Senior Payroll Associate

Our client, a leading media and entertainment company, is seeking a Senior Payroll Associate for a 6-month contract-to-hire opportunity (August 2026 through February 2027).

About the role

This position performs a variety of functions necessary for the accurate and timely processing of multi-state, multi-company, weekly and bi-weekly payrolls for non-union employees. The role requires comprehensive operational knowledge of federal and state regulations related to wage garnishment, taxation, and wage-hour law. While there are no direct people-management responsibilities, this role coordinates independently with associates, leaders, and teams outside of Payroll Shared Services to meet deadlines, champion process improvement initiatives, and enhance the employee experience.

Responsibilities

• Ensure timely and accurate processing of multi-state, multi-company bi-weekly and weekly payrolls for non-union salary, hourly, and freelance employees in compliance with company policies and federal, state, and local regulations
• Perform detailed pre-payroll processing audits of earnings, deductions, benefits, garnishments, and tax setups to prevent pay-impacting errors
• Process on-demand payments, retroactive payments, one-time payments, taxable fringe benefits, tax adjustments, equity-based compensation, stop payments, voided checks, direct deposit reversals, and overpayment collections
• Interpret and set up withholding orders for levies, garnishments, child support, and other involuntary wage assignment orders within the regulated period, responding to vendor inquiries as needed
• Serve as a go-to expert for payroll questions, including taxation of employee payments, managing timely resolution of customer issues and escalations, performing and documenting Root Cause Analysis, and implementing remedial procedures
• Provide testing support during the implementation of a new timekeeping system and assist with team training
• Ensure compliance with all company policies, internal controls, and SOX controls

Requirements

• 4+ years of hands-on payroll processing experience, preferably in the media or entertainment industry
• Experience interpreting and setting up withholding orders for levies, garnishments, child support, and other involuntary wage assignment orders
• Experience and knowledge of California labor laws
• Experience and knowledge of automated time and attendance systems
• Strong working knowledge of taxable fringe benefits and processing of stock transactions
• Strong working knowledge of FLSA and federal, state, and local wage-hour and tax regulations
• Intermediate Excel skills, including VLOOKUP and pivot tables

Preferred Qualifications

• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation
• Experience with Workday Payroll
• Experience initiating and leading standardization and process improvement initiatives

Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent judgment, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Strong interpersonal skills — approachable, responsive, and team-focused
• High degree of professionalism, with a strong track record of delivering quality customer service
• Ability to establish and maintain effective, collaborative working relationships across teams

Work Environment

Location: New York, NY
Onsite

Pay

The approximate pay range for this position is between $31.00 and $45.00 per hour. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to background, knowledge, skills, and location.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance Plans
• Employee-Owned Profit Sharing (ESOP)
• 401K offered