Job Details
Level: Experienced
Location: Corporate - Madison, WI 53718
Position Type: Full Time
Education Level: 2 Year Degree
Summary
The Payroll Specialist is responsible for processing accurate and timely payroll for approximately 1,000+ employees across multiple states. This role supports weekly payroll processing for bi-weekly North and South pay cycles, ensuring compliance with wage and hour laws, benefits deductions, and internal controls. The Payroll Specialist serves as the primary point of contact for payroll-related inquiries and partners closely with Operations, Accounting, and Human Resources. Excellent benefits offered.
Responsibilities
- Manage and process bi-weekly payrolls for hourly, salaried, and commissioned employees.
- Review and validate timecards, overtime, commission and pay differentials.
- Process off‑cycle payrolls, bonuses, commissions, and final pay.
- Ensure payroll deadlines and cutoff schedules are met.
- Ensure proper audit systems are in place to account for accurate pay and benefit changes.
- Process payroll changes including new hires, terminations, internal transfers, garnishments, tax levies, child support orders, manual checks, leave requests, and various payroll deductions.
- Generate routine reports relating to payroll, time, paid leave, etc.
- Manage and maintain payments for employee cash reimbursements and expense reports for credit card reconciliation.
- Evaluate process and reporting improvements as needed.
- Problem solve and respond to employee payroll questions.
- Assist with W‑2 questions and corrections.
- Prepare payroll, headcount, overtime, and turnover reports.
- Partner with Operations on timekeeping accuracy.
- Escalate payroll issues and risks to leadership.
- Maintain confidentiality and professionalism at all times.
- Other duties as required.
Qualifications
- Associate’s degree in Business or a related field; Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
- Five years of applicable experience managing the payroll process; multi-state experience is preferred.
- Experience processing payroll for 500+ employees preferred.
- Strong knowledge of wage & hour laws.
- Experience with complex pay cycles and variable compensation.
- Proficiency with HRIS/payroll systems (ADP, UKG, Paycom, Paylocity, etc.).
- High attention to detail and confidentiality.
- Excellent proficiency in MS Office (solid Excel skills is a must).
- Ability to organize and prioritize tasks to meet strict deadlines.
- Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks while paying close attention to detail.
- Strong personal integrity, confidentiality, and discretion.
Work Environment & Physical Demands
- Ability to sit, stand, bend, kneel, stoop and lift/move up to 50 lbs. on a regular basis.
- Ability to work in an environment that includes 8–12‑hour days, and flexibility to extend working hours when necessary.