Payroll Clerk

Aquent; Westlake (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent partners with a leading financial services institution to deliver accurate and timely payroll processing across states, ensuring compliant, on-time employee payments. You will join Payroll Operations, handling daily and bi-weekly cycles with deadlines and clear communication.

We seek meticulous payroll professionals who can reconcile data, research issues, and collaborate with the HR team. You will improve processes, generate monthly metrics, and support special projects to enhance the

Qualifications

• 3+ years of full-cycle, multi-state payroll processing experience.
• Proficiency with a major payroll system, timekeeping, or absence management platform.
• Advanced Excel skills, including VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, formulas, and data analysis.
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal and state payroll laws, regulations, and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Communicate clearly with employees, managers, and partners to resolve payroll questions and provide timely support.
• Ensure payroll data, calculations, and corrections are accurate with attention to detail.
• Support diverse payroll processes including garnishments, ACH rejects, and off-cycle payments.
• Escalate issues to payroll leadership when needed and use sound business judgment.
• Research cases related to earnings, taxes, deductions, timekeeping, and absences.
• Prepare monthly payroll metrics and reports for review.
• Contribute to process improvements and payroll-related projects.

Skills

Full-cycle payroll

Multi-state payroll

Excel (Advanced)

Payroll systems research

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree

CPP certification

Tools

Timekeeping system

Absence management platform

Data query tools

Job description

Aquent is partnering with a leading financial services institution dedicated to creating an engaged and supportive workplace. This organization is committed to ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time, maintaining compliance across various entities and jurisdictions, and supporting critical financial operations like payroll tax filings and general ledger reconciliations. They are passionate about enhancing the employee experience through innovative self-service tools, automation, and continuous service-level improvements.

Are you a meticulous and driven payroll professional ready to make a significant impact? This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic HR team where your expertise will directly contribute to the financial well-being of a vast employee base. As a key player in Payroll Operations, you will be instrumental in ensuring seamless daily and bi-weekly payroll activities, upholding strict processing deadlines, and fostering a positive employee experience through accurate calculations and clear communication. Your contributions will directly support the company’s commitment to its employees and operational excellence.

Your Impactful Responsibilities

• Communicating clearly and professionally with employees, managers, and business partners to resolve payroll questions and provide timely support.
• Applying strong attention to detail and analytical skills to ensure payroll data, calculations, and corrections are accurate.
• Supporting diverse payroll processes, including garnishment backup, ACH reject review, off-cycle payments, and efficient paycheck or payslip distribution.
• Using sound business judgment to understand payroll impacts, identify issues, and determine when escalation to payroll leadership is needed.
• Researching and resolving cases related to earnings, taxes, deductions, timekeeping, and absence.
• Maintaining, analyzing, and preparing monthly payroll metrics and reports for review.
• Contributing to special projects, process improvements, and other payroll duties as assigned.
• Collaborating effectively as part of a team while also managing individual responsibilities and deadlines.

What You’ll Bring (Must-Have Qualifications)

• 3+ years of full-cycle, multi-state payroll processing experience.
• Proficiency with a major payroll system, timekeeping, or absence management platform.
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy, quality, and timely completion of work.
• Experience using payroll systems and data query tools to research, analyze, and resolve payroll issues.
• Advanced Excel skills, including VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, formulas, and data analysis.
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal and state payroll laws, regulations, and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities, meet performance goals, and deliver high-quality results.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to evaluate information and resolve complex issues.
• Proven success working effectively in both team-oriented and independent environments.
• Continuous improvement mindset, with the ability to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, and productivity.

What Will Set You Apart (Nice-to-Have Qualifications)

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, or a closely related field.

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