Payroll Accountant

CKE Restaurants, Inc.; Franklin (TN); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

CKE Restaurants, Inc. is seeking a Payroll Accountant to join its Corporate Finance team in Tennessee.

The role oversees payroll processing for hourly and salaried staff across multiple locations, ensures accurate deductions, tax withholding, and general ledger integration, and supports internal controls and audits. The candidate will work in a hybrid environment with on-site presence required Tuesday through Thursday, collaborate with HR and operations, and help optimize payroll processes while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred; equivalent relevant accounting experience may be considered.
• 3+ years of payroll accounting, general ledger, or related accounting experience; CPA not required.
• Solid understanding of the general ledger, debits/credits, journal entries and balance sheets.

Responsibilities

• Process and audit payroll for hourly and salaried employees across multiple locations and jurisdictions.
• Review and validate payroll transactions including wage adjustments, bonuses, deductions, and direct deposits.
• Prepare and record payroll-related journal entries and reconcile payroll balance-sheet accounts.
• Own payroll-related portions of month-end/period-end and year-end closes including accruals and reconciliations.
• Generate payroll, labor, and workforce reporting to support decision-making.
• Coordinate payroll tax filings, amendments, audits, garnishments, and wage attachments.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Discretion with confidential info

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

3+ years payroll accounting experience

Tools

ADP

UKG

Oracle HCM/Workday/PeopleSoft

Job description

May perform any or all of the following duties:

• Process and audit payroll for hourly and salaried employees across multiple locations and jurisdictions.
• Review and validate payroll transactions, including wage adjustments, bonuses, supplemental payments, deductions, and direct deposits.
• Apply a solid understanding of the general ledger to ensure payroll transactions flow accurately through the GL; prepare and record payroll-related journal entries and reconcile payroll-related balance-sheet accounts.
• Research and resolve payroll-related balance-sheet discrepancies and out-of-balance accounts, including inherited unresolved and backlogged items, by identifying root causes and booking corrective entries.
• Perform payroll tax-related reconciliations, including tax withholdings, W-2 reconciliation, tax payments and refunds, and record related accounting corrections.
• Once trained, independently determine the appropriate accounting treatment for payroll-related transactions and corrections, escalating unusual or complex situations as needed.
• Own the payroll-related portions of the month-end/period-end and year-end close, including payroll accruals and the associated account reconciliations and journal entries.
• Review and explain quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year fluctuations and variances in payroll-generated accounts (not the broader balance sheet or P&L) as part of quarterly controls and financial reporting.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations and wage-and-hour laws.
• Coordinate payroll tax filings, amendments, audits, unemployment claims, garnishments, and wage attachments.
• Research and resolve payroll-related inquiries from restaurant management, employees, Human Resources, and Finance.
• Maintain payroll records and support internal and external audit requests.
• Generate payroll, labor, and workforce reporting to support operational and financial decision‑making.
• Partner with Human Resources and Operations to ensure accurate employee data, compensation changes, and time‑keeping records.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, efficiency, and data accuracy.
• Support payroll system implementations, upgrades, testing, and special projects as assigned.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS/CORE COMPETENCIES

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred; equivalent relevant accounting experience will be considered in lieu of a degree. CPA not required.
• 3+ years of payroll accounting, general ledger, or related accounting experience.
• Solid understanding of the general ledger, including debits, credits, journal entries, and balance‑sheet accounts, and how payroll transactions flow through the GL.
• Experience with multi‑state payroll processing and payroll tax compliance.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and payroll/HRIS systems such as ADP, UKG, Oracle HCM, Workday, or PeopleSoft.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to independently research issues, identify root causes, and develop solutions; exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
• Experience supporting large, decentralized employee populations is preferred.
• Must have strong work ethics and a high level of confidentiality to ensure proper handling of sensitive information

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Restaurant Support Center that operates in a fast‑paced setting with a high volume of activity and a deadline‑driven environment. The role follows a hybrid work model, requiring on‑site presence in the office every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Sitting for extended periods of time, using telephone, typing and/or operating a computer and/or mouse.

THE COMPANY RETAINS THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR ASSIGN OTHER DUTIES TO THIS POSITION AS DEEMED APPROPRIATE WITH OR WITHOUT NOTICE.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.