Payroll Specialist

Summit Staffing Partners; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Summit Staffing Partners is assisting a fast-paced professional services client in Midtown Manhattan with a Senior Payroll Specialist role. Hybrid schedule: in-office 3 days a week, remote 2 days a week, with focus on accurate payroll processing and regulatory compliance.

You will work with HR, accounting, and tax teams to manage weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly payrolls for multiple groups, respond to inquiries, and drive process improvements while maintaining data integrity.

Qualifications

• 5-10+ years of hands-on payroll experience across multiple states.
• Experience with weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly payroll cycles.
• Familiarity with ADP Workforce Now or similar HRIS platforms.
• Experience with payroll system implementations is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data integrity.
• Proficiency in Excel including VLOOKUPs and pivot tables.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily payroll activities across multiple employee groups and cycles.
• Respond to payroll inquiries and resolve issues promptly.
• Collaborate with HR, accounting, and tax to support payroll operations.
• Conduct root cause analysis for payroll discrepancies and implement solutions.
• Assist with quarterly payroll tax reconciliations and year-end reporting (W-2s).
• Maintain accurate payroll records in compliance with regulations.
• Support updates to processes and tools to improve efficiency and scalability.
• Assist in payroll audits and external auditor documentation.
• Contribute to benefits renewals and open enrollment data validations.

Skills

Payroll expertise

Data integrity

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Time management

Discretion

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or related field

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

Excel (Advanced)

Job description

Location: Midtown Manhattan NYC (Hybrid - In office 3 Days a Week, Remote 2 Days a Week)

Our client, a fast-paced professional services firm, is seeking a Senior Payroll Specialist to join its Human Resources team. This position plays a key role in overseeing payroll processing and ensuring full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. The position also offers the opportunity to contribute to benefits-related initiatives and process improvement projects.

Overview

This position is ideal for an experienced payroll professional who thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and is passionate about accuracy, compliance, and service excellence. You'll be working closely with internal stakeholders across HR, accounting, and tax functions to maintain and continuously enhance payroll operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage daily payroll activities including the review and submission of weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly payroll runs across multiple employee groups.
• Respond to payroll-related inquiries, resolving issues quickly and professionally.
• Collaborate with internal departments to support employee needs.
• Conduct root cause analysis for payroll discrepancies and develop documented solutions to prevent recurrence.
• Partner with different departments to research and resolve complex payroll concerns.
• Assist with quarterly payroll tax reconciliations and year-end reporting, including W-2s and other relevant filings.
• Maintain accurate payroll records in accordance with applicable regulatory guidelines.
• Support the implementation of updated processes and tools related to payroll, with a focus on efficiency and scalability.
• Conduct internal payroll audits and assist in preparing documentation for external auditors when needed.
• Contribute to the benefits renewal and open enrollment process by performing data validations and reconciliations.
• Review and reconcile vendor invoices tied to payroll and benefits.
• Handle various reporting needs and participate in special projects as necessary.

Qualifications

• 5-10+ years of hands-on payroll experience across multiple states.
• Proficiency with weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly payroll cycles.
• Familiarity with leading payroll or HRIS platforms (e.g., ADP Workforce Now or comparable systems).
• Prior involvement in payroll or HR system implementations is a plus.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to data integrity.
• Strong understanding of standard operating procedures to ensure consistent and accurate payroll processing.
• Proven ability to manage confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, and data analysis tools.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal with an ability to work independently and in a team setting.
• Effective time management and multitasking skills.
• Solid understanding of Federal, State, and Local payroll tax regulations.
• Flexibility to work additional hours when needed to meet processing deadlines.

Preferred

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation is a plus.
• Background in managing or supporting benefits-related processes in a financial services or family office setting.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.