Senior specialist

Zalaris; Chennai District; On-site; INR 700,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Zalaris in Chennai invites a detail-oriented US Payroll Specialist with 1-5 years of experience to join our payroll operations. You will manage end-to-end US payroll processing using SAP Payroll, ensuring accuracy and compliance with regulations and deadlines.

Ideal candidates have hands-on SAP HCM Payroll experience, knowledge of US tax rules, and strong Excel skills to support data validation, reconciliations, and month-end activities.

Qualifications

• 1-5 years of experience in US payroll.
• Hands-on SAP Payroll experience (US Payroll).
• Experience with ADP payroll interfaces is a plus.
• Knowledge of US payroll regulations, taxation, and W-2 fundamentals.

Responsibilities

• Process end-to-end US payroll accurately within established timelines.
• Validate payroll input data (new hires, terminations, salary changes, bonuses, overtime).
• Process off-cycle payrolls, reversals, adjustments, and retroactive payrolls.
• Review payroll outputs and perform reconciliations before release.
• Ensure accurate calculation of Federal, State, Local taxes, Social Security & Medicare, garnishments, and benefits.

Skills

US Payroll knowledge

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Commerce/Business/Finance/HR or related field

Tools

SAP HCM Payroll

ADP payroll interfaces

Microsoft Excel (advanced)

Job description

Job Description:

Job Title: Senior Specialist

Location: Chennai, IN

Role Summary

Location: Chennai, India

Experience: 1-5 Years

Employment Type: Full-Time

Shift: US Shift / Night Shift

We are looking for a detail-oriented and motivated US Payroll Specialist with 1-5 years of experience in processing US payroll using SAP Payroll. The ideal candidate should possess a strong understanding of US payroll regulations, taxation, payroll operations, and employee lifecycle processes while ensuring timely and accurate payroll processing.

Your Responsibilities

• Process end-to-end US payroll accurately and within established payroll timelines.
• Validate payroll input data including new hires, terminations, salary changes, bonuses, overtime, commissions, and one-time payments.
• Process off-cycle payrolls, reversals, adjustments, and retroactive payroll transactions.
• Review payroll outputs and perform payroll reconciliations before payroll release.
• Ensure accurate calculation of:
• Federal, State, and Local Taxes
• Social Security and Medicare
• Garnishments
• Benefits and deductions401(k), HSA, FSA, and other pre-tax/post-tax deductions
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies and employee payroll queries within agreed SLAs.
• Support payroll month-end, quarter-end, and year-end activities, including W-2 validations.
• Perform payroll audits and reconciliations between SAP Payroll and third-party payroll providers (e.g., ADP), where applicable.Coordinate with HR, Time Management, Benefits, Finance, and Tax teams for payroll-related activities.Maintain payroll documentation, SOPs, and process controls.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• Participate in payroll process improvement and automation initiatives.

Technical Skills

Your Experience and Skills

• Hands-on experience in SAP HCM Payroll (US Payroll).
• Good understanding of:
• Payroll Control Record
• Payroll Simulation
• Live Payroll Processing
• Retroactive Accounting
• Payroll Results Analysis
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, formulas, data validation).

Functional Knowledge

• US Payroll processing.
• Federal, State, and Local Taxes.
• FICA (Social Security & Medicare).
• Supplemental wages.
• Garnishments.
• Benefits and deductions.
• Payroll reconciliation.
• W-2 fundamentals.
• Payroll compliance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Commerce, Business Administration, Finance, HR, or a related field.
• Certification in SAP HCM Payroll is an added advantage.
• Experience with ADP payroll or payroll interfaces is preferred.
• Exposure to SuccessFactors Employee Central is an added advantage.

Soft Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and within a team.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work under tight payroll deadlines.
• Customer-focused mindset.
• Good stakeholder management skills.

Experience Required

• 1-5 years of experience in US Payroll.
• Minimum 1 year of hands-on SAP Payroll experience.
• Experience supporting payroll operations for medium to large employee populations is preferred.

Key Competencies

• End-to-End Payroll Processing
• Payroll Validation & Reconciliation
• Payroll Compliance
• Employee Query Resolution
• Process Documentation
• Continuous Improvement
• Data Accuracy
• Team Collaboration

Nice to Have

• Experience working in a shared services or global payroll environment.
• Basic knowledge of payroll interfaces and inbound/outbound file validations.
• Knowledge of SOX controls and payroll audit processes.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on global payroll operations.
• Exposure to SAP Payroll and enterprise payroll processes.
• Learning and career growth opportunities.
• Collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Competitive compensation and benefits.