About the role:

The Senior Payroll Specialist is responsible for the end-to-end execution of payroll operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing across the organization. This role serves as a subject matter expert in payroll administration, tax compliance, and certified payroll requirements, supporting both job-based payroll processes and regulatory reporting.

This position operates as an individual contributor and partners closely with Human Resources and Finance to ensure alignment between payroll, time and attendance compliance, and budgetary controls. The Payroll Manager plays a critical role in maintaining data integrity, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and continuously improving payroll processes and systems.

Key Responsibilities:

Manage full-cycle payroll processing, including multi-state and job-based payroll environments
Ensure accurate calculation and processing of wages, overtime, bonuses, and deductions
Administer and ensure compliance with certified payroll reporting requirements (e.g., Davis-Bacon)
Maintain compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local payroll tax and reporting regulations
Ensure appropriate state tax accounts are set up, actively managed and maintained when new accounts are needed
Prepare and file payroll tax reports; coordinate audits and resolve discrepancies
Partner with HR to ensure accuracy and compliance of timekeeping and attendance data
Collaborate with Finance to reconcile payroll to general ledger and ensure alignment with budgets and forecasts
Maintain and validate employee payroll records, including changes to compensation, benefits, and tax status
Generate payroll-related reports and analytics to support financial planning and decision-making
Support payroll system administration, including updates, enhancements, and potential system implementations
Assist in evaluating and improving payroll processes, controls, and efficiencies
Ensure confidentiality and security of payroll and employee data

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or related field
Minimum of 5 years of progressive payroll experience, including job-based payroll environments
Direct experience with certified payroll reporting is required
Strong knowledge of payroll laws, tax regulations, and compliance requirements
Experience with payroll systems; Rippling experience preferred but not required
Proven ability to manage full-cycle payroll independently in a complex environment
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and reconciliation skills
High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and ability to meet strict deadlines
Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work cross-functionally with HR and Finance

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