Payroll Specialist Sr

Overview

The Payroll Specialist administers the payroll function for the organization and supports accurate, timely payroll processing. This role involves learning and leveraging payroll/timekeeping technology for day-to-day activities while maintaining an extremely high level of data entry accuracy.

Responsibilities

General Payroll Duties (75%)

• Collect, verify, and store company payroll data related to bi-weekly payroll and weekly temp associate payroll in a predetermined and organized fashion, including:
  • New hires, terminations
  • Job/pay/schedule changes
  • Shift changes
  • Direct deposit changes
  • Withholding changes
  • Historical timecard corrections
• Maintain and update required information in the timekeeping system.
• Review own data entry and that of payroll peers to ensure data accuracy.
• Reconcile separate files (expense items, imported bonuses, commissions, etc.) to payroll reports before the Payroll Manager commits payroll to run.
• Prepare and reconcile pre- and post-payroll reports as needed to ensure accuracy of payroll data transmitted to the payroll vendor and paychecks received by colleagues.
• Compute wages, taxes, and deductions as needed.
• Set up new state and local tax codes, assist with accurate filings, and prepare quarterly and year-end tax adjustments as needed.
• Interface regularly with third-party payroll tax and verification of employment vendors.
• Collaborate with team members on cross-functional payroll learning to provide coverage for payroll processing responsibilities as needed.
• Support monthly, quarterly, and yearly audits, and coordinate month-end processing of reports, accruals, and reconciliations.
• Provide payroll information by answering questions and responding to requests.
• Comply with federal, state, and local legal requirements by studying existing and new legislation and communicating needed actions with management.
• Maintain colleague confidence and protect payroll operations by keeping information confidential.

Administrative Duties (25%)

• Apply organization policies and administrative systems to provide guidance to internal customers with non-routine requests, including researching entries, recommending procedure changes, and providing individual training.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of internal processes to deliver a high-quality value-added product to internal customers.
• Act as an escalation point for resolving more complex colleague issues that may be escalated through group inboxes.
• Respond to vendor and employee verification of employment requests or requests for wage information as needed.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree in Accounting or Finance or related program preferred and/or 2-4 years of related and relevant work experience.

General Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Firsthand experience with UltiPro Payroll and/or Kronos timekeeping (UltiPro is now called UKG).
• Active, knowledgeable Excel skills, including VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and formulas/functions (used daily).
• Self-sufficient; able to follow direction and think critically to problem-solve when needed.
• Working knowledge of federal and state tax or other regulatory changes that could impact payroll.
• Ability to work under general supervision.
• Ability to handle moderately complex issues and problems; refer more complex issues to higher-level peers as needed, with research to aid faster resolution.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.

Physical/Emotional Demands & Work Environment

• Sedentary role (office or home settings), with potential repetitive motions.
  • Regularly required to sit; use hands and fingers; speak and hear.
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, and lift objects (up to 10 lbs; up to 4 ft. height).
• Specific vision abilities include seeing from a close distance and adjusting focus.
• In-office environment uses fluorescent lighting with moderate noise.
• Emotional demands may include undue stress from regular weekly/bi-weekly/quarterly/year-end deadlines and a moderate/heavy workload.
• Reasonable accommodations will be individually assessed and possibly made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• Job description is subject to change at any time.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range

Compensation range considers factors including skill set, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate is not adjusted for geographic differential associated with the location where the position may be filled. It is not typical for individuals to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role; compensation decisions depend on the facts and circumstances of each case.

What’s Provided

• Remote work: remote-first model; almost all positions offer flexibility to work from home.
• Generous time off:
  • 8 company holidays and 2 personal days every year
  • minimum of 18 days of paid time off
• Comprehensive benefits package, including:
  • medical, dental, vision, and pet insurance
  • 401(k) matching program
  • company-paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage
• Supportive services:
  • Colleague Assistance Program offering free counseling and financial services
  • One Call Foundation (non-profit arm) providing financial assistance during unexpected hardships

Location

Work environment may be office or home settings, depending on where the role is located.

Equal Opportunity Employer

An equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, nationality, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.