Senior Payroll Specialist

About the Role

We’re looking for a Senior Payroll Specialist who is energized by details, enjoys solving problems, and takes pride in accuracy. This person will play a key role in building and supporting our first fully in-house payroll function. It’s an opportunity to help shape the foundation of a scalable payroll operation during a period of exciting company growth. If you enjoy a blend of reliable processes, meaningful problem-solving, and teamwork in a fast-paced environment, this role may be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

What you’ll do:

Payroll Processing

·       Process payroll for exempt, non-exempt, and shift-based employees with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.

·       Perform employee-level validation of timecards, earnings, deductions, and taxes before finalizing payroll.

·       Ensure all payroll components (including off-cycle and bonus payrolls) are complete and correctly configured.

·       Use payroll checklists and controls to ensure consistent, complete, and repeatable processes.

·       Identify and resolve discrepancies before payroll is processed.

Payroll Compliance & Tax

·       Apply federal, state, and local payroll requirements accurately and consistently (FLSA, ESST, MN PFML, multi-state taxation).

·       Maintain and manage multi-state tax registrations, accounts, and rate updates.

·       Partner with Finance to review payroll tax filings and resolve notices or variances quickly and accurately.

·       Identify compliance risks and take proactive action to resolve and prevent issues.

·       Maintain audit-ready documentation and support internal and external audits.

Benefits Administration & Leave Coordination

·       Administer employee benefits (medical, dental, vision, HSA/FSA, voluntary) ensuring accurate enrollments, changes, and system alignment.

·       Provide clear, timely support to employees for benefits questions and life events.

·       Reconcile benefits data across systems and carriers, ensuring accuracy with payroll deductions.

·       Coordinate leaves of absence (FMLA, state programs like MN PFML, disability) in partnership with external vendors.

·       Track leave status and return-to-work timing, ensuring accurate payroll, benefits, and compliance handling.

·       Ensure leave-related pay, deductions, and benefits are applied correctly and consistently.

·       Support open enrollment, including system updates, employee communications, and data validation.

·       Assist with benefits audits and reporting, maintaining accurate, audit-ready records.

·       Identify and resolve discrepancies, ensuring a smooth and accurate employee experience.

Payroll Reporting & Coordination

·       Deliver payroll reports that are accurate, complete, and aligned with stakeholder needs.

·       Distribute reports on time and in a consistent format.

·       Clearly communicate whether information is for awareness or requires action.

·       Maintain organized, accessible payroll records for Finance and Accounting.

Operational Excellence & Accountability

·       Own payroll processes end-to-end with a high standard for accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.

·       Review all work before sharing to ensure accuracy, clarity, and completeness.

·       Follow established processes while identifying opportunities for improvement.

·       Take ownership of issues through resolution and root cause correction.

·       Maintain organized, audit-ready documentation at all times.

Systems & Process Support

·       Use payroll and HR systems effectively to ensure accurate data and processing.

·       Maintain clean and reliable payroll data, including earnings and deduction configurations.

·       Identify inefficiencies and recommend practical, execution-level improvements.

·       Support updates and enhancements to payroll processes and systems.

Time & Attendance Management

·       Manage time and attendance processes, ensuring accurate and timely submission and approval of employee timecards.

·       Review time data for completeness and accuracy, including hours worked, overtime, and shift differentials.

·       Identify and resolve timecard discrepancies prior to payroll processing.

·       Partner with managers and employees to ensure compliance with timekeeping policies and deadlines.

·       Ensure accurate application of overtime rules, pay policies, and state-specific requirements.

·       Maintain and support timekeeping system configurations, including pay codes, schedules, and shift setups.

·       Monitor timekeeping trends and proactively address missing, incomplete, or inconsistent data.

·       Support audits and reporting related to time and attendance, ensuring data accuracy and alignment with payroll.

·       Provide clear guidance to employees and managers on timekeeping processes and expectations.

You might be a great fit if you are:

·       Detail-oriented and consistently review work for accuracy before sharing.

·       Accountable and follow through on tasks without gaps.

·       A clear communicator who provides accurate, thoughtful responses.

·       Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

·       Proactive in identifying issues and driving practical solutions.

Preferred Experience:

·       5+ years of payroll experience, including multi-state payroll processing.

·       Experience supporting payroll in a high-growth, fast-paced environment.

·       Proven experience with benefit audits, payroll deductions, and 401(k) administration.

·       Experience managing or supporting payroll tax registrations, filings, and compliance.

·       Strong Excel skills, including the ability to perform audits, reconciliations, and data validation.

·       Experience working in a modern HRIS/payroll system (e.g., Rippling) with a focus on accuracy and data integrity.

Our pay and benefits

·       Salary: $85,000 - $110,000 annually, depending on education, experience and skills

·       Equity position in Niron via stock option grant

·       Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance

·       Mental healthcare benefits

·       401k plan with 6% company match

·       Paid time off to take time for what you need in life

·       Experience in a fun, high-performing, manufacturing environment set to change the world