Payroll Specialist

Power Plant Services; Downers Grove, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Vision insurance

Job summary

Power Services Group (PSG) is seeking a Payroll Specialist to ensure accurate and timely payroll for a diverse workforce, including union and non-union staff. The role requires strong analytical skills, cross-functional collaboration, and meticulous attention to regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities include processing wages, overtime, bonuses, deductions, and tax withholdings across multiple states, reconciling payroll data, and supporting audits and year-end activities.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of payroll processing experience.
• Multi-state payroll experience required.
• Hands-on experience working with payroll and timekeeping systems.
• Experience processing payroll deductions, taxes, garnishments, benefits, and other payroll-related transactions.
• Strong understanding of payroll processes and applicable wage and hour requirements.
• Strong reconciliation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to maintain a high level of accuracy while working within payroll deadlines.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive employee information appropriately.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively across Human Resources, Finance, operations, and other business functions.

Responsibilities

• Process payroll for union and non-union employees, including regular wages, overtime, bonuses, incentive compensation, and applicable deductions.
• Review timekeeping outputs, timesheets, and employee time records for accuracy and compliance with policies and union requirements.
• Ensure payroll system accurately calculates and withholds deductions, including taxes, union dues, benefit plan contributions, garnishments, and other deductions.

Skills

Payroll processing

Multi-state payroll

Timekeeping systems

Deductions & taxes

Wage & hour rules

Reconciliation & analytics

Data confidentiality

Communication skills

Tools

Paylocity

ADP

Paychex

Job description

Payroll Specialist

Company Overview

Power Services Group (PSG) is a leading U.S.-owned, independent provider of integrated, turnkey maintenance, repair, and overhaul solutions for steam and gas turbines. Serving the power generation, oil and gas, and industrial process industries, PSG brings together more than 115 years of combined operational experience across its family of companies. Our capabilities include field services, field machining, steam path and valve repairs, gas turbine component repairs, and precision parts manufacturing. Driven by safety, quality, integrity, responsiveness, and exceptional customer service, we provide employees with a supportive team environment, opportunities for advancement, and the chance to contribute to critical work that keeps industries and communities moving. Join PSG and help us continue powering tomorrow.

Position Overview

The Payroll Specialist is responsible for ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing for employees, including those covered by union contracts or collective bargaining agreements. In addition to strong payroll knowledge and processing proficiency, this role requires strong analytical and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to effectively navigate and work across multiple software platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Process payroll for union and non-union employees, including regular wages, overtime, bonuses, incentive compensation, and applicable statutory and voluntary deductions.
• Review timekeeping outputs, timesheets, and employee time records for accuracy and compliance with company policies and applicable union requirements.
• Ensure the payroll system accurately calculates and withholds applicable deductions, including taxes, union dues, benefit plan contributions, garnishments, and other deductions required by collective bargaining agreements or applicable regulations.
• Review payroll registers, reconciliation reports, funding reports, and statutory filings for accuracy prior to submission.
• Maintain accurate, organized, and confidential payroll records, including employee information, wage changes, deduction elections, and payroll adjustments.
• Serve as a point of contact for payroll-related questions and issues, researching discrepancies and ensuring timely and accurate resolution.
• Assist with payroll tax filings, garnishments, benefit deductions, and other statutory payroll requirements.
• Partner cross-functionally with Human Resources on employee lifecycle changes, including new hires, terminations, compensation changes, transfers, and benefit-related changes.
• Coordinate with Finance, Human Resources, operations, and other internal stakeholders to resolve payroll discrepancies and ensure accurate payroll processing.
• Support payroll reconciliations, audits, year-end activities, and other payroll reporting requirements.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes affecting payroll and help ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations, wage and hour laws, labor requirements, and reporting obligations.
• Maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive employee and payroll information.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, accuracy, and efficiency.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of payroll processing experience.
• Multi-state payroll experience required.
• Hands-on experience working with payroll and timekeeping systems.
• Experience processing payroll deductions, taxes, garnishments, benefits, and other payroll-related transactions.
• Strong understanding of payroll processes and applicable wage and hour requirements.
• Strong reconciliation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to maintain a high level of accuracy while working within payroll deadlines.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive employee information appropriately.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively across Human Resources, Finance, operations, and other business functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience processing payroll for a unionized workforce.
• Experience interpreting and administering payroll provisions contained within collective bargaining agreements.
• Experience with Paylocity strongly preferred.
• Experience with ADP, Paychex, or similar payroll platforms.
• Experience supporting payroll audits, reconciliations, tax filings, and year-end payroll activities.

Benefits

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Why Join PSG?

Join a skilled team performing critical work for the power generation and industrial sectors. PSG offers a safety-focused and collaborative environment, opportunities to expand your technical expertise, and the chance to work on varied and challenging projects.