Sr Payroll Specialist

Position Description:

The Senior Payroll Specialist is responsible for independently managing end-to-end payroll processing for all Team Members while ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely execution for Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona (GCNA) and its affiliated entities. This role supports all payroll operations, maintains thorough payroll documentation, and serves as a subject matter expert within the organization. Collaborates closely with HR, Finance, IT, and external vendors, guides less experienced Team Members, and acts as team lead in the absence of the Payroll Manager. This position requires exceptional attention to detail, strong technical expertise, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Independently manages full-cycle payroll processing for all Team Members, including validation of new hires, terminations, bonuses, and benefit deductions.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and international payroll regulations, wage and hour laws, and tax requirements.
• Prepares manual pay, pay cards, and termination checks using payroll calculation tools.
• Reviews payroll data before and after transmission, ensuring accuracy, proper documentation, and required approvals.
• Processes and maintains detailed records of all court-ordered wage garnishments, child support orders, and tax levies.
• Supports year-end processes including W-2s, and 1099s.
• Works closely with HR and IT to ensure payroll systems accurately reflect benefit deductions, accrual changes, HRIS updates, timekeeping updates, and tax changes.
• Coordinates with external payroll vendors to ensure accuracy and timely delivery.
• Informs management of payroll issues impacting financial reporting and organizational planning.
• Researches and resolves payroll inquiries from Team Members, supervisors, and stakeholders.
• Maintains accurate payroll records and generates reports for audits, compliance reviews, and internal stakeholders.
• Prepares and maintains all supporting documentation for manual payroll entries.
• Assists with transmitting accurate payrolls by reviewing previews, exception reports, and manual batches.
• Prepares special reports and handles special projects as assigned by management.
• Maintains payroll-related reports in pre-established, easy-to-access formats.
• Trains, mentors, and reviews work of less experienced Payroll Specialists, especially during onboarding.
• Serves as team lead in the absence of the Payroll Manager and handle escalated payroll issues.
• Stays current on payroll and benefits tax laws across all applicable states.
• Model Goodwill Core Values including Trust, Collaboration, Engagement, Ownership, and Innovation.
• Maintains regular and consistent in-person attendance.
• Models Goodwill Core Values – Trust, Collaboration, Engagement, Ownership, and Innovation.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Education, Experience, Skills):

• High School diploma or GED required.
• Must have 5+ years’ experience processing payroll for 1,500+ employees.
• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. payroll regulations and wage & hour laws.
• Experience using MS Office Suite, including strong Excel skills using VLOOKUP, formulas, and pivot tables.
• Strong proficiency using ADP required, experience with Workday preferred.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with integrity.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and maintain confidentiality.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, good organizational skills and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to speak and read English proficiently.
• Ability to pass a background check and drug screen, where applicable for position.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

You will be eligible for a comprehensive Total Rewards package, 1st of the month following 60 days of employment that includes the following:

• 5 Medical Plans
• Employer Funded Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
• 3 Dental Plans
• Vision Plan
• 401K
• Employer Paid Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid Time Off; Sick and Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• These are just a few highlights of our key benefit offerings!

Become a valued member of an organization where good work meets community impact. Our mission is: Empowering Individuals, Strengthening Families, and Building Stronger Communities. Goodwill provides no-cost career development, training, and education services to help individuals build a better life for themselves and their families. Our core values are Trust, Collaboration, Engagement, Ownership, and Innovation. Everything we accomplish as a team is centered around these core values. Together, we create an inclusive and welcoming environment for each other. With stores conveniently located near you, you can work for a company where team strength and success are valued and encouraged. Join our team and gain opportunities for job growth at Goodwill and beyond.

Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified individuals seeking employment are considered without regard to race (including traits associated with race, e.g., hairstyles), color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, disability, military status, age, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state and local fair employment practice laws.

Individuals with a disability may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or state or local laws. Please contact Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona  at 1-833-624-0920 option 6 or leaves@goodwillaz.org  if you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

For questions about your application or employment with Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona, please contact our Candidate Support Line at 1-833-624-0920, option 5.

PHISHING SCAM WARNING: Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona/Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley, Inc. (“GCNA/GIMV”) are among several companies recently made aware of a phishing scam involving con artists posing as hiring managers recruiting via email, text and social media. The imposters are creating misleading email accounts, conducting remote “interviews,” and making artificial job offers in order to collect personal and financial information from unsuspecting individuals. Please note that GCNA/GIMV only use company email addresses, which contain “@goodwillaz.org” or @gimv.org”, to communicate with candidates via email. The company also uses secure tools on our website to receive data from applicants and would never ask them to submit their personal banking information to apply for an open job.  If you are contacted by someone about an open job at GCNA/GIMV, please verify the domain of the sender’s email address and that they are asking you to apply on this website. If you believe you have been a victim of a phishing scam, please visit the Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Smart website (https://www.cisa.gov/be-cyber-smart/campaign) to learn how to report it.