Tricia Miller

Payroll leader with 11 years of experience managing complex, multi-state and high-volume payroll operations for organizations ranging from 200 to 17,500+ employees. Experienced in union and non-union payroll, payroll tax compliance, state registrations and filings, audits, retirement plan compliance, HRIS/payroll systems, and process transformation. Known for strengthening payroll controls, improving operational efficiency, resolving complex payroll issues, and leading teams through high-volume, multi-jurisdictional environments.

Assistant Payroll Manager at P.F. Chang's Bistro (2026-05 – Present)

Manage full-cycle payroll operations supporting 17,500+ team members across multiple payroll platforms.

• Oversee two biweekly and one weekly pay group, ensuring timely and accurate payroll processing.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll requirements while identifying and resolving compliance risks.
• Partner with management to update payroll policies and implement process improvements that strengthen accuracy and efficiency.
• Advise managers on complex payroll issues involving pay calculations, timekeeping, and labor requirements.
• Develop training materials and provide guidance to new team members on payroll processes and controls.
• Manage tip-based payroll processing and reporting, ensuring accurate earnings and payroll records.
• Develop and test Workday EIBs and payroll processing changes in the sandbox environment, validating data, configurations, and results before production implementation.

Payroll Director at Copa Health (2024-06 – 2026-02)

Managed the full lifecycle of multi-state payroll tax accounts, including new state registrations, account maintenance, state terminations, annual filings, and ongoing compliance requirements.

• Managed multi-state payroll processing for employees and consumers, ensuring accurate and timely compensation across multiple payroll populations.
• Reduced employee payroll processing time from 4 days to 3 days and consumer payroll processing from 2 days to 2 hours through process redesign and workflow improvements.
• Reduced 130+ earning codes to 30 standardized codes, simplifying payroll configuration while improving accuracy and processing efficiency.
• Developed payroll validation reports, controls, and SOP documentation to strengthen payroll accuracy and compliance.
• Managed and reconciled 403(b) and 457(b) retirement plans.
• Completed payroll audits, Form 5500 reporting, and compliance reviews.
• Calculated 403(b) lost earnings and coordinated corrective remittances with Principal to resolve retirement plan contribution discrepancies.

Senior Payroll Manager at Ports America (2023-11 – 2024-07)

Directed multi-state payroll operations for 12,500+ employees across union and non-union populations, delivering accurate payroll processing across multiple jurisdictions.

• Led a team of 4 payroll professionals, setting priorities, balancing workloads, providing training, and managing escalation support for complex payroll issues.
• Managed specialized payroll requirements, ensuring compliance with union rules, garnishments, bonuses, retroactive pay, off-cycle payments, adjustments, and related earnings and deductions.
• Oversaw compliance reconciliations, year-end reviews, and tax discrepancy resolution to support accurate financial and regulatory reporting.
• Developed and standardized payroll procedures, union-specific checklists, controls, and documentation to drive consistency and reduce operational risk.
• Administered payroll operations, reporting, reconciliations, and system functions within UKG, Paychex, and ADP Workforce Now.
• Designed payroll discrepancy reporting tools and reinforced quality-control processes, enabling early identification and resolution of issues before payroll finalization.
• Partnered with HR, Finance, and other stakeholders to resolve complex payroll matters, support audits, and strengthen payroll controls.
• Led payroll system and process improvements through requirements gathering, testing, implementation, and ongoing optimization of payroll procedures and technology.

Payroll and HR Manager at Cove Communities (2022-04 – 2023-11)

Led a team of 2, including a Payroll Specialist and HR Generalist, to strengthen payroll and HR operations.

• Oversaw Canadian payroll processing, ensuring accurate earnings, deductions, reporting, and compliance requirements for Canadian employees.
• Managed payroll processing for 2,000+ employees across multiple locations and payroll groups, maintaining accurate and timely pay runs.
• Managed payroll integration activities for acquisitions involving 150+ employees at a time, including employee data, payroll setup, tax details, deductions, and system configuration.
• Managed payroll processing and maintained employee data, pay rules, earnings, deductions, and timekeeping configurations in UKG Dimensions.
• Partnered with HR, Finance, and operational leaders to resolve payroll issues, investigate discrepancies, and maintain accurate payroll records.
• Created and updated payroll procedures and documentation to ensure consistency and accuracy across payroll operations.
• Managed multi-state payroll tax compliance, reconciliations, reporting, and year-end payroll requirements.
• Identified and implemented strategies to streamline payroll and HR processes, improving data accuracy and strengthening controls during organizational growth.

Payroll Director at Keter Environmental Services (2018-03 – 2022-04)

Oversaw payroll accuracy, reconciliations, reporting, and resolution of complex payroll discrepancies and employee pay issues.

• Managed the end-to-end implementation and transition from Paychex to UKG, coordinating payroll requirements, system configuration, testing, data validation, and implementation activities to ensure a successful transition.
• Maintained payroll procedures, controls, and documentation to ensure consistent and compliant payroll operations.
• Led payroll operations while supervising a 5-person cross-functional team across payroll, scheduling, and collections, ensuring efficient and effective office operations.
• Partnered directly with the CFO and CEO on payroll growth, staffing, operational needs, workforce planning, and process improvement recommendations.
• Coordinated payroll, employee data, staffing, and cross-functional processes during the transition of business operations from California to Arizona.
• Recruited, interviewed, and hired multiple employees for the Phoenix office, including roles outside payroll, supporting broader workforce planning and office operations.

Some College – Maricopa Community Colleges, Paradise Valley Community College