Position Summary

We are seeking a detail-oriented and experienced Senior Payroll Specialist to manage and process U.S. payroll operations while supporting payroll-related systems access and user administration. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience with multi-state U.S. payroll processing, payroll compliance, and employee data management, along with a working knowledge of Active Directory (AD) user administration and access controls.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Operations

• Process end-to-end payroll for U.S.-based employees on a weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly basis.
• Ensure accurate calculation and processing of wages, overtime, bonuses, commissions, deductions, and garnishments.
• Review and validate payroll data for completeness and accuracy prior to payroll submission.
• Manage payroll adjustments, off-cycle payments, retroactive pay, and final pay calculations.
• Coordinate with HR, Finance, and Benefits teams to ensure employee records are maintained accurately.
• Reconcile payroll reports and investigate discrepancies.
• Support payroll audits and maintain payroll documentation.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• Assist with year-end payroll activities including W-2 processing and tax reporting.
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries and resolve payroll-related issues in a timely manner.

Active Directory & Systems Administration Support

• Manage user account provisioning, modifications, and deactivations within Active Directory.
• Support payroll system access requests and role-based security assignments.
• Maintain user access controls in compliance with internal security policies.
• Collaborate with IT teams to troubleshoot user access and authentication issues.
• Conduct periodic access reviews and support audit requirements.
• Assist in onboarding and offboarding processes related to payroll and HR systems access.
• Document system access procedures and maintain accurate records.

Compliance & Reporting

• Generate and analyze payroll reports for management and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor payroll compliance with company policies and applicable laws.
• Support SOX, internal, and external audits.
• Recommend process improvements to enhance payroll accuracy and operational efficiency.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, Information Systems, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience processing U.S. payroll.
• Strong knowledge of multi-state payroll regulations, taxation, and wage/hour compliance.
• Experience with payroll platforms such as ADP, Workday, UKG, Ceridian Dayforce, Paychex, or similar systems.
• Hands-on experience with Active Directory user administration.
• Experience managing system access, permissions, and user lifecycle activities.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, lookups, and data analysis.
• Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Willing to work US Hours
• Willing to work fully remote

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.
• Experience supporting payroll system implementations or upgrades.
• Familiarity with identity and access management (IAM) processes.
• Experience with HRIS platforms such as Workday, SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM, or PeopleSoft.
• Knowledge of SOX controls and audit compliance.
• Basic PowerShell scripting experience for user administration tasks.

Key Competencies

• Payroll compliance expertise
• Data accuracy and validation
• Problem-solving and troubleshooting
• Confidentiality and data security
• Process improvement mindset
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Time management and prioritization

Work Environment

• Hybrid or remote work environment.
• Ability to support payroll processing deadlines and critical payroll cycles.
• Occasional collaboration with HR, Finance, IT, and external payroll vendors.