Senior Payroll & Payroll Tax Specialist

Overview

A financial institution is seeking a Senior Payroll & Payroll Tax Specialist to oversee payroll administration, payroll tax compliance, and employment compliance across a multi-state footprint. This role acts as the subject matter expert for payroll operations, wage and hour compliance, payroll tax administration, ACA reporting, employment verification, and payroll-related regulatory requirements. The position works closely with Accounting and leads payroll functions within the HRIS environment to ensure accurate and timely employee payments, compliance with payroll tax obligations, and adherence to federal, state, and local employment laws.

This is a remote position available for candidates located in GA, FL, NC, or SC.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of semi-monthly payroll processing.
• Ensure payroll is processed accurately, timely, and in compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
• Audit payroll transactions including salary changes, bonuses, commissions, incentive payments, deductions, garnishments, and benefit deductions.
• Review and reconcile payroll reports prior to processing and funding.
• Serve as the primary researcher supporting Accounting during reconciliation by investigating and resolving discrepancies, variances, or outages; document findings and corrective actions.
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries and resolve payroll-related issues.
• Process taxable fringe benefits ensuring correct imputed income, tax withholding, and W-2 reporting.
• Serve as the primary contact for employment and income verification requests.
• Administer and oversee timekeeping processes including system configuration, employee and manager support, audit and review of time records, and compliance with wage and hour laws and policies.
• Manage payroll tax registrations, filings, notices, audits, and account closures.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll and wage-and-hour requirements.
• Monitor employment law developments impacting payroll and compliance.
• Assist with internal and external audits related to payroll, payroll taxes, and employment compliance.
• Support responses to payroll-related regulatory inquiries and examinations.
• Maintain documentation supporting payroll and compliance activities.
• Coordinate payroll activities related to 401(k) and ESOP plans.
• Assist with retirement plan implementations, conversions, mergers, acquisitions, and employee communications related to payroll and compensation data.
• Support annual ESOP allocations by validating compensation and payroll information used in allocation calculations.
• Develop and maintain payroll and compliance procedures, internal controls, and documentation.
• Serve as the primary liaison for ACA reporting vendors and compliance activities.
• Coordinate compliance activities related to I-9s, unemployment claims, ACA reporting, and related filings.
• Partner with HR Generalist on payroll configuration, testing, workflows, and system upgrades in HRIS.
• Validate payroll-related employee data and reporting within HRIS.
• Support benefits payroll deductions, carrier reconciliations, and leave-related payroll administration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred; or Associate's degree with 8+ years of progressive payroll administration experience.
• Minimum 5 years of payroll administration experience.
• Experience managing multi-state payroll and employment compliance.
• Experience managing payroll tax compliance and ACA reporting.
• Experience with payroll systems and HRIS platforms; experience with Rippling is highly preferred.
• Experience in banking, financial services, or regulated industries preferred.
• Strong knowledge of payroll tax regulations and wage-and-hour laws.
• Advanced Excel and reporting skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to manage confidential information.

Preferred Certifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR
• Rippling or similar HRIS certifications

Location

Remote position for candidates located in Georgia (GA), Florida (FL), North Carolina (NC), or South Carolina (SC).