Payroll Administrator

Hire Virtue; Carlsbad (NM); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Hire Virtue is seeking an honest and experienced On-site Payroll Specialist to join our growing HR and Payroll team, supporting 200–500 employees across New Mexico in a 24/7 industrial environment.

The ideal candidate will ensure accurate, timely payroll processing, maintain records, and stay compliant with federal, state, and local regulations while collaborating with HR, Finance, and operations.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 5 years of payroll experience supporting 200+ employees.
• Experience processing bi-weekly and semi-monthly payroll cycles.
• Experience with Kronos (UKG Workforce) timekeeping systems is required.
• Strong understanding of payroll laws, wage and hour regulations, and payroll best practices.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office proficiency.
• Excellent organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while consistently meeting deadlines.
• Ability to work remotely while maintaining regular business hours aligned with Mountain Time Zone.

Responsibilities

• Process accurate and timely bi-weekly and semi-monthly payrolls for a workforce of approximately 200–500 employees.
• Maintain payroll records while ensuring compliance with company policies and applicable wage and hour laws.
• Review payroll transactions for accuracy, including new hires, terminations, promotions, transfers, bonuses, deductions, garnishments, and tax withholdings.
• Audit payroll reports to identify and resolve discrepancies before payroll processing.
• Coordinate payroll balancing, reconciliations, and year-end activities.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll-related questions from employees and managers.
• Provide exceptional customer service by responding promptly and professionally to payroll inquiries.
• Educate employees on payroll policies, deductions, timekeeping and tax-related matters.
• Partner closely with Human Resources, Finance, and operational leadership to ensure payroll accuracy.
• Maintain and audit employee timekeeping records using Kronos (UKG Workforce).
• Troubleshoot timekeeping discrepancies and partner with managers to ensure accurate approvals.
• Monitor attendance, overtime, shift differentials, premium pay, and leave balances.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state and local payroll regulations, including New Mexico wage and hour requirements.
• Prepare payroll reports, reconciliations and supporting documentation for audits.
• Maintain confidentiality of payroll and employee information.
• Support annual payroll activities, including W-2 processing and payroll tax reporting.
• Recommend process improvements that increase payroll accuracy, efficiency and employee satisfaction.
• Assist with payroll system enhancements, testing and implementation initiatives.
• Participate in special payroll and HR projects as assigned.

Skills

Attention to detail

Customer service

Time management

Communication

Remote work readiness

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Kronos (UKG Workforce)

Engage PEO

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

We are seeking an honest and experienced "On-site" Payroll Specialist to join our growing Human Resources and Payroll team. This position supports a workforce of approximately 200–500 employees operating in a 24/7 industrial environment across the state of New Mexico.

The ideal candidate is a highly organized, customer-focused payroll professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and understands the importance of accuracy, compliance, and exceptional service. This role serves as a trusted resource to employees, managers, and Human Resources by ensuring payroll is processed accurately, timely, and in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

Candidates with experience supporting organizations in the mining, oil & gas, construction, manufacturing, utilities, or other industrial sectors are highly encouraged to apply.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Process accurate and timely bi-weekly and semi-monthly payrolls for a workforce of approximately 200–500 employees.
• Maintain payroll records while ensuring compliance with company policies and applicable wage and hour laws.
• Review payroll transactions for accuracy, including new hires, terminations, promotions, transfers, bonuses, deductions, garnishments, and tax withholdings.
• Audit payroll reports to identify and resolve discrepancies before payroll processing.
• Coordinate payroll balancing, reconciliations, and year-end activities.

Employee & Manager Support:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll-related questions from employees and managers.
• Provide exceptional customer service by responding promptly and professionally to payroll inquiries.
• Educate employees on payroll policies, deductions, timekeeping and tax-related matters.
• Partner closely with Human Resources, Finance, and operational leadership to ensure payroll accuracy.

Timekeeping Administration:

• Maintain and audit employee timekeeping records using Kronos (UKG Workforce).
• Troubleshoot timekeeping discrepancies and partner with managers to ensure accurate approvals.
• Monitor attendance, overtime, shift differentials, premium pay, and leave balances.

Compliance & Reporting:

• Ensure compliance with federal, state and local payroll regulations, including New Mexico wage and hour requirements.
• Prepare payroll reports, reconciliations and supporting documentation for audits.
• Maintain confidentiality of payroll and employee information.
• Support annual payroll activities, including W-2 processing and payroll tax reporting.

Continuous Improvement:

• Recommend process improvements that increase payroll accuracy, efficiency and employee satisfaction.
• Assist with payroll system enhancements, testing and implementation initiatives.
• Participate in special payroll and HR projects as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 5 years of payroll experience supporting organizations with 200+ employees.
• Experience processing both bi-weekly and semi-monthly payroll cycles.
• Experience with Kronos (UKG Workforce) timekeeping systems is required.
• Engage.
• Strong understanding of payroll laws, wage and hour regulations, and payroll best practices.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office proficiency.
• Excellent organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while consistently meeting deadlines.
• Ability to work remotely while maintaining regular business hours aligned with the Mountain Time Zone.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation strongly preferred.
• Experience with Engage PEO or similar Professional Employer Organization (PEO) payroll platforms preferred.
• Experience processing payroll in New Mexico.
• Experience within the mining, oil & gas, industrial construction, manufacturing, utilities or heavy industrial sectors.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong customer service mindset with the ability to build trust across all levels of the organization.
• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent judgment, professionalism and integrity.
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Strong understanding of payroll compliance, timekeeping systems and payroll reporting.