Payroll Specialist

• Process end-to-end payroll for an assigned group of hourly and salaried employees, ensuring accurate and timely completion each payroll cycle.
• Own wage and hour administration, including timekeeping review, exception handling, and coordinating corrections with managers and employees.
• Administer payroll setup and maintenance for new hires, transfers, promotions, pay changes, leaves of absence, and terminations, including tax profiles, direct deposit, garnishments, and PTO/Sick Time accruals.
• Serve as a working-level resource on payroll practices, wage and hour laws, and payroll taxation; independently resolve most employee and manager payroll inquiries, escalating complex or unusual matters to the Senior Payroll Specialist or Payroll Manager.
• Process employment and wage verifications, wage garnishments, and related payroll documentation.
• Perform payroll audits and data validations to identify discrepancies, and coordinate corrections with Payroll, HR, Benefits, and Finance.
• Prepare, validate, and distribute payroll reports and reconciliations, including support for internal and external audit requests.
• Support quarter-end and year-end payroll activities, including preparing and validating year-end forms and filings (W-2s, 1094/1095, T4s).
• Support GL reconciliation and payroll-related reporting in partnership with Finance.
• Act as a payroll system user, supporting HRIS/payroll platform functionality, data integrity, and integrations; participate in system testing, upgrades, and process improvements as directed.
• Partner with the Payroll Manager and HR Systems Specialist on system configuration, documentation, and continuous improvement of payroll processes.
• Collaborate with Payroll, HR, Benefits, Finance, HR Systems, and external vendors to research and resolve payroll-related issues.
• Maintain payroll procedures and documentation to support consistency, accuracy, and compliance.
• Provide guidance and informal support to Payroll Coordinators on routine payroll processes and questions.
• Protect confidential employee and company information, and maintain the integrity of payroll records.
• Comply with all company policies, procedures, and safety practices.

Complete special projects and other duties as assigned by the Payroll Manager or senior HR leadership.
 

• Strong working knowledge of payroll practices, wage and hour laws, and payroll administration processes, including multi-state payroll.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy, with the ability to independently manage moderately complex payroll matters.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• High level of discretion and ability to handle confidential information appropriately.
• Strong customer service, written communication, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively interact with employees, managers, and cross-functional business partners.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and payroll/HRIS systems; ability to analyze and validate payroll data.
• Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and meet established deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to identify issues and escalate complex matters appropriately.

Ability to maintain accuracy while handling high volumes of transactions and meeting strict payroll deadlines.
 

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Accounting, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 4+ years of payroll, HR, accounting, or related experience, including direct responsibility for payroll processing.
• Experience supporting multi-state payroll environments preferred; experience with Canadian payroll a plus.
• Experience with ADP Lyric preferred; experience with ADP Workforce Now or comparable payroll systems required.
• Experience working with integrated systems such as timekeeping, benefits, and financial systems preferred.
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience working with reporting tools (e.g., ADP Reporting, Power BI, or Tableau) preferred.
• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) preferred but not required.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, over the phone, and via digital platforms.
• Occasional travel may be required for meetings or training.

Compensation: N/A