Payroll Expert

About the Role

As a Payroll Expert, you will assist the payroll cluster lead as a senior role within the payroll team in providing a professional and responsive payroll service to customers both internally and externally, as well as within the payroll organization. This includes adhering to defined service level agreements and statutory requirements while ensuring payroll accuracy. Responsibilities encompass process controls, projects, and providing expertise along with strong project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Gather payroll-related data, upload/enter as necessary, and validate for accuracy all payroll maintenance resulting in pay implications (e.g., benefits, interfaces, W2Cs, time data, garnishments, supplemental payments, termination payments).
• Establish and maintain company and employee payroll records and procedures related to time data, earnings, deductions, and tax withholding, ensuring system data accuracy.
• Ensure quality and accuracy of own output, project management, and/or tax support.
• Adhere to delivery deadlines based on the yearly payroll calendar.
• Track changes in local legislation and initiate revisions in local payroll processes according to the global approach.
• Partner with HR, Finance colleagues, and employees to resolve discrepancies and support company initiatives.
• Prepare and control payroll-related financial accruals (e.g., holiday, restructuring) and journal entries as needed.
• Create and control payroll-related reports for authorities, including period-based reporting and year-end tax filings.
• Adhere to and perform SOX control-related activities, validating accuracy and reporting deviations.

Key Responsibilities

• Payroll Processing & Execution:
  • Execute U.S. payroll processing activities for assigned pay groups, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
  • Process complex payroll transactions, including multi-state earnings, bonuses, retroactivity, terminations, off-cycle payrolls, and corrections.
  • Validate payroll inputs and outputs, perform payroll audits, and complete assigned reconciliations.
  • Ensure accurate payroll data flow between HRIS, timekeeping, benefits, and payroll systems.
• Subject Matter Expertise:
  • Serve as a payroll subject-matter expert for U.S. payroll calculations, wage and hour rules, and taxation.
  • Interpret payroll requirements and apply them accurately to payroll transactions.
  • Provide guidance to payroll specialists and support teams on complex payroll scenarios.
• Issue Resolution & Case Management:
  • Resolve escalated payroll cases and discrepancies within defined authority limits.
  • Perform root-cause analysis for payroll errors and implement corrective actions at the transactional level.
  • Escalate systemic or high-risk issues to the Cluster Lead with clear documentation and analysis.
• Compliance & Controls:
  • Execute payroll controls, audits, and documentation in accordance with SOX and internal control requirements.
  • Support internal and external audits by providing payroll data, reconciliations, and explanations.
  • Ensure payroll activities comply with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Process Discipline & Documentation:
  • Follow established standard operating procedures (SOPs) and payroll calendars.
  • Contribute to the maintenance of payroll documentation, job aids, and knowledge articles.
  • Identify opportunities for process improvement and efficiency gains.
• Collaboration:
  • Partner with HR Operations, Benefits, Time, and Finance teams to resolve payroll inputs and discrepancies.
  • Support payroll projects, testing, and enhancements as assigned.

Requirements

• Proven experience of at least 4 years as a payroll coordinator/lead or similar role.
• Good knowledge of legislation relevant to accounting and payroll (e.g., SOX, U.S. FMLA, benefits, multi-jurisdiction reporting, termination final wage, garnishments).
• Working knowledge of payroll systems (e.g., SAP, PS, Oracle, Kronos, TM).
• Comfortable with Excel (functions, data, VBA).
• Analytical mind with strong project/change management skills.
• Strong communication skills and excellent attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications

• FPC or CPP certification or working experience.
• Familiarity with payroll processes in the U.S./Canada.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a relevant field.