Payroll Specialist (Contract-to-Hire)

Vopak Terminals North America Inc.; Deer Park (OH); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Vopak is seeking a Payroll Specialist to manage complex payroll processing and expatriate packages across U.S., Canada, and JV entities. You will ensure regulatory compliance, perform accounting entries and reporting, and act as the payroll system administrator, partnering with external vendors.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in accounting/finance/business (CPP preferred) and 5+ years in payroll with international experience. Strong Excel and knowledge of Workday/Oracle/ADP are expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field with CPP designation or equivalent hands-on payroll experience.
• 5+ years of accounting or payroll experience, including expatriate packages and international exposure.
• Deep understanding of payroll regulations (FLSA, FICA, FUTA, ACA, wage-and-hour laws) and accounting principles (GAAP, IFRS, FASB, SOX).
• Advanced MS Excel skills (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, data reconciliation) and experience with major payroll systems (Workday, Oracle, ADP).
• Excellent English communication and customer service skills; ability to manage multiple data formats and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Process accurate, timely payroll and expatriate packages across multiple U.S., Canadian, and JV entities.
• Ensure regulatory compliance by managing tax deposits, filings, and multi-state year-end documentation.
• Execute journal entries, payroll accruals, and complex reconciliations; support audits.
• Generate standard and custom reporting (earnings, headcount, benefits) and support compensation budgeting.
• Serve as payroll system administrator; troubleshoot, upgrade, and implement systems.
• Liaise with external payroll vendors; review contracts and verify billing accuracy.
• Investigate and resolve pay discrepancies; address payroll inquiries from staff and management.
• Collaborate in cross-functional meetings to align payroll, HR, and accounting initiatives.

Skills

Payroll processing

Regulatory compliance

Expatriate payroll

GAAP IFRS

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance/business

CPP designation or equivalent

Tools

Workday

Oracle

ADP

MS Excel

Job description

Vopak helps the world flow forward. We store the energy of today and tomorrow. But behind our impressive terminals and tanks, it is our people who make the difference. Guided by our culture of Trust, Collaboration, and Courage, we focus on creating an impact that brings the opportunity to grow and to make a real difference. As Payroll Specialist, you will play a key role in realizing our ambitions while building both the future of Vopak and your own.

What will you be doing?

• Payroll Processing & Compliance: Process accurate, timely payroll and complex expatriate packages across multiple U.S., Canadian, and Joint Venture entities.
• Payroll Processing & Compliance: Ensure regulatory compliance by managing tax deposits, statutory filings, and multi-state/multi-country year-end tax documentation.
• Accounting & Reporting: Execute journal entries, monthly payroll accruals, and complex reconciliations while supporting internal and third‑party audits.
• Accounting & Reporting: Generate comprehensive standard and custom reporting (earnings, headcount, benefits) and support the annual compensation budgeting process.
• System Administration & Vendor Management: Serve as the primary payroll system administrator to oversee technical troubleshooting, upgrades, and system implementations.
• System Administration & Vendor Management: Act as the main liaison for external payroll vendors, which includes reviewing contracts and verifying billing accuracy.
• Employee Support & Communication: Investigate and resolve pay discrepancies while promptly addressing payroll inquiries from employees, management, and external parties.
• Employee Support & Communication: Collaborate in cross‑functional meetings to align payroll, HR, and accounting initiatives, performing other related duties as assigned.
• Performs other duties assigned by management that fall within the generally expected scope of this position.

Why you’ll love working with us

Want to know more about our great work culture?

Education Requirement

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field is required, with an advanced degree considered helpful. Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation or equivalent hands‑on experience in payroll processing.

Professional Experience

5+ years of accounting or payroll experience, requiring expertise with expatriate packages, along with a preferred background in international business, auditing, and financial reporting.

Compliance & Standards

Deep understanding of payroll regulations (FLSA, FICA, FUTA, ACA, federal/state/local wage-and-hour laws) and accounting principles (GAAP, IFRS, FASB, SOX).

Technical Proficiency

Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, data reconciliation), major accounting and payroll systems (Workday, Oracle, ADP), and standard office software.

Analytical & Financial Acumen

Strong analytical abilities and a solid grasp of financial management concepts, with preferred knowledge of the petroleum, petrochemical, and chemical industries.

Soft Skills & Work Ethic

Excellent English communication and customer service skills, backed by the ability to multitask, manage different data formats, and consistently meet tight deadlines in high‑stress environments.

Don’t meet all our criteria? No problem! If this role energizes you and our culture feels like a good fit,

What energy will you bring?

We’d love to meet you! Together, we help the world flow forward.

Work Environment

This employee generally works in an office environment, away from extremes of cold or heat. Limited to no exposure to noise and vibrations other than normal daily office sounds. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee should not have regular exposure to fumes, odors, toxic conditions, dust or poor ventilation.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, sit, speak and hear. The employee is required to stand, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; the employee may be required, on occasion, to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to ten (10) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Employee may be required to travel by air, rail, bus, or car. Occasional, short‑term visit to industrial settings.

Work Eligibility

Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States. The Company will not sponsor immigration or work visas.

Inclusion & Diversity

Vopak stores vital products with care. Our commitment to care extends to all our stakeholders, including our own employees, new talents and people in our local communities around the globe. We believe that each individual has the right to be treated with respect and dignity, and to work in a professional atmosphere that promotes equal opportunities and prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, political orientation or trade union membership, allowing everyone at Vopak to develop their full potential. It is Vopak’s policy to employ and administer employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, citizenship status, or status as a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam Era and in accordance with federal and state civil rights laws.

Accommodations

At Vopak we are committed to building a workplace where everyone feels they belong. To support this, we host several active Employee Resource Groups, including our International, Pride, Women’s and Young Professionals networks. Vopak is an equal opportunity employer. Everyone is different, and the differences in people allow us to match our ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. That's why we are curious about who you are! To support qualified individuals with disabilities, we provide reasonable accommodations throughout our application and interview process. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [e-mail]. Please include "Reasonable Accommodation" in the subject line and briefly describe the assistance you need. Note that this inbox is not monitored for application status updates.

Citizens and businesses everywhere can switch on the lights and go about their day, without ever having to wonder whether the energy is available. Vopak provides infrastructure solutions for storing the products that make it possible. But our tanks and terminals alone don’t get the job done. Our people do. That’s why we say: there is human energy inside.