US Payroll Specialist

Sutherland; Chennai; On-site; INR 8,515,000 - 12,299,000; Full time

Job summary

Sutherland India in Chennai is seeking an experienced Senior Payroll Specialist/Lead to support US payroll operations. Night shift with US timings, based at Chennai office, with multi-state payroll and global governance exposure.

You will review inputs, validate outputs, mentor junior specialists, and drive process improvements using Workday/ADP/Kronos, ensuring SLAs/KPIs are met and SOX compliance is maintained.

Qualifications

• 2-9 years of experience in US Payroll / Payroll Audits / Compliance.
• Strong hands-on experience with Workday or ADP Payroll.
• Exposure to Kronos / Compass / Time & Attendance systems preferred.
• FPC / CPP certification highly preferred.
• Bachelor’s in Accounting, Finance, HR (Masters preferred).
• Excellent knowledge of US payroll laws, multi-state taxation, FICA, garnishments, and statutory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Act as SME for escalated payroll issues including multi-state taxation, leave calculations, adjustments, wage garnishments, retro payments, and complex earnings/deductions.
• Support troubleshooting of timekeeping discrepancies (Kronos, Compass), ensuring accurate payroll-impacting data.
• Review and validate pre-payroll inputs, ensuring accuracy and completeness of time, earnings, deductions, and exceptions.
• Analyze payroll reports and manage all post-payroll activities including validations, corrections, and reconciliations.
• Perform Build-to-Gross input reconciliation and Gross-to-Net validation across all employee population groups.
• Reconcile pre- and post-payroll audit reports, addressing discrepancies with client SMEs and internal stakeholders.
• Compile wage, tax, and other taxable information; validate payroll registers and reconcile 401(k)/benefits deductions.
• Prepare and validate payroll tax data supporting quarterly and annual tax filings.
• Lead reconciliation and auditing of payroll runs across Workday, ADP, and Kronos, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Own compliance activities including SOX readiness, vendor audits, federal/state reporting, and statutory submissions.
• Implement payroll process changes aligned with evolving US tax regulations and internal policies.
• Handle escalations and complex data issues; provide guidance to resolve Tier 0/Tier 1 queries.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, and Legal teams to align payroll execution with organizational goals.
• Manage relationships with third-party vendors (ADP, Sedgwick, Equifax), ensuring service quality and compliance adherence.
• Drive payroll process improvements, automation initiatives, and digital transformation using RPA, AI, or analytics tools.
• Conduct RCA for payroll errors, implement corrective actions, and lead retraining as needed.
• Ensure exceptional service delivery through process optimization, documentation updates, and governance practices.
• Mentor junior payroll specialists, oversee workload distribution, and ensure SLA/KPI achievement.
• Support capability-building initiatives within the payroll team through training and knowledge sharing.

Skills

US Payroll

Payroll Compliance

Process Improvement

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting/Finance/HR

Masters preferred

Tools

Workday

ADP

Kronos

Time & Attendance

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Payroll Specialist / Lead to serve for US payroll operations. Candidates are preferred to work in US shift timings. This role is responsible for ensuring compliant, accurate, and efficient payroll delivery while driving continuous improvement initiatives. The position offers exposure to complex multi-state payroll, global governance, advanced system operations, and leadership opportunities.

The Lead will additionally review and validate pre-payroll inputs, analyze payroll outputs, administer post-payroll activities, mentor junior specialists, and ensure adherence to SLAs/KPIs. This role requires night shift support with rotational weekly offs and is based out of our Chennai office.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Payroll SME Support & Issue Resolution

Act as SME for escalated payroll issues including multi-state taxation, leave calculations, adjustments, wage garnishments, retro payments, and complex earnings/deductions.

Support troubleshooting of timekeeping discrepancies (Kronos, Compass), ensuring accurate payroll-impacting data.

2. Payroll Processing & Validation

Review and validate pre-payroll inputs, ensuring accuracy and completeness of time, earnings, deductions, and exceptions.

Analyze payroll reports and manage all post-payroll activities including validations, corrections, and reconciliations.

Perform Build-to-Gross input reconciliation and Gross-to-Net validation across all employee population groups.

Reconcile pre- and post-payroll audit reports, addressing discrepancies with client SMEs and internal stakeholders.

3. Payroll Tax, Compliance & Audit

Compile wage, tax, and other taxable information; validate payroll registers and reconcile 401(k)/benefits deductions.

Prepare and validate payroll tax data supporting quarterly and annual tax filings.

Lead reconciliation and auditing of payroll runs across Workday, ADP, and Kronos, ensuring accuracy and compliance.

Own compliance activities including SOX readiness, vendor audits, federal/state reporting, and statutory submissions.

Implement payroll process changes aligned with evolving US tax regulations and internal policies.

4. Stakeholder & Vendor Management

Handle escalations and complex data issues; provide guidance to resolve Tier 0/Tier 1 queries.

Collaborate with HR, Finance, and Legal teams to align payroll execution with organizational goals.

Manage relationships with third-party vendors (ADP, Sedgwick, Equifax), ensuring service quality and compliance adherence.

5. Transformation, Automation & Process Excellence

Drive payroll process improvements, automation initiatives, and digital transformation using RPA, AI, or analytics tools.

Conduct RCA for payroll errors, implement corrective actions, and lead retraining as needed.

Ensure exceptional service delivery through process optimization, documentation updates, and governance practices.

6. Leadership & Team Enablement (Lead Role)

Mentor junior payroll specialists, oversee workload distribution, and ensure SLA/KPI achievement.

Support capability-building initiatives within the payroll team through training and knowledge sharing.

Eligibility & Qualifications:

2-9 years of experience in US Payroll / Payroll Audits / Compliance.

Strong hands-on experience with Workday or ADP Payroll.

Exposure to Kronos / Compass / Time & Attendance systems preferred.

FPC / CPP certification highly preferred.

Bachelors in Accounting, Finance, HR (Masters preferred).

Excellent knowledge of US payroll laws, multi-state taxation, FICA, garnishments, and statutory compliance.

HR Name: Pranavalakshmi

Email: [e-mail]

Interview Mode: Virtual Interview