Payroll & Labor Management Specialist

About the role

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is seeking a Payroll & Labor Management Specialist for its new luxury property in downtown New Orleans. This role is responsible for accurate and timely payroll processing and coordination of labor management practices across the hotel, ensuring compliance with internal controls, standard operating procedures, and applicable labor regulations while providing reporting and analysis to support operational decision-making and optimize labor costs.

Responsibilities

• Process and verify all timekeeping data, ensuring accurate calculation of regular hours, overtime, shift differentials, gratuities, and incentive payments through a robust review and approval process
• Manage the full payroll cycle from gross-to-net calculations through to payroll finalization, including direct deposit processing and paycheck generation, ensuring accuracy and timeliness
• Administer and process all payroll deductions, including statutory taxes, benefits, retirement contributions, and wage garnishments, ensuring compliance with regulations and internal policies
• Review payroll transactions to ensure all employee actions (new hires, changes, and terminations) are accurately reflected and properly authorized prior to processing
• Champion the use of labor management systems to track productivity, labor costs, and departmental allocations, ensuring alignment with budget and operational goals
• Monitor key labor metrics, including overtime, labor costs, and productivity indicators, providing timely reporting and insights to operational leaders to support informed decision-making
• Prepare and distribute daily, weekly, and monthly labor reports, highlighting trends, risks, and opportunities to improve efficiency and cost control
• Support department leaders in forecasting, scheduling, and labor optimization strategies to enhance operational performance
• Process all employee lifecycle transactions within the payroll and HRIS systems, including onboarding, promotions, transfers, compensation adjustments, and terminations
• Partner with Talent & Culture to ensure employee data is accurate, complete, and aligned across all systems
• Ensure strict compliance with all applicable wage and hour laws, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and other federal, state, and local regulations governing payroll practices
• Maintain adherence to internal control standards, ensuring proper approvals, documentation, and segregation of duties across all payroll and labor processes
• Validate worker classifications and ensure compliance with any specialized reporting requirements (e.g., service charges, or local regulatory requirements)
• Reconcile payroll discrepancies in a timely manner, investigating variances and implementing corrective actions when required
• Support internal and external audits by preparing documentation, responding to inquiries, and ensuring audit readiness at all times
• Serve as a trusted point of contact for colleagues and leaders, providing guidance and timely resolution to payroll, tax, and benefit-related inquiries in a professional and confidential manner
• Partner closely with Talent & Culture and Finance to reconcile benefits and payroll-related balances, ensure alignment with compensation and labor policies, and support payroll tax filings and regulatory reporting
• Contribute to a collaborative, service-oriented environment that reflects Fairmont's commitment to colleague experience and excellence
• Perform other payroll duties as assigned, supporting departmental needs and contributing to overall process efficiency

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of progressive experience in payroll administration, labor management, or accounting within a complex or hospitality environment
• Advanced proficiency in payroll and labor management systems (e.g., Dayforce, ADP, Workday, Unifocus/Watson or similar platforms)
• Advanced Excel skills with the ability to analyze data, build reports, and identify trends
• In-depth knowledge of payroll processing, taxation, and compliance requirements
• Strong understanding of internal controls, audit requirements, and regulatory frameworks
• Familiarity with wage and hour laws and labor regulations applicable to hotel operations
• High level of integrity and discretion, with the ability to manage sensitive and confidential information
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong analytical mindset
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to meet strict deadlines
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative and service-oriented approach