Payroll Specialist - Madison, WI

JOIN THE TEAM THAT FUELS YOUR FAVORITE BEVERAGES

At WP Beverages, we're more than a manufacturer. We're the force behind some of the most recognized beverage brands in the country, including Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Lipton Iced Tea, Aquafina, Klarbrunn, Vita Ice, and Bubbl'r.

Unlike many manufacturing organizations focused solely on cost and profit, we take a broader view of success. We are committed to creating long‑term shareholder value through operational excellence, innovation, strategic growth, and a culture that values and develops our people.

The Payroll Specialist is a hands‑on payroll professional responsible for executing payroll accurately and on time for a multi‑state workforce of hourly manufacturing and salaried employees. Reporting to the Payroll Lead, this role owns the day‑to‑day payroll process from time and pay data validation through payroll completion, reconciliations, and issue resolution.

This is a role for someone who enjoys rolling up their sleeves, working in the details, and ensuring employees are paid accurately every pay period. The Payroll Specialist actively reviews and corrects payroll data, resolves timekeeping and pay issues, processes employee changes, manages compliance‑related transactions, and follows through on discrepancies until they are fully resolved.

This position is based in our offices in Windsor, WI
, just outside the Madison area. Team members enjoy a hybrid work arrangement that balances collaboration and flexibility, working onsite four days per week and remotely one day per week.

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on payroll professional who thrives on execution, accuracy, and accountability. They take ownership of the payroll process, proactively identify and resolve issues before they impact employees, and work effectively across Human Resources, Finance, Benefits, Operations, and location leadership to ensure payroll is processed accurately, on time, and in compliance with all requirements. Organized and detail‑oriented, this individual is comfortable managing recurring deadlines, working through complex payroll situations, and following issues through to resolution while continuously looking for opportunities to improve processes and controls.

• Process payroll on a recurring cycle for hourly and salaried employees across multiple states and locations.
• Calculate and verify wages, overtime, shift premiums, bonuses, commissions, garnishments, deductions, and benefit with holdings.
• Review timekeeping data each cycle, resolve missing punches and exceptions with location supervisors, and confirm hours before payroll close.
• Enter and maintain employee payroll records, including new hires, terminations, pay rate changes, tax elections, and direct deposit information.
• Complete payroll reconciliations, audit reports, and validation checks each cycle, and correct discrepancies before transmission.
• Apply federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements and wage and hour rules to daily processing, escalating questions that fall outside established guidance.
• Process garnishment orders, unemployment claims, and employment and wage verification requests within required time frames.
• Support year‑end payroll activities, including W-2 preparation, distribution, and corrections, and maintain payroll records in accordance with legal and company retention requirements.

• Serve as a first point of contact for assigned employee group answering questions regarding pay, deductions, taxes, and time records, responding promptly and professionally.
• Research payroll discrepancies, document the cause and resolution, and elevate complex tax and compliance matters to the Payroll Lead.
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