Payroll Specialist - Part Time

At Russell Stover, not only do we love chocolate, but we love our jobs! Every day we go to work exhibiting our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. Working at Russell Stover you’ll be part of the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar-free chocolates. For over 100 years, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman’s, and Pangburn’s have been crafted with the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, and our legacy brands can be found in 13 company-owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts. Join our team and let’s continue making chocolate lovers happy!

A day in the life…

As the Part-time Payroll Specialist, you will support the accurate and timely processing of payroll for hourly and salaried employees using Workday Payroll and Time Tracking. This part-time, non‑exempt role is ideal for someone early in their payroll, HR, or accounting career who is looking to build hands‑on experience in a multi‑state environment.

You will work closely with the Payroll Administrator and site leaders to ensure employees are paid correctly and on time. The role requires strong attention to detail, a high level of confidentiality, and the ability to consistently meet payroll deadlines, while also delivering excellent customer service to employees. In this position, you will work part-time, onsite Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (3 days a week) in our Kansas City, MO corporate office. 

What you will be doing…

    Payroll Processing

• Assist with processing regular and off‑cycle payrolls in Workday Payroll for hourly and salaried employees.
• Review and validate time and attendance data, including hours worked, overtime, and paid/unpaid time off.
• Support accurate payment of wages, overtime, bonuses, retroactive adjustments, and termination pay.
• Assist with payroll deductions such as taxes, benefits, and wage garnishments in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Support multi‑state payroll processing, including basic tax withholding and compliance requirements.
• Respond to employee and manager payroll questions and assist with issue resolution or escalation.

HR & Cross‑Functional Support

• Partner with HR, Benefits, and Finance teams to support employee data changes and payroll adjustments.
• Provide basic guidance to employees and managers on payroll timelines, processes, and Workday functionality.

Compliance, Documentation & Controls

• Maintain payroll documentation and backup records in accordance with company policies.
• Follow established payroll controls and procedures to support accuracy and compliance.
• Assist with internal and external payroll audits by preparing reports and documentation.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Help maintain payroll and timekeeping process documentation.
• Support Workday payroll testing, upgrades, and enhancements as needed.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes and the employee experience.
• Perform additional payroll‑related duties and special projects as assigned.

This job posting is not all inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

 Do you have what it takes?

(Required Qualifications)

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Interest in or exposure to payroll, HR, accounting, or a related field through education, internships, part‑time work, or hands‑on coursework
• Strong attention to detail with solid analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to meet deadlines in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently, with or without an accommodation.

Do you stand above the rest?

(Preferred Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Human Resources, or a related field
• Experience in payroll, HR, accounting, or a related field
• Experience or exposure to Workday Payroll or Workday Time Tracking strongly preferred
• Basic knowledge of U.S. payroll concepts, wage and hour laws, and payroll taxes

If visiting our manufacturing plants, you will be expected to:

• Ensure adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines during plant visits to support product quality and uphold food safety standards.
• Complete and follow FSQA training and programs to comply with regulatory requirements, ensure consumer safety, and support the company’s food safety and quality objectives.
• Promptly report any observed or suspected issues that may impact food safety, quality, or compliance to the designated plant personnel, to support timely corrective actions and maintain compliance.
• Actively contributes to the continuous improvement of the company’s Food Safety Culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role.

At Russell Stover Chocolates, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Russell Stover Chocolates is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, military service, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.

Make Happy. Work Happy.