Payroll Specialist

About This Role

The Payroll Specialist sustains the Payroll team's performance by managing and executing all pre-processing payroll functions to ensure the system is accurately set up for successful payroll cycles. The role is responsible for critical upfront coordination, collection, and entry of time and pay data, anticipating operational roadblocks, and maintaining data integrity. By ensuring all foundational employee records and system inputs are complete and compliant, the Specialist ensures that all employees are paid accurately, on time, and in compliance with all relevant tax laws and organization policies.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end pre-processing payroll cycle, which involves collecting and auditing time and attendance data; processing system updates for new hires and terminations, and direct deposit info; accurately calculating wages, overtime, all employee tax withholdings (federal, state, and local); and all employee voluntary (i.e., benefits, retirement plan/401k) and involuntary (i.e., garnishments) deductions to fully set up the bi-weekly run making corrections as needed
• Plan and organize work in a way that meets payroll project timelines and goals, and attend regular payroll planning meetings to ensure timelines and goals are met
• Follow proper internal control procedures to maintain integrity of payroll run as determined by Payroll Manager
• Ensure the payroll system is synced to the People & Culture systems to receive payroll information
• Provide customer service to all employees and serve as the first point of contact for employees' payroll-related inquiries and discrepancies (i.e., responding to inquiries in the payroll inbox)
• Document and maintain all payroll related policies and procedures
• Recommend changes and updates for consideration and approval by the Payroll Manager
• Develop materials and provide training to new employees and managers, as needed and directed by the Payroll Manager
• Compile and prepare reporting for payroll projects as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent required
• 2-4 years of payroll processing experience, or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience, preferred
• Experience with UKG or ADP payroll software is a plus
• Ability to work collaboratively and flexibly with a dynamic, fast-moving team, completing multiple tasks with poise, accuracy, and confidence
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Moderate proficiency in Google and Microsoft Excel products (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, basic other formulas)
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to quickly changing priorities and ambiguous situations