Senior Payroll Specialist; Workday

The Senior Workday Payroll Specialist will play a key role in ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll operations for a 700+ employee workforce across the U.S. and Canada. This role is responsible for running multi-state payroll in Workday, managing complex payroll scenarios, overseeing / reviewing payroll staff work , maintaining SOX‑compliant controls, partnering cross‑functionally, and supporting overall audit readiness.

Responsibilities:

Payroll Processing & Quality Control

• Run biweekly and off‑cycle payrolls in Workday
• Manage complex payroll items (retro pay, bonuses, garnishments, imputed income, expenses)
• Audit costing allocations, EIB loads, time/pay inputs, and funding reports
• Address employee payroll, time, and absence questions
• Lead W‑2/W‑2C reconciliation and year‑end activities
• Manage 401(k) funding and support payroll‑related audits
• Coordinate daily and scheduled payroll tasks

Compliance, SOX & Audit Support

• Maintain accurate, SOX‑compliant payroll documentation
• Prepare audit evidence and assist internal & external auditors
• Partner with HRIS to improve payroll workflows, reporting, and system functionality

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with HR, Benefits, and Accounting to resolve discrepancies
• Provide accounting backup for reconciliations
• Support workers’ compensation reporting, census filings, and state requirements
• Review and respond to ADP Smart Compliance notices
• Reconcile payroll tax filings (biweekly, quarterly, annual)
• Audit tax jurisdictions and employee tax data
• Produce payroll reporting and identify recurring issues or patterns

Documentation, Testing & Process Improvement

• Test Workday updates and new features
• Maintain job aids, procedures, and reference guides
• Identify opportunities to streamline payroll processes and enhance accuracy

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years multi-state payroll experience
• Strong Workday Payroll and ADP Smart Compliance expertise
• Experience with payroll audits, reconciliations, and tax compliance
• Experience supporting Workday payroll enhancements or implementations a plus
• Supervisory experience, FPC or CPP certification preferred
• Excellent attention to detail
• Embraces a technology-forward mindset with strong curiosity for merging tools, AI in particular, bringing forward-looking perspective that inspires innovative solutions.