Payroll Specialist

A well-established nonprofit organization in Newark is seeking a detail-oriented Payroll Specialist for a contract-to-permanent opportunity. This role is ideal for a payroll detail oriented with hands-on ADP Workforce Now experience who wants to make an impact at a mission-driven organization. The selected candidate will own the end-to-end payroll process and serve as a key resource for employees on pay-related questions. Key Responsibilities Process accurate and timely bi-weekly or semi-monthly payroll using ADP Workforce Now Enter and maintain employee data including new hires, terminations, pay changes, deductions, and garnishments Review timecards and reconcile hours, overtime, PTO, and accruals before payroll submission Reconcile payroll registers and prepare payroll journal entries for the general ledger Allocate payroll costs across grants, programs, and funding sources in accordance with nonprofit requirements Process benefit deductions, 403(b) retirement contributions, and related remittances Ensure compliance with federal, state (NJ), and local payroll tax regulations Support quarterly and year-end reporting, including W-2 preparation and review Respond to employee payroll inquiries professionally and confidentially Assist with annual audits by preparing payroll schedules and documentation Partner with HR and Finance on onboarding, benefits, and process improvements Qualifications 2–4+ years of payroll processing experience Hands-on experience with ADP Workforce Now (required) Nonprofit payroll experience, including grant/program cost allocation, strongly preferred Working knowledge of NJ payroll tax and wage-and-hour regulations Experience with multi-state payroll a plus Strong Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables) High attention to detail and ability to meet strict deadlines Ability to handle confidential information with discretion Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business, or related field preferred; FPC or CPP certification a plus