Sr. Payroll Specialist

Location: 3181 Shore Dr. Virginia Beach, VA
Reports to: Director of Finance 
FLSA: Exempt/Salaried
Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:30AM-5PM. Hybrid capability after 90 days (1 day WFH)

About Us

Founded in 1982, Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay is a not-for-profit, faith-based Life Plan Community. Located along the southern shore of Chesapeake Bay, our scenic, resort-style campus is home to a vibrant community of residents and staff who share a passion for service, joy, and well-being.

Our mission? Enriching lives through the power of purpose, belonging, and wellness.

We live our values every day:

Respect for every person
Passion for what we do
Professionalism in all we do

Apply today and help us bring wellness, joy, and energy to the heart of our community!

The Finance Department is an essential partner in supporting the residents, team members, and mission of our organization. We foster a collaborative and service-oriented environment where accuracy, integrity, and teamwork are valued. Our team is dedicated to responsible financial stewardship that helps create a thriving community for those we serve.

The Sr. Payroll Specialist is a key contributor responsible for the accurate and timely payroll administration for a complex Life Plan Community, ensuring compliance with all federal and state regulations. This role extends beyond routine processing to include system management, advanced reconciliation, and serving as the primary liaison for payroll-related projects and external vendor partnerships (e.g., UKG/Sability). The Specialist models our core values of respect, passion, and professionalism, and holds others accountable for doing the same.

What You’ll Do In This Role

• Manage the end-to-end bi-weekly payroll cycle for all employees, verifying information for accuracy and completeness.
• Perform comprehensive timesheet audits, identifying and resolving missed punches, duplicate payments, and other timekeeping errors.
• Process and manage all complex earnings, deductions, and wage attachments, including tax levies, state/city liens, and child support orders.
• Ensure the accuracy of payroll by balancing key totals to supporting documentation and reconciling reports.
• Coordinate and validate all Leave Payouts (LPOs) and calculate retroactive payroll payments as required.
• Serve as the primary payroll system administrator and technical liaison for external vendors (e.g., UKG, Sability), assisting with system updates, optimization, and major transitions like banking or payment services.
• Monitor and respond to payroll inquiries from employees and supervisors in a timely and confidential manner, resolving complex payroll issues.
• Maintain strict compliance with federal and state payroll laws/regulations, ensuring accurate reporting and internal policy adherence.
• Generate detailed payroll reports relating to hours, earnings, deductions, and processing accuracy for management review.
• Ensure proper internal control over sensitive payroll assets like check stock, signatures, and distribution.
• Verify new hire status and review checklist consistency for payroll integration.
• All other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrated strong decision-making, problem solving and analytical skills
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidential payroll information
• Demonstrated attention to detail
• Ability to communicate, both verbally and in writing
• Demonstrated customer service skills
• Able to address outside and inside inquiries
• Able to supervise, train co-workers
• Able to exercise discretion and work independently

The Experience You’ll Bring

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or related field
• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience, including complex or multi-state payroll processing.
• Extensive experience with ERP software and experience processing wage attachments.
• Must be able to perform advanced payroll calculations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite (advanced Excel and Sheets skills for reporting and analysis)
• Flu-Vaccinated

Preferred

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Certified Payroll Specialist (CPS) certification
• Direct experience with UKG payroll system administration and vendor management
• Demonstrated experience in a Life Plan Community, Senior Living, or Healthcare environment is highly preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation Range: $50,155- $60,186 (based on relevant experience)

Full-Time Employee (and eligible Part-Time Employee) Benefits & Perks Include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance (Available Day One!)
• Life & Disability Insurance (Short- and Long-Term)
• Retirement Plan with Employer Match
• Paid Time Off (PTO) & 6 Paid Holidays (+ 2 Floating Holidays)
• Tuition Assistance + Scholarships for You & Your Family
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Legal/Identity Theft Protection Plans
• Team Member Discounts
• Career Growth & Leadership Development Opportunities

At-Will Employment Statement
Employment with our organization is “at-will,” meaning that either the employee or the employer may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without notice, and for any reason not prohibited by law.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by applicable laws.