Tricia Miller
Phoenix,AZ
Summary
Payroll leader with 11 years of experience managing complex multi-state, high-volume payroll operations for 1,500–17,500+ employees. Ensures tax compliance through state registrations, filings, and audit-ready documentation. Improves accuracy and efficiency through strong controls, scalable payroll processes, and team leadership across multiple payroll systems.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Payroll Manager
P.F. Chang's Bistro
Scottsdale, Arizona
05.2026 - Current
- Processed full-cycle payroll for 17,500+ team members across multiple software platforms.
- Managed two bi-weekly pay groups and one weekly pay group to ensure timely and accurate payroll processing.
- Ensured compliance with federal, state, and local payroll rules to mitigate risks.
- Collaborated with management on payroll policy updates and streamlined process improvements.
- Guided managers through complex payroll questions involving pay calculations and labor laws.
- Worked alongside HR to ensure precise tracking and updating of employee paid time off records.
- Created training materials for new team members on accurate payroll processing.
- Processed tip-based payroll and maintained accurate reporting.
- Developed and tested Workday EIBs and payroll processing changes in the sandbox environment, validating data, configurations, and results prior to production implementation to ensure accurate and controlled system changes.
Payroll Director
Copa Health
Phoenix, Az
06.2024 - 02.2026
- Managed full lifecycle of multi-state payroll tax accounts, ensuring compliance through new state registrations, account maintenance, terminations, annual filings, and ongoing requirements.
- Facilitated multi-state payroll processing for team members and consumers, ensuring timely and accurate compensation.
- Shortened payroll processing time from 4 days to 3 days and reduced consumer payroll processing time from 2 days to 2 hours through process improvements.
- Streamlined payroll setup by reducing 130+ earning codes to 30 standardized codes, improving accuracy and efficiency.
- Developed payroll validation reports, controls, and SOP documentation to enhance 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
Ports America
Chandler, Arizona
11.2023 - 07.2024
- Directed multi-state payroll operations for 12,500+ employees across union and non-union populations, delivering accurate processing across multiple jurisdictions.
- Led 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, enhancing payroll reporting for accurate financial and regulatory outcomes.
- Developed and standardized payroll procedures, union-specific checklists, controls, and documentation to drive consistency and lower 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 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
Cove Communities
Phoenix, AZ
04.2022 - 11.2023
- Led team of 2, including payroll specialist and HR generalist, to enhance payroll operations.
- Supported payroll processing for 2000+ employees across multiple locations and payroll groups, maintaining accurate and timely pay runs.
- Assisted with payroll integration for acquisitions involving 150+ employees at one time, handling employee data, payroll setup, tax details, deductions, and system configuration for smooth transitions.
- Processed payroll and maintained system records in UKG Dimensions, keeping employee data, pay rules, earnings, deductions, and timekeeping information accurate.
- Worked with HR, finance, and operational leaders to resolve payroll issues, investigate discrepancies, and keep payroll records accurately.
- Created and updated payroll procedures and documentation to ensure consistency and accuracy across payroll operations.
- Assisted with multi-state payroll tax compliance, reconciliations, reporting, and year-end payroll tasks.
- Identified and implemented strategies to streamline payroll and HR processes, enhancing data accuracy and strengthening controls during organizational growth.
Payroll Director
Keter Environmental Services
Phoenix, Arizona
03.2018 - 04.2022
- Oversaw payroll accuracy, reconciliations, reporting, and resolution of complex payroll discrepancies and employee pay issues.
- Maintained payroll procedures, controls, and documentation to ensure consistent and compliant payroll operations.
- Directed payroll operations, guiding a 5-person team of payroll specialists, schedulers, and debt collector to ensure seamless payroll and office functions.
- Met with CFO and CEO on a biweekly-to-monthly basis to review payroll growth expectations, operational needs, staffing requirements, and process recommendations.
- Shared strategic recommendations with executive leadership on payroll operations, workforce planning, staffing, and process improvements to support growth.
- Coordinated payroll, employee data, staffing, and cross-functional processes during 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.
Education
Some College (No Degree) -
Maricopa Community Colleges, Paradise Valley Community College
Phoenix, AZSkills
- Multi-State and High-Volume Payroll Management
- Payroll Tax Compliance and State Registrations
- Union and Complex Payroll
- Payroll Systems and HRIS Administration
- Workday EIBs and Sandbox Testing
- Payroll Auditing
- Process improvement
- Retirement Plan Compliance
- Team leadership
Timeline
Assistant Payroll Manager
P.F. Chang's Bistro
05.2026 - Current
Payroll Director
Copa Health
06.2024 - 02.2026
Senior Payroll Manager
Ports America
11.2023 - 07.2024
Payroll and HR Manager
Cove Communities
04.2022 - 11.2023
Payroll Director
Keter Environmental Services
03.2018 - 04.2022
Some College (No Degree) -
Maricopa Community Colleges, Paradise Valley Community College