Payroll Associate

SI Scholastic Inc.; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Tuition-free programs

Parental leave

Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)

Job summary

Scholastic seeks a Payroll Associate to ensure accurate, timely payroll processing for all employees. You will handle weekly to monthly payroll, validate inputs, and manage deductions while maintaining compliance with tax regulations and company policies.

You will also assist with Equity Compensation administration and time-tracking reconciliation, coordinating with HR, Finance, and Benefits teams to ensure data integrity. Excellent attention to detail and confidentiality are essential.

Qualifications

• Payroll legislation and employment standards.
• Income tax regulations and statutory deductions.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Strong problem-solving and reconciliation abilities.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple deadlines.
• Strong communication skills.
• Confidentiality and integrity.
• Independent worker with minimal supervision.
• Stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Process weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly payroll accurately and within deadlines.
• Review and validate payroll input: new hires, terminations, promotions, salary adjustments, bonuses, overtime, commissions, deductions.
• Ensure accurate calculation of earnings, taxes, benefits, garnishments, pensions, and other deductions.
• Reconcile payroll registers and resolve discrepancies before finalizing payroll.
• Prepare off-cycle payrolls and special payments when required.
• Maintain payroll records and support documentation.
• Process employee changes in HRIS/Time Attendance.
• Coordinate payroll with HR, Finance, and Benefits teams for data accuracy.
• Assist with administration of Equity Compensation plans (ESOP, RSUs, MSPPs, Stock Options).
• Track vesting schedules and grant criteria; ensure data integrity.
• Partner with HRIS/Time Attendance on reconciling hours and errors.
• Perform payroll reconciliations between Workday and Time Tracking systems.
• Prepare payroll journals entries; review registers for discrepancies and compliance.
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries; explain calculations and deductions.
• Maintain confidentiality and provide professional service.

Job description

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Payroll Associate is responsible for the accurate, timely, and compliant processing of payroll for all employees. The role ensures payroll activities comply with company policies, tax regulations, labor laws, and statutory requirements while maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of employee payroll data. The Payroll Specialist also serves as a key point of contact for payroll-related inquiries and contributes to payroll process improvements and system enhancements.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Payroll Processing

• Process weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly payroll accurately and within established deadlines.
• Review and validate payroll input, including new hires, terminations, promotions, salary adjustments, bonuses, overtime, commissions, leave, and employee deductions.
• Ensure accurate calculation of earnings, taxes, benefits, garnishments, pensions, and other statutory deductions.
• Reconcile payroll registers and resolve discrepancies before payroll is finalized.
• Prepare off-cycle payrolls and special payments when required.

Payroll Administration

• Maintain accurate employee payroll records and support documentation.
• Process employee changes in accordance with approved HR documentation.
• Maintain payroll master data within the payroll and HR information systems.
• Coordinate payroll activities with HR, Finance, and Benefits teams to ensure data accuracy.

StockPlan Administration

• Assist with the administration and processing of the company Equity Compensation plans (ESOP, RSUs, MSPPs, Stock Options).
• Track and manage vesting schedules and grant criteria ensuring Perfect data integrity.

Time Tracking

• Partner with HRIS/Time Attendance on reconciling hours and time tracking issues.
• Partner with HRIS/ Time Attendance on Earnings Code set up and Missed Punches errors.

Payroll Reconciliation & Reporting

• Perform payroll reconciliations between Workday and Time Tracking systems.
• Prepare payroll journals entries as needed.
• Review payroll registers identify discrepancies and resolve issues prior to payroll completion.
• Audit payroll transactions, deductions, tax withholding, garnishments, and retirement contributions to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Employee Support

• Respond promptly to employee payroll inquiries regarding salaries, deductions, taxes, leave, benefits, and other payroll matters.
• Provide clear explanations of payroll calculations and statutory deductions.
• Resolve payroll issues professionally while maintaining confidentiality.

About Scholastic

For more than 100 years, Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) has been meeting children where they are – at school, at home and in their communities – by creating quality content and experiences, all beginning with literacy. Scholastic delivers stories, characters, and learning moments that empower all kids to become lifelong readers and learners through bestselling children’s books, literacy- and knowledge-building resources for schools including classroom magazines, and award-winning, entertaining children's media. As the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books through school-based book clubs and book fairs, classroom libraries, school and public libraries, retail, and online, and with a global reach into more than 135 countries, Scholastic encourages the personal and intellectual growth of all children, while nurturing a lifelong relationship with reading, themselves, and the world around them. Learn more at www.scholastic.com.

Some benefits that we offer:

• Full suite of health and wellness benefits (including a $0 deductible Medical Plan)
• Retirement Savings Plan 401(k) with options for both Roth and Traditional Contributions
• Tuition-Free programs for undergraduate and graduate degrees
• Generous Parental Leave Program
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with opportunity for discounted stock at a 15% discount

Thank you for your consideration in choosing Scholastic.

Qualifications

• Payroll legislation and employment standards.
• Income tax regulations and statutory deductions.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Strong problem-solving and reconciliation abilities.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple deadlines.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills.
• High level of integrity and confidentiality.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills.
• Professional payroll certification is preferred.
• Additional training in payroll legislation, taxation, or payroll systems is an advantage.

Time Type: Full time Job Type: Regular Job Family Group: Finance Location Region/State: New Jersey Compensation Range: Annual Salary: 70,000.00 - 83,000.00

Scholastic is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is clear: there shall be no discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, pregnancy, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam veteran. Those factors shall not influence the determination of qualifications for a job or other opportunity within the company. Further, all personnel actions (such as compensation, tuition aid, benefits, transfers, promotions, and dismissals, company-sponsored training, social and recreational programs) shall be administered without discrimination.

EEO is the Law Poster EEO Scholastic Policy Statement Pay Transparency Provision Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books, a leading provider of core literacy curriculum and professional services, and a producer of educational and entertaining children's media. The Company creates quality books and ebooks, print and technology-based learning programs for pre-K to grade 12, classroom magazines and other products and services that support children's learning both in school and at home. With operations in 14 international offices and exports to 165 countries, Scholastic makes quality, affordable books available to all children around the world through school-based book clubs and book fairs, classroom collections, school and public libraries, retail and online. True to its mission of 97 years to encourage the personal and intellectual growth of all children beginning with literacy, the Company has earned a reputation as a trusted partner to educators and families. Learn more at: www.scholastic.com We are always looking for talented people to join Scholastic in instilling a love of reading and lifelong learning in children. At Scholastic, our benefit plans have been designed to be in line with market conditions and employee needs. Our plans provide flexibility and allow individuals a broad range of choices that can be tailored to meet each employee's needs. Scholastic is an Equal Opportunity Employer.