Payroll Administrator / Payroll Accountant

ARC Energy; Scott (LA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

ARC Energy is seeking a Payroll Administrator / Payroll Accountant to oversee the complete end-to-end payroll process, ensuring accurate and on-time pay and that payroll-related accounting records are complete and reconciled. This role blends payroll administration with accounting duties, including processing, journal entries, tax filings, benefits accounting, reporting, and compliance.

You will collaborate with Accounting, HR, employees, and providers to ensure timely payroll and reliable

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 3–5+ years of progressive payroll and accounting experience.
• Experience managing payroll end-to-end.

Responsibilities

• Manage the complete payroll process for all employees, including regular and off-cycle payrolls, manual checks, adjustments, and corrections.
• Review time and payroll inputs for accuracy and resolve discrepancies.
• Prepare payroll journal entries and reconcile with the general ledger.
• Ensure accurate withholding of federal, state, and local payroll taxes and coordinate filings and payments.
• Maintain confidentiality of payroll information.

Skills

Payroll processing

General ledger

Reconciliations

Tax compliance

Excel

Confidentiality

Multitasking

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field

Tools

ADP

QuickBooks Desktop

QuickBooks Online

Payroll software

Job description

The Payroll Administrator / Payroll Accountant is responsible for managing the company’s complete end-to-end payroll process, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time and that all payroll-related accounting records are complete, accurate, and properly reconciled.

This position combines payroll administration and accounting responsibilities, including payroll processing, journal entries, reconciliations, payroll taxes, benefits accounting, reporting, and compliance. The position works closely with Accounting, Human Resources, employees, management, benefits providers, and payroll service providers to ensure accurate and timely payroll and financial information.

Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesPayroll Administration

Position Summary

The Payroll Administrator / Payroll Accountant is responsible for managing the company’s complete end-to-end payroll process, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time and that all payroll-related accounting records are complete, accurate, and properly reconciled.

This position combines payroll administration and accounting responsibilities, including payroll processing, journal entries, reconciliations, payroll taxes, benefits accounting, reporting, and compliance. The position works closely with Accounting, Human Resources, employees, management, benefits providers, and payroll service providers to ensure accurate and timely payroll and financial information.

Payroll Administration

• Manage the complete payroll process for all employees, including regular and off-cycle payrolls, manual checks, adjustments, and corrections.
• Review and verify time, attendance, overtime, bonuses, commissions, deductions, reimbursements, and other payroll inputs.
• Review payroll reports before final submission and resolve discrepancies promptly.
• Ensure accurate calculation and withholding of federal, state, and local payroll taxes and coordinate tax filings and payments with the payroll provider and/or applicable taxing authorities.
• Consistently meet payroll deadlines and respond to employee payroll questions professionally and promptly.
• Maintain confidentiality of payroll and employee information.

Payroll Accounting & Reconciliations

• Prepare and record payroll journal entries, ensuring proper coding to general ledger accounts, departments, locations, and cost centers.
• Reconcile payroll registers to the general ledger after each payroll, as well as payroll bank accounts, clearing accounts, and payroll-related liabilities.
• Investigate and resolve payroll-to-general-ledger discrepancies and ensure outstanding reconciliation items are researched and cleared timely.
• Review payroll expense accounts for unusual activity and communicate significant variances to the Controller.
• Assist with payroll-related accruals, including payroll, bonuses, vacation/PTO, commissions, and other expenses.
• Maintain supporting documentation for payroll journal entries, reconciliations, and related accounting activity.

Employee Benefits Accounting

• Reconcile monthly health insurance and other benefit invoices to employee enrollment and payroll deductions.
• Verify that billed premiums agree with employee elections and payroll records, and investigate and resolve discrepancies.
• Reconcile other benefit-related expenses and deductions, including dental, vision, life insurance, disability, retirement plans, and other company-sponsored benefits.
• Ensure benefit expenses and liabilities are properly recorded and coordinate with HR and benefits providers to resolve billing or enrollment issues.

Compliance & Reporting

• Maintain working knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local payroll, tax, wage and hour, withholding, and reporting requirements.
• Assist with quarterly and annual payroll reporting, reconciliations, W-2 preparation, and year-end payroll activities.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and documentation in accordance with company policies and applicable retention requirements.
• Assist with payroll tax audits and other payroll-related audits by providing reports, reconciliations, journal entries, and supporting documentation.

Internal Controls & Process Improvement

• Maintain effective internal controls over payroll processing and payroll-related accounting, including appropriate approvals and segregation of duties.
• Develop and maintain payroll procedures, checklists, and supporting documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, controls, and processes, and recommend system or process improvements.
• Assist the Controller with payroll-related policies, procedures, and process improvements.

Other Accounting Responsibilities

• Assist with month-end and year-end accounting close activities related to payroll and employee benefits.
• Prepare payroll and accounting reports for management.
• Assist with budgeting and forecasting of payroll and employee benefit expenses as needed.
• Perform other payroll and accounting duties as assigned by the Controller.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Human Resources, or a related field preferred.
• 3–5+ years of progressive payroll and accounting experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing payroll from beginning to end.
• Strong understanding of payroll accounting, general ledger processes, journal entries, and reconciliations.
• Experience reconciling payroll, balance sheet accounts, health insurance, and other employee benefit invoices.
• Working knowledge of payroll taxes and compliance requirements.
• Strong Excel skills, including spreadsheets, formulas, and reconciliations.
• Experience with payroll and accounting software.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, organization, and time management.
• Ability to independently manage deadlines and multiple priorities.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality regarding employee compensation and personal information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC).
• Accounting degree or significant accounting experience.
• Experience with QuickBooks Desktop and/or QuickBooks Online.
• Experience with ADP.
• Experience with multi-location or multi-state payroll.
• Experience with payroll-related audits, benefit reconciliations, and employee benefit accounting.
• Experience with general ledger reconciliations and month-end closing.

Success in This Position

Success in this position means:

• Payroll is processed accurately and on time every pay period.
• Payroll journal entries, accounts, and liabilities are accurate, properly coded, and reconciled timely.
• Benefit invoices are accurately reconciled to employee records and payroll deductions.
• Payroll discrepancies are identified and resolved promptly.
• Payroll taxes, filings, and reporting requirements are completed accurately and on time.
• Payroll-related month-end and year-end activities are completed within established deadlines.
• Payroll records are organized, supported, and audit-ready.
• Employees receive timely and accurate responses to payroll questions.
• Strong payroll controls and procedures are maintained.
• The Controller can rely on this position to own the payroll function with minimal day-to-day supervision.

Physical / Work Requirements

• Ability to work in a professional office environment.
• Ability to meet recurring payroll, accounting, and reporting deadlines.
• Ability to work additional hours during payroll processing, month-end/year-end close, or other critical deadlines as needed.
• Regular use of computers, payroll and accounting software, Microsoft Excel, email, and other office technology.