Snr. Payroll Specialist

We are looking for an experienced Snr. Payroll Specialist to join a growing organization in Tacoma, Washington. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented payroll specialist who can manage weekly payroll with accuracy, adapt quickly to shifting priorities, and provide dependable support across the team. The position plays a key part in maintaining payroll operations for staff employees while also contributing to broader department initiatives and cross-functional coordination.

Responsibilities:

• Administer weekly payroll for exempt and non-exempt staff employees, ensuring timely and accurate processing for a large employee population.
• Serve as a dependable backup for payroll team members by stepping in to maintain continuity during absences, peak periods, and operational changes.
• Manage employee payroll records and transactions, including onboarding, status updates, pay changes, and separations.
• Assist with payroll-related projects by partnering with leadership on department initiatives, business start-ups, and upcoming system implementation efforts.
• Support compliance-related payroll activities such as handling wage garnishment processing and maintaining accurate documentation.
• Maintain organized personnel files and payroll records to support audit readiness and day-to-day operations.
• Work closely with recruiters and site leadership to facilitate onboarding steps, including employment-related authorizations and new employee documentation for staff employees.
• Provide payroll support across a multi-state workforce and help address the complexities that come with varying state requirements.
• Contribute as a senior member of the team with the potential to take on added supervisory support responsibilities in partnership with the Payroll Manager.

The salary range for this position is $95k to $105k. Excellent Benefits available with this position include medical, dental and vision with very little out of pocket costs; life and disability insurances; participation in the company’s 401(k) plan with a 4% match and 15 days of paid vacation, 5 days of paid sick leave and 9 paid holidays per calendar year. As well, enjoy a hybrid work schedule!

• Demonstrated experience managing full-cycle payroll processing for a sizeable employee group in a multi-state environment.
• Strong knowledge of weekly payroll operations for both exempt and non-exempt employees.
• Ability to provide cross-functional payroll coverage and adjust quickly to changing team and business needs.
• Experience using payroll systems such as ADP Workforce Now, UKG Pro, or UKG Ready.
• Familiarity with payroll activities related to employee lifecycle changes, including onboarding, job changes, and terminations.
• Understanding of wage garnishments, payroll recordkeeping, and payroll compliance practices.
• Union payroll knowledge is helpful, especially in environments requiring occasional backup support.
• Exposure to Canadian payroll or other international payroll operations is considered an advantage.