Payroll Specialist

Job Summary:
The Payroll Specialist is responsible for delivering accurate and timely payroll processing for a large, multi-state workforce. This role provides advanced administrative, technical, and analytical support for all payroll operations, including garnishments, hourly and salaried payroll processing, timekeeping administration, data reconciliation, compliance activities, and system troubleshooting. The Payroll Specialist serves as a key resource to plant Payroll Coordinators, field payroll staff, and internal departments, ensuring accurate wage payment, regulatory adherence, and continuous improvement of payroll processes.

A high level of confidentiality, attention to detail, and commitment to compliance are essential.

Job Responsibilities:

Payroll Processing & Support

• Process weekly and bi-weekly payrolls for hourly and salaried employees across multiple states, including time file imports, final pay calculations, payroll settlement, and ADP integrations.
• Perform routine and advanced audits of payroll data within Workday to ensure accurate pay results each cycle.
• Execute manual payroll adjustments such as gift cards, manual checks, retroactive payments, deductions in arrears, and other special pay items.
• Process off-cycle payrolls and direct deposit reversals, stop payments, voids, and bank rejects.
• Administer pay card program (Wisely by ADP), including user setup, password resets, and card issuance.
• Process Social Security Verifications for employees.
• Provide first-tier support for payroll-related help tickets and inquiries from employees and field payroll staff.
• Collaborate with HR to ensure accurate and timely onboarding, offboarding, and employee status changes in the payroll system.
• Serve as a subject matter resource with knowledge of Workday modules and external timekeeping systems, including data dependencies and their role in end-to-end payroll processing.

• Maintain expert knowledge of timekeeping systems (Workday Time, UKG Workforce Central/Kronos, E-time) to support field payroll operations.
• Review, validate, and audit timekeeping data to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with company policies and labor laws.
• Assist Plant Payroll Coordinators with setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting of work schedules, shift rules, and timekeeping configurations.
• Serve as backup to the Payroll Systems Specialist for system-related tasks and escalations.

• Reconcile all benefit-related deductions (HSA, 401(k), Purchase Power, etc.) and communicate funding requirements to Treasury.
• Prepare and analyze payroll reports post-processing to identify discrepancies, ensure funding accuracy, and validate pay results.
• Maintain payroll reporting and gather payroll data for internal metrics and external audits.
• Support internal and external audits by providing required documentation and ensuring compliance with internal controls and audit standards.

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local payroll laws and regulations, including wage and hour laws, tax with holdings, and reporting requirements.
• Assist with quarterly and annual payroll tax filings (e.g., 941, 940, state unemployment).
• Monitor changes in payroll legislation and coordinate with Payroll Leadership and HR to implement necessary updates.
• Support the setting up of new state tax accounts and ensure compliance when expanding operations into new jurisdictions.

• Process garnishment setups, updates, modifications, and releases in accordance with legal requirements and established timelines.
• Respond to employee inquiries regarding garnishment deductions and communicate requirements clearly and professionally.
• Prepare and submit required responses to agencies and courts within strict deadlines.
• Serve as backup to the Garnishment Specialist.

• Coordinate and support year-end payroll activities, including W-2 processing, distribution, and corrections.
• Assist with agency reporting (e.g., EEO-1, BLS, EDD) and other compliance-related filings.
• Execute special projects assigned by Payroll Leadership.
• Ide…