Payroll/Accounting Coordinator

Hallstar; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

Group Term Life Insurance

Optional Life Insurance

Pension

401(k)

Short/Long Term Disability Programs

Paid holidays

Job summary

Hallstar is a global specialty chemistry company seeking a Staff Accountant focused on payroll processing and month-end close. You will run biweekly U.S.

payroll in ADP Workforce Now for ~200 employees across five sites, with full ownership of the payroll checklist and time close through funding, while also supporting SAP-based journal entries and reconciliations. This role is hybrid, with three days per week in the office, reporting to the Accounting Manager.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 3–5+ years of accounting experience with direct payroll responsibility.
• Hands-on experience with ADP Workforce Now required.
• Experience with SAP for GL postings and reconciliations; AP exposure preferred.
• Experience in union/shift-premium environments; manufacturing exp preferred.
• Advanced Excel skills (PivotTables, XLOOKUP, SUMIFS).
• Strong controls, discretion, and detail orientation.

Responsibilities

• Run biweekly payroll for approximately 200 U.S. employees across five sites, using ADP Workforce Now.
• Own the full payroll checklist: time close, pre-process audit, preview, finalize, and funding.
• Apply OT and double-time rules, holiday/weekend premiums, shift differentials, and call-in/pay.
• Validate payroll outcomes using ADP registers and earnings reports before finalizing cycles.
• Manage corrections and retro pay, off-cycle checks, garnishments, and one-time earnings.
• Support quarter-end/year-end payroll activities including W-2 balancing.
• Track and help resolve payroll tax notices in partnership with ADP.
• Prepare and validate payroll reporting and respond to information requests.
• Experience processing Union 401(k) and FSA benefit files is a nice to have.
• Prepare and post journal entries in SAP; reconcile assigned accounts.
• Support month-end/year-end close; tie-outs, roll-forwards, audit schedules.
• Process weekly freight invoices; maintain control documentation.

Skills

Payroll processing

Attention to detail

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

SAP

Excel

Job description

Hallstar is a leading global provider of specialty chemistry solutions. The company takes a collaborative approach to every engagement, working to understand customer businesses in order to provide not only the products that customers need, but the technical support, chemistry expertise and industry knowledge that help the customer make the most of those products.

We believe that our versatility and growth has come directly from contributions made by our team. We are committed to developing our people to their full potential in a working environment where everyone is fully engaged and valued. We offer development opportunities to further enhance business, technical and leadership skills. And as a dynamic, growing, international company we offer a range of career opportunities around the globe.

To learn more about our exceptional organization, visit www.hallstar.com. Let’s Work Wonders ®

The Opportunity

This role is anchored in payroll processing: running biweekly U.S. payroll end to end in ADP Workforce Now for a union and shift-premium workforce, with full ownership of the payroll checklist from time close through funding. Beyond payroll, the Staff Accountant supports month-end close through journal entries and account reconciliations in SAP, and serves as backup for Accounts Payable, including OCR invoice processing and vendor payment execution when coverage is needed. Hands-on ADP Workforce Now experience is required for this role. This is a hybrid position, with three days per week in the office.This role reports to the Accounting Manager.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Processing

• Run biweekly payroll for approximately 200 U.S. employees across five sites, plus remote and sales employees, using ADP Workforce Now as the system of record.
• Own the full payroll checklist: time close, pre-process audit, preview, finalize, and funding, following documented steps at each stage.
• Apply OT and double-time rules, holiday/weekend premiums, shift differentials, and call-in/reporting pay as applicable to a union and shift-premium environment.
• Validate payroll outcomes using ADP registers, time exception reports, and earnings code reporting before finalizing each cycle.
• Manage exceptions and corrections, including retro pay, off-cycle checks, termination payments, garnishments, and one-time earnings/deductions.
• Support quarter-end and year-end payroll activities, including W-2 balancing support and reconciliation.
• Track and help resolve payroll tax notices in partnership with ADP.
• Prepare and validate payroll reporting and respond to information requests from HR and operations.
• Experience processing Union 401(k) and FSA benefit files into third-party platforms is a nice to have.

General Accounting- including One-Day Month-End Close Cycle

• Prepare and post journal entries in SAP with appropriate supporting documentation and review trail.
• Independently reconcile assigned accounts (accrued liabilities, prepaid/expense accruals) and clearly explain reconciling items: what they are, why they exist, and when they'll clear.
• Support month-end and year-end close activities, including tie-outs, variance explanations, roll-forwards, and audit schedule support.
• Build and maintain standard recurring entries with clear logic, consistent timing, proper reversals, and control documentation.
• Process weekly freight invoices.

Accounts Payable Backup - SAP + OCR (Nice to Have)

• Step in to process AP when needed.
• Validate invoices, including 3-way match where applicable (PO/receiver/invoice or cost center approval workflow).
• Process invoices through the OCR workflow (or MIRO), including coding, exception handling, and duplicate detection.
• Generate payment proposals and issue vendor payments twice weekly as backup.
• Confirm approvals before release and ensure proper remittance communication.

General — Must Have

• Able to work independently with minimal day-to-day oversight.
• Handles sensitive payroll and employee information with discretion.
• Coordinates across HR, Plant Operations, and Payroll/Accounting to resolve time, pay, and general accounting issues.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 3–5+ years of relevant accounting experience with direct, hands‑on responsibility for U.S. payroll processing.
• Hands-on experience running payroll in ADP Workforce Now is required; ADP Comprehensive or a comparable full-service ADP model is a plus.
• Experience using SAP for general ledger postings, journal entries, and account reconciliations; AP exposure preferred.
• Experience in a union and shift‑premium environment; manufacturing experience preferred.
• Strong Excel skills, including PivotTables, XLOOKUP, and SUMIFS, with the ability to analyze payroll and AP exports.
• Strong controls mindset, confidentiality, attention to detail, and commitment to accurate, well‑supported work.

Benefits include

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Optional Life Insurance
• Pension
• 401(k)
• Short/Long Term Disability Programs
• holiday and paid-time off benefits