Payroll Specialist

Payroll Specialist

For more than 130 years, J.C. Newman Cigar Co. has been crafting some of the world's most respected cigars. Located in the heart of historic Ybor City, our restored historic building features a three-level cigar museum, interactive theater, hand-rolling room, factory store, and private event space. Guests from around the world visit us to experience Tampa's cigar heritage, much like they would a winery, brewery, or distillery.

We are seeking a dependable bi-lingual (English/Spanish) detail-oriented Payroll Specialist to manage weekly payroll operations in an on-site office environment. This role is ideal for a payroll professional who enjoys working with detailed data and takes pride in ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time. While payroll is the primary responsibility, this role will also support the Human Resource team through onboarding processes, annual benefit open enrollment processes and special projects.

What You Will Do

As the Payroll Specialist, you will own the organization's payroll processes, ensuring accurate and timely payroll across multiple company divisions, states, and compensation structures. You will play a key role in maintaining payroll integrity by proactively identifying discrepancies, resolving issues, and ensuring employees are paid correctly and on time.

In addition to payroll responsibilities, you will assist the Human Resource team with on-boarding, benefits enrollment, reporting, payroll and audit support, and special projects.

You will be:

• Process weekly payroll for 225+ employees, across multi-company divisions including piece-rate and variable compensation, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations across multiple states
• Review and validate production and payroll calculations, performing audits to identify and resolve discrepancies
• Maintain accurate payroll records, employee data, and internal documentation
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries regarding pay, deductions, and tax withholdings
• Conduct employee onboarding processes, including new hire documentation and payroll set up.
• Support annual benefits open enrollment activities.
• Work with Human Resources and Accounting teams with reconciliations, reporting, audit support, and ad hoc projects
• Reconcile monthly benefits billing to payroll and employee deductions.

Who You Are

You are reliable, detail-oriented, and comfortable owning the payroll process. You enjoy working with people, numbers, tracking data, and identifying discrepancies before they become issues. While payroll is your primary focus, you also enjoy supporting Human Resources initiatives that contribute to a positive employee experience. You are a self-starter who can manage multiple priorities, maintain confidentiality, and contribute to payroll reconciliations, reporting, and special projects that help keep operations running smoothly.

You likely bring:

• High School diploma or equivalent required; some college preferred
• Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills required.
• 3-5 years of proven experience in payroll
• Strong knowledge of payroll, tax, and related accounting principles
• Proficiency with payroll systems, ERP systems, and employee on-boarding and record keeping
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
• Advanced Excel skills, including PivotTables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, SUMIF/COUNTIF, conditional formatting, data validation, and payroll data analysis
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple responsibilities

Why You Will Love This Role

• Take full responsibility for the payroll function and truly make it yours
• Work in a stable, structured office environment where your accuracy and reliability matter
• Collaborate closely with HR, Accounting, and leadership on important financial processes

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• Ability to sit for extended periods while working at a computer
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, data entry, and handling documents
• Occasional standing and walking throughout the office
• Ability to lift and move boxes, samples, or materials weighing up to 25 pounds occasionally

Benefits That Support You

We offer a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, company-paid life and short-term disability insurance, company-sponsored long-term disability, paid time off, paid holidays, and more.

Ready to Join Us?

If you're passionate about hospitality, storytelling, and having memorable guest experiences, we'd love to hear from you. Please submit your resume to hr@jcnewman.com or apply online at www.jcnewman.com/careers.

J.C. Newman Cigar Co. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are a drug-free workplace and conduct pre-employment drug screening.