Senior Payroll Administrator

The Senior Payroll Administrator oversees all payroll functions, including processing, multi-state tax compliance, regulatory filings, and reporting. This role requires a seasoned payroll professional who serves as the organization's primary subject matter expert on all payroll-related matters.

Responsibilities:

• Lead bi-weekly and off-cycle payroll processing, establishing auditing practices each cycle to validate earnings, deductions, benefit withholdings, and compliance with federal, state, and local wage laws.
• Coordinate with department supervisors to resolve time discrepancies, missed timecard punches, PTO approvals, and timecard edits prior to each payroll cycle close.
• Oversee the setup, maintenance, and compliance of all state and local tax jurisdictions within the payroll platform, ensuring employee tax profiles remain accurate and current.
• Own multi-state payroll tax compliance, including proactive management of filing obligations, remediation of compliance gaps, and serving as the primary liaison with the ADP Workforce compliance and tax filing teams to ensure all filings are completed accurately and on time.
• Manage direct communication with state employment departments and tax agencies regarding notices, inquiries, audits, and filing discrepancies, ensuring timely and well-documented responses.
• Process and monitor garnishment orders and other payroll specifications in compliance with applicable legal requirements.
• Prepare and upload journal entries each payroll cycle in alignment with the accounting close process.
• Reconcile payroll-related general ledger accounts.
• Respond promptly to employee payroll inquiries and support internal and external HR and Accounting audits by providing records, reports, and documentation as needed, while always maintaining strict confidentiality.
• Produce scheduled and ad-hoc payroll and HR reports to support management decision-making and assist with any additional tasks or projects as assigned.
• Partner with HR and Accounting to identify and implement process improvements that drive payroll efficiency, accuracy, and scalability, while maintaining financial data integrity in accordance with internal controls and company policies.

Requirements:

• Minimum of 7 years of progressive payroll experience, with demonstrated expertise in multi-state payroll processing and tax compliance.
• Associate or bachelors degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience with ADP Workforce Now or a comparable enterprise payroll platform is required.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-state tax compliance, including direct communication with state employment departments and tax agencies.
• Experience working with payroll platform compliance teams on tax filings and regulatory matters.
• Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax laws and wage regulations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, including advanced formulas, pivot tables, and data analysis functions.
• Working knowledge of general accounting principles and payroll relationship to the general ledger.

Qualifications:

• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy across all payroll processing and compliance activities.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities under strict deadlines.
• Proactive and solutions-oriented, with the ability to independently identify and resolve complex payroll and tax issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including professional correspondence with state agencies, internal stakeholders, and employees at all levels.
• High degree of discretion in handling sensitive and confidential employee and financial information.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a willingness to evaluate and enhance existing processes.