SENIOR PAYROLL ANALYST / PAYROLL LEAD

Payroll Shared Services | Enterprise Multi-State Payroll

Position Summary

The Senior Payroll Analyst / Payroll Lead is a senior technical and operational resource within the centralized Payroll Shared Services function. The role independently supports enterprise multi-state payroll processing through final review; owns key payroll banking, reconciliation, tax, garnishment, benefit and retirement activities; and serves as an escalation and backup resource across the payroll ecosystem. The position partners with HR, Finance, site leadership, employees, banks and third-party vendors to ensure accurate, timely, compliant and scalable payroll operations.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Processing, Controls & Compliance

·  Lead and independently execute assigned multi-state payroll cycles, including payroll inputs, imports, calculations, retroactivity, deductions, taxes, garnishments, benefits, off-cycle activity, pre-processing audits, variance review and final payroll validation.

·  Research and resolve complex payroll discrepancies and employee escalations; coordinate required approvals and serve as a senior operational/technical resource and backup for enterprise payroll processing.

·  Execute payroll controls, reconciliations and audit procedures; maintain compliant payroll records and support internal/external audits, quarter-end and year-end activities, W-2 validation/corrections and other regulatory requirements.

Payroll Banking, Funding & Reconciliation

·  Own day-to-day administration of the payroll bank account and reconcile bank activity to payroll registers/files, funding reports, ACH transactions, checks, reversals, returns and other payroll disbursements; investigate and resolve variances.

·  Validate payroll funding and transmitted pay files; complete required VRU/voice-response or other bank approvals; initiate and manage instant/manual checks; administer positive pay; and research ACH returns, reversals, rejected transactions and other banking exceptions.

·  Track outstanding and stale checks and coordinate stop payments, cancellations, reissues and applicable unclaimed-property activity; maintain payroll banking procedures, access controls, approvals and audit documentation, and support bank implementations, testing and automation.

Tax, Garnishments, Benefits & 401(k)

·  Initiate and reconcile federal, state and local payroll tax funding/liabilities and payments; research variances, notices and agency correspondence; coordinate registrations, adjustments, amendments and quarter/year-end corrections with the tax provider.

·  Administer garnishment submissions/remittances and reconcile payroll deductions to vendor/agency activity; resolve exceptions, rejected payments and related employee or agency inquiries.

·  Reconcile benefit deductions and employer contributions to payroll results, provider files/invoices and funding; monitor benefit integrations, arrears, corrections and interface exceptions.

·  Reconcile 401(k) employee deferrals, employer contributions, loan repayments and funding to transmission files/provider records; support timely submissions, discrepancy resolution, corrections and plan audit documentation.

Timekeeping, Systems & Integrations

·  Serve as the senior payroll resource, escalation point and backup for centralized timekeeping, providing technical guidance to the primary day-to-day timekeeping resource while maintaining strong knowledge of WFM configuration, pay rules, accruals, approvals and payroll interfaces.

·  Research complex timekeeping/interface issues and support testing, implementations, upgrades and integrations involving payroll, HRIS/WFM, banking, tax, garnishment, benefit, retirement and other payroll vendors.

·  Validate recurring interfaces and identify opportunities to automate manual processes, strengthen controls and improve data integrity and payroll accuracy.

Shared Services, Leadership & Continuous Improvement

·  Support continued centralization, standardization and documentation of payroll services, including payroll processing, banking, tax, garnishments, benefit/retirement reconciliations and timekeeping support.

·  Develop and maintain SOPs, calendars, checklists, controls, metrics and training materials; support site transitions and process mapping into the centralized Payroll Shared Services model.

·  Provide senior-level guidance and knowledge sharing to payroll team members, partner cross-functionally to resolve issues, and identify process, technology and service improvements that improve accuracy, efficiency and scalability.

Qualifications

·  Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources or related field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

·  5-7+ years of progressive payroll experience with substantial multi-state payroll responsibility and demonstrated ability to independently process, review and reconcile complex payrolls.

·  Strong knowledge of federal, state and local payroll requirements, payroll taxation, wage and hour rules, deductions, garnishments, benefits/retirement payroll activity, banking controls and payroll reconciliations.

·  Strong analytical, reconciliation, auditing and problem-solving skills; advanced Excel capability and experience working with large data sets.

·  Experience with payroll/timekeeping systems and automated vendor interfaces; UKG Pro and UKG WFM/Kronos experience strongly preferred.

·  CPP certification or progress toward CPP preferred; experience with payroll centralization, implementations, integrations, acquisitions or Shared Services environments preferred.

·  Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, protect confidential information, meet strict deadlines and communicate effectively across functions and levels.

Key Competencies & Success Measures

Key Competencies: Payroll Expertise | Ownership & Accountability | Attention to Detail | Analytical Thinking | Problem Solving | Business Partnership | Continuous Improvement | Confidentiality | Change Agility

Success in this role: Accurate and timely enterprise payroll; effective ownership of payroll banking and reconciliations; strong tax, garnishment, benefit and 401(k) controls; reliable senior-level timekeeping support; timely resolution of complex issues; and measurable contributions to the automation, standardization and scalability of Payroll Shared Services.

Compensation: The anticipated base salary range for this position is $93,000 - 125,000. Actual compensation will be determined based on several factors, including the candidate’s experience, skills, qualifications, education, geographic location, and internal equity. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation and benefits in accordance with company programs.