Payroll Senior Specialist

Sempra Services Corporation; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Health and welfare benefits

Retirement contributions

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Parental leave

Job summary

Sempra Services Corporation in Houston seeks an experienced Payroll Specialist to manage complex payroll support and resolve operational issues across processes and systems. You will apply deep knowledge of payroll procedures to ensure accurate payroll execution with minimal supervision.

The role collaborates with HR, finance, and external carriers, supports audits, testing, and process improvements, and contributes to ensuring correct health, retirement, and 401k deductions.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Typically requires 5 years of related experience.
• Ability to communicate sensitive or time-critical payroll information clearly and professionally.
• Ability to independently diagnose and resolve support issues with limited precedent.
• Ability to recommend improvements to payroll support workflows.
• Knowledge of internal controls and approval requirements affecting payroll processing.
• Knowledge of health and welfare programs and 401k processes including reporting.

Responsibilities

• Resolve payroll discrepancies across multiple transactions, pay periods, deductions, and records.
• Perform payroll reconciliations and research differences among payroll results and supporting documentation.
• Process unusual or highly detailed payroll transactions per policy and precedents.
• Review exception reports to identify recurring errors and processing issues.
• Respond to employee and manager inquiries about payroll calculations and deductions.
• Support payroll audits by tracing histories and addressing discrepancies.
• Test payroll system changes and document defects or unexpected results.
• Suggest improvements to procedures and workflows within guidelines.
• Ensure health and retirement plan elections match system deductions.
• Assist with vendor management and 401k reporting.
• Assist with wellness and timekeeping initiatives and leave monitoring.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Payroll support

Issue resolution

Process improvement

Internal controls

Cross-functional coordination

Timekeeping liaison

Carrier communications

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Payroll system

Job description

Primary Purpose

Performs advanced payroll support activities and independently resolves complex operational issues across payroll processes, transactions, and systems. Applies extensive knowledge of established payroll procedures and practices to address unusual situations, identify recurring problems, and support accurate payroll execution with minimal supervision.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Resolves payroll discrepancies involving multiple transactions, pay periods, deductions, employee records, or related payroll processes.
• Performs payroll reconciliations and researches differences among payroll results, time records, deductions, adjustments, and supporting documentation.
• Processes unusual or highly detailed payroll transactions by applying established policies, procedures, practices, and prior precedents.
• Reviews payroll exception and control reports to identify recurring errors, incomplete transactions, and processing issues requiring corrective action.
• Researches employee and manager inquiries involving payroll calculations, adjustments, deductions, time reporting, and transaction histories and explains applicable payroll procedures.
• Supports payroll audits and reviews by researching transactions, compiling records, tracing processing histories, and addressing identified documentation or transaction discrepancies.
• Performs detailed testing of payroll system changes, interfaces, configurations, and workflows and documents processing defects or unexpected results.
• Identifies recurring payroll processing issues and recommends practical changes to procedures, documentation, job aids, and workflows within established guidelines.
• Ensure health and retirement plan elections match active payroll deductions in the system.
• Reconcile monthly insurance billing statements and resolve eligibility or claim issues with external carriers.
• Assist with wellness and timekeeping initiatives including leave of absence case monitoring, tracking and support.
• Assist with vendor management and benefit communication.
• Assist with 401k contribution reporting.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

Experience

• Typically requires 5 years of related experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to communicate sensitive or time-critical payroll information clearly and professionally.
• Ability to independently diagnose and resolve support issues with limited precedent.
• Ability to recommend improvements to payroll support workflows.
• Knowledge of advanced payroll support practices within complex payroll environments.
• Knowledge of internal controls and approval requirements affecting payroll processing.
• Skill in coordinating payroll documentation and issue resolution across multiple functions.
• Skill in synthesizing information from multiple sources to support accurate payroll outcomes.
• Knowledge of health and welfare programs.
• Knowledge of insurance billing and claims processes with external carriers.
• Knowledge of 401k processes including plan contributions and reporting.

Area of Interest

Human Resources

Full Time/Part Time

Full-time

Total Rewards Philosophy

Note: The Company strives to ensure that employees are paid equitably and competitively. Starting salaries may vary based on factors such as relevant experience, qualifications, and education.

Sempra Infrastructure offer s a competitive total rewards package that goes beyond base salary. This position is eligible for an annual performance-based incentive (bonus) as well as merit-based recognition . Company benefits include health and welfare (medical, dental, vision) , employer contributions to retirement benefits, life insurance, paid time off, as well as other company offer ings such as tuition reimbursement , paid parental leave, and employee assistance programs .

We endeavor to make this site accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact us at(619) 696-4405 or [e-mail]. This contact information is for accommodation requests only, not to inquire about the status of applications.

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