Payroll Specialist
7 days ago
Latham
Job Description Job Title: Payroll Specialist Reports to: Senior Director of Corporate Treasury Type of position: Full Time FSLA Status: Exempt GENERAL DESCRIPTION The Payroll Specialist is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of payroll for assigned employee populations. This role ensures compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, tax regulations, and internal policies, while delivering high-quality service to employees and stakeholders. The Payroll Specialist works closely with HR, Finance, and Benefits to support payroll accuracy, audits, reporting, and continuous process improvement. RESPONSIBILITIES Payroll Processing • Process bi-weekly payrolls accurately and on schedule., • Validate timekeeping data, pay rates, deductions, and earnings (regular, overtime, shift differentials, bonuses, PTO, etc.)., • Review payroll registers and resolve discrepancies prior to final submission., • Ensure proper handling of retro pay, corrections, and off-cycle payrolls. Compliance & Controls • Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations (FLSA, tax withholding, garnishments, wage orders)., • Maintain accurate payroll records and documentation in accordance with retention requirements., • Support internal and external audits related to payroll and compensation., • Monitor and apply changes in payroll legislation and tax requirements. Employee Support • Respond to employee inquiries regarding pay, taxes, deductions, and payroll policies., • Research and resolve payroll discrepancies in a timely and professional manner., • Partner with HR and Benefits on onboarding, terminations, leaves of absence, and benefit deductions. Reporting & Reconciliation • Prepare payroll reports for Finance, HR, and leadership as needed., • Reconcile payroll, taxes, and benefit deductions to general ledger., • Assist with year-end processing, including W-2s and tax filings., • Support payroll data requests for budgeting, forecasting, and workforce analytics. Process Improvement • Identify opportunities to improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, and controls., • Assist with payroll system upgrades, implementations, or integrations., • Document payroll procedures and maintain process documentation. QUALIFICATIONS Education: • Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business, Human Resources, or related discipline (or equivalent experience). Experience: • Minimum 2 years payroll processing experience., • Strong knowledge of payroll laws, tax regulations, and wage/hour compliance., • Experience in multi-entity healthcare environments, strongly preferred., • Experience with ADP Workforce Now HR & Payroll solution, strongly preferred., • Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC), preferred. Performance Requirements: • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills., • Professional, calm, and patient-focused demeanor., • Systems thinking and problem-solving capability., • High attention to detail and accuracy., • Strong organizational and project-management skills, • Proficiency with Excel (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, pivot tables preferred), • Data-driven decision-making capability.