 visa holders). If you are a recent U.S. college / university graduate possessing 1-2 years of progressive and relevant work experience in a same or similar role to the one for which you are applying, excluding internships, you may be eligible for hire as an experienced associate.
RSM will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records. For those living in California or applying to a position in California, please click here for additional information.
At RSM, an employee’s pay at any point in their career is intended to reflect their experiences, performance, and skills for their current role. The salary range (or starting rate for interns and associates) for this role represents numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, education, skills, work experience, certifications, location, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range.
Compensation Range: $81,400 - $153,500Individuals selected for this role will be eligible for a discretionary bonus based on firm and individual performance.
About
RSM is a global network of assurance, tax, and consulting experts with a significant presence worldwide. It boasts offices in over 120 countries and has a team of 57,000 professionals, emphasizing a client-centric approach deeply rooted in understanding the specific needs of each business. This approach enables RSM to empower clients to move forward confidently and realize their full potential. The firm offers a range of services, including audit and assurance, consulting, tax, risk advisory, IFRS, restructuring, transaction, and business and financial advisory solutions. They also provide specialized services like wealth management, IT consulting, legal advisory, forensic accounting, and human resource consulting. Their focus is on instilling confidence in a world of change, ensuring they provide more than just expert advice - they deliver a unique experience of being understood and supported through various business challenges and opportunities.
RSM US LLP, a member of the global RSM network, particularly focuses on the middle market in the United States and Canada. It stands as the fifth-largest accounting firm in the United States. Founded in 1926 by Ira B. McGladrey, the firm has grown significantly over the years, employing more than 17,000 professionals across 93 cities in the U.S. and Canada, with additional offices in India and El Salvador. Headquartered in Chicago, RSM US offers a wide range of services, including audit, tax, management consulting, risk advisory, technology consulting, and financial advisory services. The firm's history is marked by significant mergers and strategic shifts, including its separation from H&R Block and the subsequent reunification of its two entities, McGladrey & Pullen and RSM McGladrey. In 2015, the firm rebranded from McGladrey to RSM US LLP as part of a global rebranding initiative.
Military Support
Our VALOR (Veterans and Allies Leading Outreach) employee network group (ENG) encourages the recruitment, retention and success of veterans, active/reserve military members and their families within RSM and local communities. VALOR provides many resources to support the development of these individuals, while leveraging their skill sets to serve our clients.
VALOR supports and promotes advocacy for its members in their RSM and military aspirations. Members keep one another apprised of news and opportunities, and support employees still serving in the military when they’re deployed. VALOR supports local, regional and national activities to provide professional development, leadership skills, networking, business development and more to its members.
Commitment to inclusion:
We devote a full-time team exclusively to our culture of inclusion efforts to drive inclusion with our people, clients and the community. In addition, thousands of our people devote time to related internal initiatives, as well as to marketplace and community programs.
At RSM, we believe inclusion starts with “I.” This means each individual at RSM is committed to advancing racial understanding and inclusion across the firm and within our communities. To support our activities, we are sharing our internal resources for the benefit of our clients and others who want to drive meaningful change and create a more equitable future.
At RSM, we're all about a Power of Being You culture where each of us can bring our authentic selves to work each day. Understanding is at the core of our brand and it starts by understanding our people and their unique talents and aspirations. And when we all bring our individual talents and insights together, it strengthens our teams and enhances the insights we can provide to our clients. That’s the power of being understood, that’s the power of being you and that's one of the many reasons we champion an inclusive workplace.
Internships and RSM Excellence Academy
At RSM, you’ll be valued as an individual while interning with our firm. We recognize your accomplishments and unique potential, and mentor you as a future leader. By working directly with RSM professionals and leaders, you’ll move quickly along the learning curve to jump-start your career in accounting, consulting, or another part of the business.
Internships include orientation and training where interns will be prepared to work in client service through a combination of formal and informal training. Interns will recieve hands on expereince working with a variety of clients, while teaming up with RSM colleagues and leaders. RSM will provide interns with lunch-and-learn workshops, sporting events, and community service projects. Interns will gather with thier peers and co-workers to develop both personally and professionally. Interns ill be paired with both a navigator and a career advisor to help transition into their new role. The navigator is a peer aligned with you to help with questions. The career advisor ensures your experience meets your expectations and that you’re doing the right things to work toward that job offer.
The RSM Excellence Academy consists of a three-day summer leadership conference with a stipend and the opportunity to participate in an internship with RSM during the following summer. The Excellence Academy is open to all qualified students who are three years from graduation. The Excellence Academy is designed to align with RSM’s strategic pillar of driving an unrivaled, inclusive culture and talent experience. We recognize efforts of inclusivity and intend to develop outstanding business, accounting, and technology students for internships and full-time employment. Participants will have an opportunity to build relationships that will assist them in their educational and career development. We hope that this experience will provide students with an overall understanding of the professional services industry, RSM’s culture and the advantages of working in the middle market.