Payroll Specialist

Position Summary

The Payroll Specialist supports the payroll function by analyzing payroll data, ensuring tax and regulatory compliance, and improving payroll processes and controls. This position will act as a key partner to Payroll, HR, Finance, and external vendors to ensure payroll accuracy, compliance, and efficiency through analysis, auditing, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities:

• Support payroll processing activities by reviewing payroll inputs, outputs, and controls
• Analyze payroll data to identify trends, variances, and cost drivers
• Prepare and maintain recurring and ad hoc payroll reports for Finance and HR
• Support monthly, quarterly, and year-end payroll reporting and close activities
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations
• Review tax filings, payments, and reconciliations prepared by vendors or internal teams
• Assist with multi-state payroll compliance and jurisdiction setup
• Support internal and external payroll audits and respond to audit requests
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, and system efficiencies
• Document payroll procedures, workflows, and internal controls
• Support payroll system implementations, upgrades, and testing
• Drive automation and standardization initiatives to reduce errors and manual work
• Partner with HR, Finance, Accounting, and IT to ensure accurate data flow

Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field preferred
• 3–5 years of payroll experience, preferably in a mid-sized or large organization
• Strong knowledge of payroll taxes, wage and hour laws, and compliance requirements
• Experience reconciling payroll to the general ledger preferred
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, formulas)
• Experience with payroll systems (e.g., ADP, Workday, Paychex, UKG, Ceridian), preferably Workday
• Familiarity with HRIS and accounting software integrations preferred
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration
• Continuous improvement mindset