Payroll Specialist

Starr; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Starr, a global leader in commercial insurance, is hiring a Payroll Specialist to administer U.S. payroll across multiple entities. You will process semi-monthly and off-cycle payrolls, manage garnishments, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local taxes.

You’ll generate reports, respond to inquiries, and partner with HR and finance to maintain accurate payroll records. The role requires 2+ years of U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of end-to-end U.S. payroll administration experience across multiple states/entities.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations and compliance.
• Experience managing complex payroll processes across jurisdictions and entities.
• Proficiency with Workday Payroll and related modules (HCM, Benefits, Absence, Time Tracking).
• Experience with ADP SmartCompliance (tax, wage payment, garnishments).
• Advanced Excel skills for data analysis, reconciliation, and reporting.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management, confidentiality, and judgment.

Responsibilities

• Process semi-monthly payroll for U.S. entities, including on-cycle and off-cycle payrolls.
• Administer payroll transactions: new hires, terminations, changes, bonuses, garnishments, tax elections, direct deposits.
• Manage garnishment administration and regulatory compliance.
• Respond to payroll inquiries with timely, accurate research and resolution.
• Provide professional employee support on payroll matters.
• Prepare recurring payroll reports (monthly, quarterly, annual).
• Deliver ad hoc payroll, tax, and workforce reports as needed.
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies with proper controls and policies.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of U.S. payroll processes, taxes, and compliance.
• Ensure timely and accurate payroll payments in compliance with wage laws.
• Support payroll tax accounts setup, maintenance, and reconciliation in Workday.
• Assist with quarterly/year-end payroll activities and W-2 processing.
• Serve as backup for unemployment claims processing.

Skills

Payroll processing

Workday

Excel

Regulatory compliance

Multi-state payroll

Tax compliance

Garnishments

Reporting

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Workday Payroll

ADP SmartCompliance

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Join Starr, a global leader in commercial insurance with over a century of expertise. We empower our employees to innovate, make impactful decisions, and build lasting client relationships worldwide. At Starr, you’ll work in an entrepreneurial culture alongside accessible leaders, leveraging our financial strength and vast industry experience to deliver solutions for our clients, no matter how complex. Grow your career with a rapidly growing company that invests in its people and their ability to drive real progress.

PAYROLL SPECIALIST

Position Overview

Responsible for the accurate and compliant administration of U.S. payroll operations (2,000 ees) across multiple legal entities and jurisdictions. This role serves as a key subject matter expert for payroll processing, tax compliance, reporting, system administration, and employee support while ensuring adherence to all applicable regulatory requirements.

Core Responsibilities

• Process semi-monthly payroll for all U.S. legal entities, including both regular (on-cycle) and off-cycle payrolls, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness.
• Administer a broad range of payroll transactions, including new hires, terminations, compensation changes, bonus payments, severance payments, direct deposit setup, tax elections, garnishments, and time and labor processing.
• Manage payroll garnishment administration and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Monitor and respond to payroll-related inquiries received through designated payroll channels, conducting timely and accurate research and resolution of payroll and tax-related issues for both active and former employees.
• Provide professional and responsive employee support through written and verbal communications regarding payroll matters.
• Prepare, validate, and distribute recurring payroll reports, including monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting requirements.
• Develop and deliver ad hoc payroll, tax, and workforce reports to support business and compliance needs.
• Independently investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies while ensuring adherence to established controls, policies, and procedures.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of U.S. payroll processes, tax requirements, and compliance obligations, ensuring documentation remains accurate and current.
• Ensure employees are paid accurately and in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local wage and labor laws.
• Support the setup, maintenance, and reconciliation of federal, state, and local payroll tax accounts.
• Reconcile payroll tax reporting following each payroll cycle to ensure employee and employer tax liabilities are accurately recorded within Workday.
• Support quarterly and year-end payroll activities, including audit preparation, W-2 processing, regulatory reporting, and benefit limit validations.
• Serve as backup support for unemployment claims administration and related inquiries.

Additional Responsibilities

• Process payroll-related invoices through Workday Financials and ensure appropriate documentation and approvals are maintained.
• Support internal and external audits related to payroll, benefits, and payroll tax compliance.
• Assist with federal, state, and local employment tax audits, including gathering documentation and responding to auditor requests.
• Support payroll year-end processing activities to ensure timely tax year close and accurate distribution of employee tax documents.
• Participate in payroll system implementations, upgrades, enhancements, and testing activities, including validation of payroll calculations, integrations, and reporting functionality.
• Perform general payroll administration activities, including responding to employee inquiries, maintaining payroll records, and ensuring proper document retention and storage practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Business Administration, or related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• 2+ years of end-to-end U.S. payroll administration experience, including multi-state and multi-entity payroll processing.
• Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, labor laws, and compliance requirements.
• Experience managing complex payroll processes involving multiple jurisdictions and legal entities.
• Proficiency in Workday Payroll and related Workday modules, including HCM, Benefits, Absence, and Time Tracking.
• Experience with ADP SmartCompliance, including tax, wage payment, and garnishment services.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including data analysis, reconciliation, and reporting.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving capabilities with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive employee and payroll information.
• Accounting or payroll accounting experience preferred.

Starr is an equal opportunity employer, which means we’ll consider all suitably qualified applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or beliefs, age, sexual orientation, disability status or any other protected characteristic. We recruit and develop our people based on merit and we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We offer first class training and development opportunities to all employees. Our aim is to grow our own talent and bring out the best in people.