Sr. Payroll Specialist

Requisition
Location
Shelton
Business Unit/Group Function
Human Resources
Work Arrangement
Fully Remote
Level of Experience
Intermediate
Employee Type
Regular
Salary Grade
NMG 05 Above Nat Avg

• Serve as primary owner for payroll accounting and reconciliation activities, including payroll liability reconciliations, union dues, initiation fees, union arrears, gross-to-net review, journal entry support, general ledger file review, payroll funding support, cash activity review, check request/wire transfer support, month-end/quarter-end/year-end close support, and investigation/resolution of reconciliation differences.
• Serve as primary owner for Vanguard/401k and retirement plan payroll activity, including processing, funding, reconciliation, issue resolution, employee deductions, employer contributions, loan repayments, corrections, limits, reporting, vendor coordination, Benefits/Finance coordination, annual retirement plan support, audit requests, and process documentation.
• Support payroll tax and statutory compliance activities for U.S. and/or Canada payroll operations, including tax code setup, tax IDs, SUI/SDI rates, provincial/local requirements, payroll tax configurations, quarter-end and year-end payroll tax review, W-2, W-2PR, 1099, 941, 940, state unemployment, T4 preparation/review, taxable benefit review, statutory deduction review, and related reporting/reconciliation as assigned.
• Support and/or coordinate assigned year-end, quarter-end, annual reporting, and audit activities. Review and validate employee tax form data, QTD analysis, Q4/year-end packages, vendor reports, audit requests, documentation, and correction processes. Help ensure U.S. and/or Canada year-end deadlines are met.
• Maintain payroll processing knowledge and provide backup payroll processing support as needed. Remain cross-trained on payroll procedures, pay groups, payroll calendars, payroll audits, exception resolution, off-cycle processing, and corrections. Support payroll processing during absences, leaves, turnover, peak periods, urgent deadlines, or business continuity events, and as needed.
• Support systems, controls, documentation, cross-training, and process improvement. Validate data interfaces, troubleshoot system issues, identify control gaps, recommend improvements, maintain documentation/checklists, cross-train payroll team members, and serve as a technical resource for payroll accounting, Vanguard/401k, tax, year-end, audit, compliance, U.S. payroll, and/or Canada payroll processes

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or related field preferred; equivalent payroll experience may be considered. CPP, FPC, PCP, or equivalent payroll certification preferred; advanced certification strongly preferred for technical scope.
• 5-10 years of advanced payroll experience required, preferably in a large, multi-state, multi-entity, union, and/or North America payroll environment.
• Experience with payroll accounting, payroll tax, retirement plan/401k reconciliation, year-end processing, audit support, and payroll reporting strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of payroll accounting, payroll liabilities, gross-to-net reconciliation, journal entries, and general ledger support. Ability to provide backup payroll processing support when needed.
• Experience with U.S. and/or Canada year-end payroll processing and statutory reporting, including W-2, 941, 940, state unemployment, T4, and related reconciliations as applicable.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex payroll, tax, accounting, system, or vendor issues and to identify control gaps and recommend process improvements.
• Experience with union payroll accounting, collective bargaining agreement requirements, union…