Senior Payroll Specialist

Purpose:

The Senior Payroll Specialist provides advanced analytical support and technical expertise to ensure the accurate execution, compliance, and integrity of the Organization’s payroll runs. Under the general guidance of the Payroll Manager, this role is responsible for performing comprehensive technical QA/QC reviews on pre-processing data, identifying tax or operational variances, and fully executing the final bi-weekly payroll runs. By assessing complex components—including multi-state taxation, union requirements, and system logic—the Senior Specialist serves as the primary system user who ensures the payroll cycle is successfully completed and ready for management's final approval. The Senior Payroll Specialist shares expertise with peers and new hires and supports system enhancements or process improvements.

Delivery:

Assess complex payroll components (e.g., multi-state taxation, imputed income,  union payroll, garnishments) and provide analysis to the Payroll Manager to ensure the payroll framework remains compliant and operationally sound.
Monitors terminations to ensure last pay laws are being followed.
Act as a core functional user for UKG; support project planning for system enhancements, upgrades, or integrations under the guidance of the Payroll Manager..
Conduct research into federal, state, and local regulatory changes to update and maintain the internal repository of payroll policies, procedures and payroll project design and implementation.
Preparation and reconciliation of data for internal/external audits (e.g., 401k, financial statements) to support the accurate execution of the audit framework.
Performs reconciliations of payroll records to external systems including 401K system, accounting, and tax authorities.
Perform technical QA/QC reviews on payroll data prepared by the Payroll Specialist, identifying tax or data variances, making corrections to be reviewed by the Payroll Manager for formal approval and sign-off before submission. .
Provide support to the Payroll Manager for high-stakes projects including annual year-end activities, determining and performing payroll tax reconciliations and adjustments, W-2 issuance, system updates.
Reviews quarterly tax packet (941s) and recommends updates needed to the payroll system to ensure full tax compliance.
Responds to unemployment claims.
Other duties as assigned

Engagement:

Partner with People, Culture & Equity, Finance, and IT to acquire and research data that provides depth to payroll project implementation, such as system upgrades or benefit plan changes.
Act as a resource for internal teams by providing analytical input on complex payroll dimensions (e.g., tax implications for multi-state moves or fringe benefits) to support organizational decision-making.
Collaborate with the Payroll Specialist to ensure shared accountability for delivery; serve as the designated back-up to the Specialist to sustain service during absences and ensure operational continuity.
Serve as the technical point of contact for complex payroll inquiries escalated from the Specialist, researching and providing solutions for high-level discrepancies.
Engage with external subject-matter specialists, including independent auditors, tax agencies, and payroll vendor consultants (UKG/ADP), to secure information relevant to audits and compliance projects.
Proactively contact external partners to acquire information needed for payroll system optimizations, ensuring the organization stays aligned with industry best practices and technological advancements.
Secure cooperation and gather evidence for external auditors during year-end and 401k audit processes, providing relevant analytical support to ensure a seamless audit cycle.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field. FPC (Fundamental Payroll Certification) preferred; CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) required. 
4 - 5 years of comprehensive payroll experience, with a proven track record of handling high-complexity environments (multi-state, union).
Minimum 3 years of experience as a Power User or Subject Matter Expert (SME) in UKG (Pro/Ready) or similar enterprise-grade HCM/Payroll systems.
High proficiency in MS Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, complex formulas) and Google Sheets for reconciling large datasets and preparing audit schedules.
Experience with system implementations, testing (UAT), or managing API integrations between Payroll and HRIS/Benefits platforms.
Ability to assess complex payroll components and provide analytical frameworks for process improvement under guidance.
Strong interpersonal skills to "secure cooperation" (per JECM) from external auditors, vendors, and cross-functional internal partners.
Exceptional ability to manage highly confidential information and navigate ambiguous situations with professional confidence.