Payroll Specialist

We are looking for a detail-oriented Payroll Specialist to support payroll and human resources operations for an education organization in Adrian, Michigan. This fully onsite opportunity is a Long-term Contract position suited for someone who can manage high-volume payroll processing, maintain accurate employee records, and provide responsive support to staff on payroll and employment matters. The role also contributes to compliance reporting, onboarding activities, and day-to-day HR coordination while ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and dependable service.

Responsibilities:

• Administer biweekly payroll for a large employee population by entering, validating, and processing payroll data accurately and on schedule.
• Maintain complete employee payroll records, including leave balances, deductions, tax updates, direct deposit changes, and other compensation-related information.
• Respond to employee questions regarding pay, payroll policies, deductions, and related procedures with professionalism and clarity.
• Audit payroll details before final submission to confirm that updates, corrections, and exceptions have been addressed correctly.
• Prepare recurring payroll tasks and reporting activities across weekly, monthly, quarterly, and year-end cycles, including support for required tax documents and filings.
• Coordinate deduction payments such as garnishments and other withholdings, and ensure related requests are documented and processed properly.
• Monitor payroll and employment regulations to help maintain compliance and recommend process improvements when needed.
• Support HR operations by assisting with job postings, background screening, onboarding, offboarding, employee file maintenance, and employment-related inquiries.
• Contribute to campus employment and work-study administration, including oversight of student workers assigned within the HR and payroll function.
• Compile records and produce data needed for audits, regulatory submissions, and internal compliance reviews.
• 3-5 years of experience processing payroll in an automated system environment for a mid-sized or large organization.
• Hands-on experience with Paycor, Blackbaud Financial Edge, or a similar enterprise payroll or HRIS platform.
• Strong working knowledge of payroll practices, tax withholding updates, deductions, and full-cycle payroll administration.
• Familiarity with federal, state, and local employment laws and payroll compliance requirements.
• Proven ability to organize competing priorities, manage deadlines, and maintain a high level of accuracy in detailed work.
• Sound judgment with a demonstrated commitment to confidentiality, integrity, and dependable handling of sensitive information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and related business software.
• Associate degree in a related discipline or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.