Payroll Specialist

Position Summary

The Payroll Specialist is responsible for accurate and timely weekly payroll processing, garnishment administration, and maintaining employee data within the HRIS system. This position ensures compliance with applicable payroll regulations, maintains data integrity and security, and works closely with HR, Finance, and external vendors to support payroll operations and continuous process improvements.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll & Garnishment Administration

• Manage full-cycle weekly payroll processing, ensuring accuracy of employee data, approved timecards, commissions, bonuses, hours worked, and paid leave.

• Oversee all aspects of garnishment administration, ensuring court-ordered withholdings, child support, tax levies, and creditor garnishments are accurately calculated, deducted, and remitted to the appropriate agencies on time.

• Audit and reconcile employee timesheets against schedules to verify regular hours, overtime, and leave balances before processing payroll.

• Coordinate payroll adjustments, calculate final pay upon termination in accordance with state regulations, and issue replacement or physical checks to correct payroll errors.

• Research and resolve payroll discrepancies and respond to employee inquiries received through the Payroll/HRIS inbox. Partner with HR to ensure accurate, timely responses and prompt resolution.

• Record and process federal, state, and local payroll tax deposits in accordance with applicable regulatory deadlines.

• Collaborate with internal departments, including Finance, and external vendors, such as Fidelity, to ensure timely reporting and compliance.

Data Management & Systems Administration

• Implement, maintain, and audit payroll processing systems to ensure data accuracy, integrity, security, and appropriate access controls.

• Enter, maintain, and oversee critical employee information within the HRIS system, including new hires, terminations, benefit deductions, tax withholdings, and other employee changes.

• Identify, test, and recommend HRIS updates, system integrations, and process improvements to increase automation and operational efficiency.

• Establish and maintain secure data-handling procedures to protect sensitive employee Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and corporate banking information.

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee records within the HR system, including pay changes, employment status changes, new hires, attendance, terminations, corrective actions, unemployment, and employment verifications.

• Conduct regular HR audits to ensure accuracy and completeness of employee data entry.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a closely related field required.

• Three to five years of comprehensive payroll experience required.

• Proven experience in data management.

Skills & Competencies

• Payroll Expertise: Strong knowledge of payroll preparation, balancing, employee data accuracy, internal financial controls, and reporting requirements to support tax compliance.

• Garnishment Administration: Solid understanding of garnishment regulations, including rules, priorities, and maximum withholding limits when managing multiple concurrent garnishment orders.

• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Strong data literacy, mathematical abilities, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

• Attention to Detail: Excellent organizational skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

• Technical Proficiency: Advanced proficiency with modern HRIS and payroll software, preferably Paycom, and Microsoft Office Suite, particularly advanced Excel for data analysis and reporting.