Senior HR Operations Leader with Payroll expertise

TANISHA C. LOWERY

708-***-**** ***********@*****.***

Dynamic Head of People Services with over 20 years of progressive HR experience, specializing in payroll management, HR technology integration, and compliance. Achievements include ensuring 100% compliance in payroll operations and leading process improvements that resulted in a 20% reduction in processing time and costs. Possesses robust coaching and team leadership skills, consistently guiding teams to exceed performance metrics. Eager to leverage expertise in HR services to enhance operation efficiency and stakeholder satisfaction.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

HSBC, Chicago, IL 04/2023 – 08/2024

Head of People Services, US

Spearheaded Payroll, Payroll Tax, Delivery Services, and Benefits Administration, ensuring 100% compliance with federal and state regulations.

Ensured compliance with regulatory bodies while overseeing local reporting, including regulatory, internal and external audits, and statutory reviews, guaranteeing efficient service delivery aligned with global strategy and legal priorities.

Elevated customer satisfaction by overseeing HR service quality while maintaining timely and effective governance and controls.

Streamlined and automated HR People Service processes to deliver continuous improvement evidenced by increases in net promoter score and improved operational metrics.

Established a framework for issues resolution in collaboration with Services Owners, Service Recipients, and global contacts and required. Managed stakeholder expectations regarding products, services, solutions, cost implications, and other considerations to drive positive and productive team environment.

Mentored, developed, and guided team members to unlock their full potential and promote a positive and productive team environment.

Identified an executed opportunities for process enhancements, achieving targets and simplifying operations for increased efficiency and capability.

Oversaw financial management, including local resource allocation and budgeting.

RXO, Chicago, IL 10/2022 – 10/2023

HRIT Manager

Cultivated partnerships across HR, Payroll, Time & Attendance, technology teams, and vendor partners to enhance collaboration and efficiency.

Collaborated with HR, Payroll, Time & Attendance, and IT leadership tams to delineate technical roadmaps and prioritize project queues.

Directed the configuration requirements for HR, Payroll, and Time & Attendance systems to align with business needs, providing best-practice guidance on processes.

Provided comprehensive support through system design, configuration, integration, testing and support, including gathering requirements and developing future state solutions, alongside testing and post-implementation activities.

Managed third-party service delivery (configuration, development, transportation, etc.) and implemented expense controls.

Navigated the interdependencies and complexities of HR, Payroll, Time & Attendance, and related activities.

Supervised the creation and management of technical environment landscapes.

Led the integration requirement definition process from both functional and technical perspectives.

Oversaw technical connectivity requirements concerning infrastructure, networking, and data centers as applicable.

Navistar, Lisle, IL 08/2018 – 10/2022

Senior Payroll & Contact Center Manager

Managed and coached payroll center team of 12 using PeopleSoft and ADP Global View, ensuring optimal performance.

Engaged with HR, Benefits, IT and executive leadership to assess organizational needs, fostering positive partnerships and collaboration on existing and upcoming initiatives.

Addressed complex employee inquiries concerning policies, procedures, and payroll-related issues with effective communication.

Selected, developed, and evaluated personnel to uphold operation efficiency, exercising oversight on costs, methods, and staffing.

Delivered exceptional customer service and propelled department productivity to exceed targets.

Monitored team performance to ensure adherence to call volume SLAs and initiated through call screenings for accuracy of information and service quality measurement.

Fulfilled all government reporting obligations for payroll taxes, withholding, and employer contributions.

Designed, modified, and implemented policies impacting operations, achieving a 20% reduction in processing time and payroll costs.

Oversaw budget recommendations, mid-term planning, and performance metrics across multiple related areas.

Evaluated current systems, recommending and developing improvements for operational efficiency.

Conducted audits and approved payroll transactions, amendments, and tax filings, ensuring accuracy and procedural compliance.

Oversaw budget and policy recommendations, medium-term planning and performance and results of multiple related areas.

Evaluated current systems and recommended and developed operating efficiency improvements.

Audited and signed off on payroll transactions, amendments, and tax filings to ensure accuracy and validate timeliness and that proper procedures were followed.

Outcome Health, Chicago, IL 10/2017 – 08/2018

Payroll Manager

Oversaw full-cycle payroll department activities, including semi-monthly payrolls, bonus and commission payments, garnishments, and annual W-2s.

Played a significant role in special projects such as mergers and acquisitions and testing software updates.

Maintained productive relationships with payroll service providers, conducting periodic contract reviews to ensure services and pricing aligned with expectations.

Led the Payroll Analyst Team, collaborating effectively with Finance Partners, HR, HRIS, Compensation, and IT departments to refine processes and streamline procedures.

Administered policies and procedures to ensure efficient and accurate transactions while maintaining departmental key controls and process documentation for the payroll cycle.

Responded to internal and external audit requests, identifying risk areas and implementing mitigation strategies.

Reconciled monthly, quarterly, and year-end payroll taxes and related filling reports, including 941s, W2s, and payroll tax adjustments.

Ensured accuracy and timeliness of federal, multi-state, and multi-jurisdiction withholding tax payments in collaboration with the Payroll Tax Service Provider.

Executed the monthly and quarterly close process related to payroll tax filings in partnership with service provider and functional leads

Tetra Pak Inc., Vernon Hills, IL 12/2016 – 09/2017

Payroll Manager

Led and developed the US and Mexico payroll team of 7, ensuring that all operational Key Performance indicators were met.

Guaranteed accurate and timely delivery of payroll processes in compliance with statutory requirements and company policies.

Continuously assessed payroll, benefits, and tax procedures, implementing changes as necessary to ensure efficiency and adherence to best practices.

Cultivated relationships with external payroll, benefit vendors, and insurance brokers to ensure consistent and quality service delivery.

Supported the Reward Manager and collaborated with the Reward and Master Data teams in launching global initiatives.

Addressed escalated employee inquiries related to payroll and local benefits received through HR Direct.

Managed relationships with external payroll/benefit vendors and insurance brokers ensuring consistent and quality delivery of services.

Supported the Reward Manager and collaborated with the Reward and/or Master Data teams in the implementation of global initiatives.

Supported and/or responded to escalated employee inquiries received through HR Direct related to payroll and local benefits.

Here, Chicago, IL 12/2014 – 12/2016

Senior Payroll Specialist

Managed all components of Canadian payroll, establishing adequate checks and balances to ensure payroll compliance and accuracy.

Reviewed US multi-state payroll for 2000+ employees on a bi-weekly, validating accuracy prior to transmission and conducted detailed testing to ensure implemented software functioned correctly.

Determined payroll liabilities by approving the calculation of employee federal and state income and social security taxes, and employer contributions for social security, unemployment, and Worker’s Compensation payments.

Prepared and uploaded general ledger entries, accruals and journal entries.

Collaborated with ADP to ensure appropriate reporting of Canadian federal and provincial taxes.

Maintained payroll guidelines through drafting and updating of policies and procedures.

Conducted thorough reviews and analysis of payroll, benefits and tax procedures, recommending and implementing adjustments that enhanced operational best-practices.

Managed regular preparation of management reports, including weekly, monthly, quarterly, and year-end compilations (gross payroll, hours worked, vacation accrual, tax deductions, benefit deductions).

Assisted in monitoring the company’s wage and salary structure and the variable pay systems, including bonuses and raises.

Heidrick and Struggles, Chicago, IL 11/2013 – 09/2014

Senior Payroll Analyst

Administered payrolls for the Americas region, including Canada and Latin America, managing all vendor transition and implementation activities.

Resolved intricate issues regarding federal and state taxable income to ensure federal and state taxable income to ensure applicable laws and regulations.

Led regional processes for annual compensation cycle activities including merit increases and bonuses.

Identified and executed continuous process improvements within quality initiatives for process organizations.

Oversaw the monthly reconciliation of payroll accounts alongside general ledger posting of payroll journal entries.

Partnered with Benefits team to ensure accuracy for during vendor transitions and throughout annual open enrollment processes.

Ensured compliance with all SOX requirements and documentation was maintained and current.

Provided business process expertise by comprehensively understanding business objectives and assisting in the design of new processes to support the deployment.

Exelon (Modis), Chicago, IL 09/2013-10/2013

Payroll Tax Analyst (Contractor)

Pivot Point International, Evanston, IL 11/2011-03/2013

Payroll Specialist

R.J. O’Brien & Associates

Payroll Manager 11/2007-08/2011

EDUCATION

Master of Arts (MA), Public Administration

2024-2025, Keller Graduate School of Management, Chicago, IL

Master of Business Administration (MBA), Business Administration

2012-2013, Keller Graduate School of Management, Chicago, IL

Master of Arts (MA), Human Resource Management

2005-2007, Keller Graduate School of Management, Chicago, IL

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Political Science

1993-1996, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL

HONORS: Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society in Business

TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES & SKILLS

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