Payroll Specialist

Aston Carter; Buffalo (MN); Hybrid; USD 41,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short and long-term disability

HSA

Employee Assistance Program

PTO / Vacation / Sick Leave

Job summary

Aston Carter is seeking a Payroll Specialist for a hybrid role in Buffalo, MN. The position handles timekeeping systems, data entry, and weekly payroll for multiple entities, ensuring timely processing and accuracy across all payroll cycles.

Responsibilities include compliance with federal/state/local tax rules, processing manual checks/ACH, and generating certified payroll reports. Candidates should have hands-on payroll experience and strong Excel skills (Pivot, VLOOKUP).

Qualifications

• Hands-on payroll experience is required.
• Experience administering electronic timekeeping systems.
• Proficient data entry in payroll and administrative databases.
• Ability to reconcile payroll prior to transmission and validate reports.
• Experience processing weekly payroll for multiple entities.
• Knowledge of federal/state/local tax, Social Security, 401(k) transfers, garnishments.
• Strong customer service with professional responses to inquiries.
• Experience performing G/L balance reviews and payroll journal entries.
• Advanced Excel skills with pivot tables and VLOOKUP functions.
• Ability to work with multi-state payroll requirements and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain timekeeping systems for accurate hours.
• Enter and update employee and payroll data in databases and software.
• Reconcile payroll prior to transmission and validate reports.
• Process weekly payroll for multiple companies and ensure timeliness.
• Prepare and issue manual checks or ACH payments as needed.
• Generate and submit certified payroll reports for prevailing wage projects.
• Compile and report monthly hours, wages, and payments for unions.
• Determine payroll liabilities by entering tax information and deductions.
• Respond to inquiries, provide documents, and resolve discrepancies.
• Investigate and resolve complex payroll problems with appropriate solutions.
• Perform account balance reviews and reconcile the general ledger.
• Prepare and post payroll-related journal entries.
• Collaborate with payroll and accounting teams for accurate financials.
• Utilize Excel for analysis and reporting on payroll data.

Skills

Payroll experience

Timekeeping systems

Data entry

Payroll reconciliation

Weekly payroll

Manual checks

ACH payments

Union reporting

Tax entries

Pivot tables

VLOOKUP

Multistate payroll

Customer inquiries

G/L reconciliation

Journal entries

Regulatory compliance

Job description

• Administer and maintain the electronic timekeeping system to ensure accurate capture of employee hours.
• Enter and update employee and payroll data in payroll and administrative databases and software programs.
• Reconcile payroll prior to transmission and validate confirmed payroll reports for accuracy and completeness.
• Process weekly payroll for multiple companies and ensure all payroll cycles are completed in a timely manner.
• Prepare and process manual checks or ACH payments when necessary to resolve exceptions or special cases.
• Generate, review, and submit certified payroll reports for prevailing wage projects in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Compile and report monthly hours, wages, and payments due to various unions, ensuring compliance with union agreements.
• Determine payroll liabilities by entering and validating federal, state, and local income tax information, social security, 401(k) transfers, direct deposits, child support orders, wage assignments, and garnishments.
• Respond to inquiries from internal and external customers, answer questions, provide documents, explain procedures, interpret policies, and resolve discrepancies.
• Handle complex payroll problems as they arise, investigating issues and implementing appropriate solutions.
• Perform account balance reviews and reconcile the general ledger related to payroll transactions.
• Prepare and post journal entries associated with payroll activity to ensure accurate financial reporting.
• Collaborate closely with the payroll team and broader accounting team to support accurate project and corporate financials.
• Use Excel extensively, including pivot tables and VLOOKUP functions, to analyze payroll data and prepare reports.
  
• At least 1+ years of hands‑on payroll experience.
• Experience administering and maintaining electronic timekeeping systems.
• Proficiency in entering and managing data in payroll and administrative databases.
• Ability to reconcile payroll prior to transmission and validate payroll reports.
• Experience processing weekly payroll cycles for multiple entities or business units.
• Knowledge of calculating and entering federal, state, and local income tax, social security, 401(k) transfers, direct deposits, child support, wage assignments, and garnishments.
• Ability to respond professionally to internal and external customer inquiries and resolve payroll discrepancies.
• Experience performing account balance reviews and reconciling general ledger accounts related to payroll.
• Skill in preparing and posting payroll‑related journal entries.
• Advanced Excel skills, including demonstrated ability to use pivot tables and VLOOKUP functions.
• Ability to work with multi‑state payroll requirements and regulations.
  

Job Title: Payroll Specialist

Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain the electronic timekeeping system to ensure accurate capture of employee hours.
• Enter and update employee and payroll data in payroll and administrative databases and software programs.
• Reconcile payroll prior to transmission and validate confirmed payroll reports for accuracy and completeness.
• Process weekly payroll for multiple companies and ensure all payroll cycles are completed in a timely manner.
• Prepare and process manual checks or ACH payments when necessary to resolve exceptions or special cases.
• Generate, review, and submit certified payroll reports for prevailing wage projects in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Compile and report monthly hours, wages, and payments due to various unions, ensuring compliance with union agreements.
• Determine payroll liabilities by entering and validating federal, state, and local income tax information, social security, 401(k) transfers, direct deposits, child support orders, wage assignments, and garnishments.
• Respond to inquiries from internal and external customers, answer questions, provide documents, explain procedures, interpret policies, and resolve discrepancies.
• Handle complex payroll problems as they arise, investigating issues and implementing appropriate solutions.
• Perform account balance reviews and reconcile the general ledger related to payroll transactions.
• Prepare and post journal entries associated with payroll activity to ensure accurate financial reporting.
• Collaborate closely with the payroll team and broader accounting team to support accurate project and corporate financials.

Essential Skills

• At least 1+ years of hands‑on payroll experience.
• Experience administering and maintaining electronic timekeeping systems.
• Proficiency in entering and managing data in payroll and administrative databases.
• Ability to reconcile payroll prior to transmission and validate payroll reports.
• Experience processing weekly payroll cycles for multiple entities or business units.
• Knowledge of calculating and entering federal, state, and local income tax, social security, 401(k) transfers, direct deposits, child support, wage assignments, and garnishments.
• Ability to respond professionally to internal and external customer inquiries and resolve payroll discrepancies.
• Experience performing account balance reviews and reconciling general ledger accounts related to payroll.
• Skill in preparing and posting payroll‑related journal entries.
• Advanced Excel skills, including demonstrated ability to use pivot tables and VLOOKUP functions.
• Ability to work with multi‑state payroll requirements and regulations.
  

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Buffalo, MN.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $35.00/hr.
Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a hybrid position in Buffalo,MN. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Aug 31, 2026.
  

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world‑class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry‑leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.