Payroll Systems Analyst

About the role

Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company (HE&R) is an award-winning entertainment & hospitality organization with properties including: Hersheypark, The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Lodge, Giant Center, and Restaurants. Our team members share a common goal of upholding the legacy of our founder, Milton S. Hershey, while striving to live by our company's Core Values: Devoted to the Legacy, Selfless Spirit of Service, Team Focused, and Respectful of Others. The Payroll Systems Analyst assists with System Administration for all payroll and timekeeping platforms, ensuring the technical infrastructure accurately reflects organizational policies, the organization’s business structure, union contracts, and compliance with tax laws.

Responsibilities

• Execute end-to-end payroll processing, including data validation, variance analysis, and timely distribution of pay.*
• Assist management with special projects and reports as requested utilizing Cognos reporting tools and dataviews including, but not limited to labor, deductions, historical, and forecasted reporting.*
• Collaborate with the payroll processing team to resolve complex payroll inquiries and discrepancies for employees and management.*
• Assist with the functional administration of UKG WFM. Configure system settings, business processes, pay rules, and hyperfinds to support timekeeping, scheduling, and attendance.*
• Identify system bottlenecks, design automated workflows, and eliminate manual payroll workarounds.*
• Lead the user acceptance testing (UAT) and validation of software updates, patches, and tax table changes.*
• Provide necessary data extracts, audit trails, and documentation for internal or external financial audits.*
• Act as Tier 2 technical support for the payroll processing team, working closely with HR, IT, and Finance.
• Write system guides and train end-users on platform updates.*
• Cross-train within the payroll department to include tip pools, commission calculations, basic timekeeping, and reporting.*
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in Payroll, or a related industry.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field. Relevant work experience can be substituted for education (5 years).
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) preferred.

Skills

• Skilled in the use of Google Suite and Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Word.
• Experience working closely with complex payroll systems, such as Workday or UKG system configuration, or HRIS analytics.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, formulas).
• Deep understanding of payroll tax compliance, wage-and-hour laws, and payroll accounting principles.
• Ability to meet deadlines and multitask with minimal supervision.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of employee and company information.
• Experience using database reporting tools or writing basic SQL queries preferred.
• Hands-on system implementation or migration experience.

Job Demands

• Standing: Occasional (<33%)
• Walking: Occasional (<33%)
• Sitting: Frequent (34-66%)
• Bending: Occasional (<33%)
• Stooping: Occasional (<33%)
• Hand-Eye Coordination: Frequent (34-66%)
• Finger Dexterity: Constant (>67%)
• Lifting: Occasional (<33%) (0-10lbs maximum weight)
• Climbing Stairs: Occasional (<33%) (10ft maximum height)

This job requires the visual ability to perform detailed work at close distances (computer screens, accounting ledgers, using measurement devices) and regularly requires verbal communication of detailed information to others either by phone or in person.

Benefits

• FREE admission to Hersheypark upon receiving your Employee ID.
• Discounts on company properties and services.
• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage beginning the first day of the next month after hire.
• 401K Contribution.
• Paid time off.