Payroll Specialist / Payroll Administrator

ATR International; California (MO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

ATR International is seeking a detail-oriented Multi-State Payroll Specialist to manage end-to-end payroll processing across multiple states. You will ensure accurate, compliant, and timely payroll delivery while navigating varying state tax, wage, and labor law requirements.

The role involves working with HR, Finance, and Legal teams to resolve issues, support audits, and implement system improvements. Candidates should have 2–3 years of multi-state payroll experience and proficiency with major

Qualifications

• Experience processing multi-state payroll
• Strong knowledge of federal and state wage/hour laws and payroll compliance
• Experience with major payroll/HRIS systems (ADP, Paylocity, Ceridian, Workday)
• High attention to detail with strong reconciliation and analytical skills
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion
• Excellent communication and cross-functional teamwork

Responsibilities

• Process full-cycle payroll for a multi-state workforce (salaried, hourly, and contract employees)
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations and wage/hour laws
• Manage state/local tax registrations, withholdings, and filings for new work locations
• Reconcile payroll data, resolve discrepancies, and process off-cycle payments and adjustments
• Administer wage garnishments, benefits deductions, and other withholdings
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries with professionalism
• Support audits and prepare documentation and reports
• Identify process improvements and support payroll system upgrades or transitions

Skills

Payroll processing

State/federal wage and hour knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

Discretion with confidential info

Communication skills

Tools

ADP

Paylocity

Ceridian

Workday

Job description

We are seeking a detail-oriented Multi-State Payroll Specialist to manage end-to-end payroll processing across multiple states. This role ensures accurate, compliant, and timely payroll delivery while navigating varying state tax, wage, and labor law requirements. The ideal candidate has strong technical payroll skills, an understanding of multi-jurisdictional compliance, and the ability to work cross-functionally with HR, Finance, and Legal teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Process full-cycle payroll for a multi-state workforce (salaried, hourly, and contract employees), ensuring accuracy and timeliness each pay period
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, including state-specific wage and hour laws (e.g., CA, NY, TX, IL, etc.)
• Manage state and local tax registrations, withholdings, and filings for new work locations as the workforce expands
• Reconcile payroll data, resolve discrepancies, and process off-cycle payments, corrections, and adjustments
• Administer wage garnishments, benefits deductions, and other payroll-related withholdings
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries and resolve issues with professionalism and discretion
• Support audits (internal, external, and state) by preparing accurate documentation and reports
• Identify process improvement opportunities and support payroll system upgrades or transitions

Required Qualifications

• 2-3 years of experience processing multi-state payroll
• Strong working knowledge of federal and state wage/hour laws, tax regulations, and payroll compliance requirements
• Experience with major payroll/HRIS systems (e.g., ADP, Paylocity, Ceridian, Workday)
• High attention to detail and strong reconciliation/analytical skills
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion
• Strong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally

Preferred Qualifications

• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification
• Familiarity with California-specific payroll and labor law nuances
• Experience supporting payroll for contractors placed through MSP/VMS programs