Payroll Specialist

Tential Solutions; Annapolis (MD); Hybrid; USD 37,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Paid sick leave

8 paid holidays

3 floating holidays

Job summary

Tential Solutions is seeking a detail-oriented Payroll Specialist to support payroll operations in a hybrid Annapolis, MD environment. You will process weekly, multi-state payroll for internal staff and consultants, validate hires, handle terminations, and maintain compliant records with a focus on accuracy and timely delivery.

You will collaborate with Payroll, Accounting, and managers to resolve inquiries, manage timesheets, and support data integrity across systems such as VMS and Bullhorn

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of payroll processing or payroll administration experience preferred.
• Experience with multi-state payroll strongly preferred.
• Experience with Paylocity or similar payroll/HRIS platform preferred.
• Experience with staffing, consulting, or high-volume payroll environments is a plus.
• Familiarity with timekeeping systems and VMS is a plus.
• Experience with Bullhorn Back Office (BBO) is a plus.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll requirements.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and data analysis abilities.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and manage deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Process weekly, multi-state payroll for internal employees and consultants.
• Review new hire information for accuracy prior to first payroll.
• Handle terminations and final-pay processing in compliance with state rules.
• Prepare and maintain timesheet status reports and escalate missing data.
• Monitor timesheet submissions to ensure payroll deadlines are met.
• Import timekeeping data from VMS into Bullhorn BBO for payroll processing.
• Assist with payroll data entry, including bonuses and deductions.
• Support off-cycle payroll processing, voids, reversals, and reissues.
• Resolve payroll discrepancies and maintain audit-ready records.
• Respond to routine payroll inquiries and escalate complex issues.

Skills

Payroll processing

Multi-state payroll

Excel proficiency

Attention to detail

Customer service

Time management

Independent work

Communication

Education

FPC or CPP certification

Tools

Paylocity

Bullhorn Back Office (BBO)

Vendor Management Systems (VMS)

Job description

PAYROLL SPECIALIST

Location: Annapolis, MD (Hybrid – 3 days per week onsite)

Employment Type: Full-time, Non-Exempt

Pay Range: $26.50 – $29.00/hour

Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k); paid time off; paid sick leave; 8 paid holidays; and 3 floating holidays

Position Summary

Tential Solutions is seeking a detail-oriented and dependable Payroll Specialist to support our growing payroll operations. This position will play an important role in the accurate and timely processing of payroll while supporting payroll compliance, employee inquiries, timesheet administration, and other day-to-day payroll activities.

Reporting to the Manager of Payroll & Benefits, the Payroll Specialist will work closely with Payroll, Accounting, managers, and employees to ensure payroll information is accurate, complete, and processed according to established deadlines.

The ideal candidate is organized, comfortable working in a deadline-driven environment, and understands that payroll requires both exceptional attention to detail and excellent customer service.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the processing of weekly, multi-state payroll for internal employees and consultants, ensuring accuracy and adherence to established payroll deadlines.
• Review new hire information for accuracy and completeness, including pay rates, work locations, tax jurisdictions, direct deposit information, deductions, and other payroll-related data prior to the employee’s first payroll.
• Review payroll data for accuracy and completeness prior to processing.
• Process employee terminations, including updating payroll records, reviewing final wages and deductions, and supporting timely final-pay processing in accordance with applicable state requirements.
• Prepare and maintain timesheet status reports throughout the payroll cycle, identifying missing, incomplete, and unapproved timesheets and communicating outstanding items to the appropriate teams.
• Monitor employee and consultant timesheet submissions and manager approvals to ensure payroll deadlines are met.
• Follow up on missing, incomplete, or unapproved timesheets and elevate outstanding items when necessary.
• Download approved timesheets and timekeeping data from multiple Vendor Management Systems (VMS), review the information for completeness, and prepare/import the data into Bullhorn Back Office (BBO) for payroll processing.
• Assist with payroll data entry, including earnings, deductions, reimbursements, bonuses, commissions, and other payroll adjustments.
• Support off-cycle payroll processing, voids, reversals, and check reissues as needed.
• Review payroll reports and identify discrepancies requiring additional research or correction.
• Maintain accurate payroll records, documentation, and supporting files.
• Respond to routine employee payroll questions in a professional and timely manner and elevate complex matters when appropriate.
• Assist with demographic changes, tax withholding updates, and other employee payroll-related changes.
• Support payroll tax and compliance activities, including research and documentation related to state and local withholding requirements.
• Assist with payroll and benefits reconciliations.
• Support 401(k) contribution and payroll deduction reconciliation activities.
• Assist with payroll-related audits and requests for supporting documentation.
• Maintain payroll checklists, standard operating procedures, and other process documentation.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of employee compensation, personal information, and payroll records.
• Provide backup payroll support and assist with special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of payroll processing or payroll administration experience preferred.
• Experience processing multi-state payroll strongly preferred.
• Experience with Paylocity or a similar payroll/HRIS platform preferred.
• Experience with staffing, consulting, or high-volume payroll environments is a plus.
• Familiarity with timekeeping systems and Vendor Management Systems (VMS) is a plus.
• Experience with Bullhorn Back Office (BBO) is a plus.
• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) is a plus.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll requirements.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to work comfortably with spreadsheets, formulas, and formatting.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
• Ability to work independently while knowing when to escalation issues to management.

What Success Looks Like

• New hire payroll information is reviewed and validated before the employee’s first payroll.
• Terminations and final-pay requirements are processed accurately and within applicable deadlines.
• Timesheet status reports are accurate, timely, and actively used to resolve outstanding timesheets and approvals.
• Timesheets from multiple VMS platforms are downloaded, reviewed, and imported into Bullhorn BBO accurately and on schedule.
• VMS and Bullhorn BBO timekeeping data are reconciled and discrepancies are resolved before payroll is processed.
• Payroll information is accurate, complete, and ready for processing by established deadlines.
• Employee payroll inquiries receive timely and professional responses.
• Payroll records and supporting documentation remain organized and audit-ready.
• Routine payroll operations are handled independently and reliably, with complex or unusual issues escalated appropriately.

About Tential Solutions

At Tential Solutions, our mission is “To do the work with great people whose purpose is the pursuit of extraordinary outcomes.”

The Payroll Specialist will contribute to that mission by helping ensure our employees and consultants are paid accurately and on time while delivering a high level of service to our internal teams and workforce.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Tential Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.