Payroll & Accounting Specialist

Payroll & Accounting Specialist

Employment Type: Full time, independent contractor
Work Model: Remote
Work Hours: US work hours

The Payroll & Accounting Specialist is responsible for the accurate, timely, and compliant execution of payroll operations while providing hands‑on support across key accounting functions within the Finance department. This position serves as a primary owner of payroll processing, payroll reconciliations, payroll‑related system activity, and issue resolution while supporting accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing, reconciliations, and other transactional accounting responsibilities.

The Payroll & Accounting Specialist works closely with Accounting, HR, Operations, employees, and external providers to ensure payroll and accounting activities are completed accurately and on time. The successful individual demonstrates a high degree of accountability, attention to detail, follow-through, and sound judgment; proactively identifies discrepancies; resolves issues; maintains effective controls; and follows assigned responsibilities through completion with limited day‑to‑day oversight.

• Owns assigned payroll processing activities and ensures payroll is completed accurately, timely, and in accordance with established schedules and controls.
• Processes payroll data from applicable systems and maintains accurate and current employee payroll records.
• Owns the payroll processing calendar and proactively coordinates required inputs, approvals, and deadlines with HR, Operations, Finance, and other stakeholders.
• Performs pre-processing and post-processing payroll audits, including validation of hours, pay rates, deductions, taxes, incentives, reimbursements, garnishments, accruals, and other payroll activity.
• Investigates unusual payroll activity, discrepancies, and variances; resolves issues or escalates material concerns prior to payroll finalization.
• Maintains payroll schedules and payment calculations for employees with specialized compensation arrangements.
• Reviews payroll tax activity, verifies required documentation, and ensures approved tax changes are accurately reflected in the payroll system.
• Reviews and reconciles employee benefit and retirement plan activity to confirm elections, deductions, contributions, and changes are accurately reflected.
• Processes routine payroll activities, including payroll adjustments, garnishments, supplemental payments, and off‑cycle payments.
• Prepares and records payroll journal entries and reconciles payroll activity between payroll and accounting systems.
• Reviews and maintains employee accrual balances in accordance with applicable policies and investigates discrepancies as needed.
• Responds to payroll inquiries and provides payroll information and documentation to employees, management, auditors, and authorized outside parties as appropriate.

• Serves as a key Finance resource for UKG payroll and timekeeping processes, including data validation, troubleshooting, reporting, and ongoing system optimization.
• Partners with HR to validate employee lifecycle changes affecting payroll, including hires, terminations, compensation changes, employment status, tax elections, deductions, benefits, PTO/accruals, and other employee data.
• Identifies system or process issues affecting payroll accuracy and works through resolution with internal stakeholders and UKG support or other external providers as appropriate.
• Develops and maintains payroll procedures, checklists, calendars, controls, and supporting documentation to promote consistent processing, effective cross‑training, and business continuity.

• Processes accounts payable activity and supports accurate and timely vendor payments.
• Records and maintains…