Senior Payroll & Reporting Specialist

Overview

• Workstyle: Remote (home-based)
• Reports to: Senior Manager, Payroll
• Travel Expectations: Minimal travel; may include occasional trips for key meetings, collaboration opportunities, or area-connected events.

Remote Eligibility: To be eligible for hire, candidates must reside in a state where the organization is registered to do business as an employer. Eligible states currently include:
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV.

Physical Requirements/Demands: Primarily sedentary, home-based role requiring the ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods while working at a computer. Regular use of standard office equipment (computer, keyboard, mouse, telephone). Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Application Period: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and will continue until the position is filled.

Responsibilities

• Execute bi-weekly multi-state, multi-entity payroll runs end-to-end, including on-cycle, off-cycle, severance, bonuses, and commission payouts, within established controls.
• Audit and reconcile payroll-impacting changes (new hires, terminations, compensation updates, garnishments) against source systems to ensure data integrity.
• Perform independent reasonableness checks and source-data verification for final wage and leave payout calculations before payment release.
• Build, run, and analyze recurring pay registers, deduction audits, tax withholding checks, and retro/adjustment reports using Workday and advanced Excel.
• Lead assigned payroll system/process projects, workflow configurations, and Workday testing, providing substantiated rationale for technical updates.
• Research and resolve complex payroll tickets independently; escalate unresolved risks to the Senior Manager with documented context and a recommended solution.
• Triage agency tax notices: resolve routine matters independently and support quarterly tax account reviews under Senior Manager direction.
• Maintain, document, and update standard operating procedures (SOPs), audit evidence, and verification logs for non-routine payroll transactions.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of progressive payroll experience processing complex, multi-state payrolls (multi-entity experience preferred).
• Proven ability to independently run end-to-end bi-weekly payroll processing, including off-cycle adjustments, severance, and commission calculations.
• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, SUMIFS, large dataset handling, and reconciliation template building.
• Proficiency with Workday Payroll and reporting tools, including hands-on experience with system testing and release validation.
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills, with a track record of payroll balancing, variance analysis, and month-end reconciliations.
• Deep functional knowledge of payroll compliance, tax treatments, and agency notice triage.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment on non-routine payments, including verifying source data before finalizing transactions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or equivalent certification.
• Hands-on experience with payroll tax registrations and agency notice administration.

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Range (salaried, exempt): $70,000–$93,000

• Placement within the range is determined by factors including knowledge, skills, years and depth of experience, and equity with internal team members.

Benefits include:

• Generous Paid Time Off: Flexible paid time off policies and major paid holidays.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision coverage at a low cost through a PPO or HDHP plan for you and your family.
• Employee Wellness: Virtual medical consultations through MDLIVE and mental health services through some preferred partners.
• Family-Friendly Benefits: Up to 14 weeks of fully paid parental leave for birthing parents (6 weeks STD + 8 weeks parental leave) and 8 weeks of fully paid parental leave for non-birthing parents, plus adoption assistance, pet insurance, caregiver leave, and fertility benefits.
• Financial Wellness: 401(k) with company matching, employer HSA contributions for eligible plans, Life & AD&D insurance, flexible spending accounts, and resources to manage financial needs.
• Professional Development: Training programs, certifications, and tuition assistance.

Additional Information

• Job Expectations (What this role requires):
  • Ability to handle novel, non-standard payroll situations using sound reasoning and verification (not limited to step-by-step documentation).
  • Ability to provide researched context, sources, and a recommended solution when escalating complex issues.
  • Comfort working in a lean structure with end-to-end ownership and proactive capacity management.
  • Comfort collaborating directly across functions and presenting substantiated technical/business logic to Finance, HRIS, and vendor partners.

Equal Opportunity & Background Check

The organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to maintaining a discrimination-free workplace. Employment offers are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal background check (prior conviction does not automatically rescind an offer; determinations are made case-by-case in accordance with applicable law).