Payroll Specialist

GSD Search, LLC; Brentwood (TN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

GSD Search, LLC seeks an experienced Payroll Specialist to own end-to-end payroll for ~1,000 employees across the United States and Canada. This onsite role in Brentwood, TN, requires accuracy, confidentiality, and strong collaboration with HR and Finance.

You will process weekly and biweekly payroll, validate timekeeping data, and ensure regulatory compliance across jurisdictions. Strong Excel skills and CPP/CPR certifications are a plus.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of payroll processing experience in a high-volume environment.
• Experience processing multi-state U.S. payroll; Canadian payroll experience preferred.
• Hands-on experience with UKG Pro and UKG Pro Workforce Management (Dimensions/Kronos).
• Strong understanding of payroll tax regulations, garnishments, and compliance.
• Advanced Excel skills including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, and XLOOKUP.
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong analytical skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple payroll cycles and deadlines.
• High integrity and discretion with confidential information.
• Strong communication and customer service skills across HR, Finance, and Operations.

Responsibilities

• Process weekly and biweekly payroll for ~1,000 employees across US/Canada using UKG Pro.
• Review and validate timekeeping data from UKG Pro Workforce Management before payroll.
• Audit payroll for accuracy, research discrepancies, and resolve issues before submission.
• Analyze payroll trends and investigate variances in hours, earnings, or labor costs.
• Partner with Accounting to reconcile payroll and provide reports.
• Maintain employee payroll records for hires, terminations, transfers, promotions, and raises.
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries in a timely, professional manner.
• Prepare payroll reports for Finance, HR, and leadership as needed.
• Support quarter-end and year-end activities (W-2, T4/RL-1 processing).
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and Canadian payroll regulations (garnishments, ROEs, remittances).
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, plant managers, and supervisors to meet payroll deadlines.

Skills

Payroll processing

Multi-state payroll

Excel

Attention to detail

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business

Tools

UKG Pro

UKG Pro Workforce Management

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Payroll Specialist

Location: Brentwood, TN (Onsite)

We're seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to manage end-to-end payroll operations for approximately 1,000 employees across the United States and Canada. This role supports a multi-site manufacturing organization and is responsible for processing weekly and biweekly payroll while ensuring accuracy, compliance, and an exceptional employee experience.

This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional who enjoys owning the payroll process, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and takes pride in delivering accurate, timely payroll with a high level of confidentiality.

What You'll Do

• Process weekly and biweekly payroll for approximately 1,000 employees across multiple U.S. and Canadian locations using UKG Pro.

• Review and validate timekeeping data from UKG Pro Workforce Management (formerly UKG Dimensions/Kronos) prior to payroll processing.

• Audit payroll for accuracy, research discrepancies, and resolve payroll issues before final submission.

• Analyze payroll trends and investigate significant variances in hours, earnings, or labor costs.

• Partner with Accounting to reconcile payroll and provide supporting reports.

• Maintain employee payroll records, including new hires, terminations, transfers, promotions, and compensation changes.

• Respond to employee payroll inquiries and resolve issues in a timely, professional manner.

• Prepare payroll reports for Finance, HR, and leadership as needed.

• Support quarter-end and year-end payroll activities, including U.S. W-2 and Canadian T4/RL-1 processing.

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and Canadian payroll regulations, including garnishments, multi-state tax requirements, Records of Employment (ROEs), and payroll remittances.

• Collaborate with HR, Finance, plant managers, and supervisors to ensure payroll deadlines are met and employee information remains accurate.

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of payroll processing experience in a high-volume environment.

• Experience processing multi-state U.S. payroll; Canadian payroll experience is strongly preferred.

• Hands-on experience with UKG Pro and UKG Pro Workforce Management (Dimensions/Kronos).

• Strong understanding of payroll tax regulations, garnishments, and payroll compliance.

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, and XLOOKUP.

• Exceptional attention to detail and strong analytical skills.

• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple payroll cycles and deadlines independently.

• High level of integrity and discretion when handling confidential employee and compensation information.

• Strong communication and customer service skills with the ability to partner effectively across HR, Finance, and Operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP), Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC), or Canadian Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP).

• Experience supporting payroll in a manufacturing or multi-site environment.

• Experience with acquisitions, employee integrations, or payroll system implementations.

Why You'll Love This Opportunity

This is a highly visible role within a growing manufacturing organization where you'll have ownership of the payroll function and work alongside collaborative HR and Finance teams. If you're looking for a position where your expertise, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills will make a meaningful impact, we'd love to hear from you.