Payroll Specialist - Union Facility

Hunter the Headhunter; Williamsport (Lycoming County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Hunter the Headhunter is seeking a detail-oriented Payroll Specialist to support accurate and timely payroll in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This role handles payroll for both union and non-union staff, reviews timekeeping, processes changes, and resolves discrepancies with confidentiality.

You will collaborate with HR, Finance, and Operations to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and CBAs, leveraging Excel, HRIS, and timekeeping systems to improve accuracy and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or Human Resources, or equivalent payroll experience.
• Experience in payroll processing and payroll administration.
• Experience in manufacturing, industrial, or high-volume hourly workforce.
• Experience supporting union payroll and collective bargaining agreements.
• Knowledge of overtime calculations, shift differentials, deductions, garnishments.
• Experience with payroll, HRIS, and timekeeping platforms such as ADP, UKG, Kronos.
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, formulas).

Responsibilities

• Process accurate and timely payroll for hourly and salaried, union and non-union employees.
• Review and audit timekeeping and attendance records.
• Process payroll changes including hires, terminations, pay-rate changes, deductions.
• Interpret and administer CBAs related to wages, overtime, premiums.
• Identify and resolve payroll discrepancies.
• Respond to payroll-related questions from employees and stakeholders.
• Maintain confidential payroll records and data integrity.
• Support payroll reconciliations, reporting, and audits.
• Maintain and troubleshoot payroll system configurations (earnings/deduction codes).
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, and Operations to ensure data accuracy.
• Ensure compliance with wage-and-hour laws and internal policies.
• Identify process improvements to payroll systems and controls.
• Perform additional payroll and administrative duties as needed.

Skills

Excel skills

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Communication

Time management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Bachelor's degree in Finance

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources

Equivalent payroll experience

Tools

ADP

UKG

Kronos

Workforce Management

Job description

Position Summary

We are seeking a detail-oriented Payroll Specialist to support accurate and timely payroll processing within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This position is responsible for payroll administration for both union and non-union employees, including reviewing time and attendance records, processing payroll changes, auditing payroll data, resolving discrepancies, and responding to employee inquiries.

The Payroll Specialist will work closely with Human Resources, Finance, and Operations to ensure payroll accuracy and compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, company policies, and collective bargaining agreements (CBAs).

The ideal candidate brings hands-on payroll experience, strong Excel skills, experience with payroll/HRIS and timekeeping systems, and an understanding of the complexities associated with hourly manufacturing payroll.

Key Responsibilities

• Process accurate and timely payroll for hourly and salaried, union and non-union employees.
• Review and audit timekeeping and attendance records, including regular hours, overtime, shift differentials, premiums, and other pay elements.
• Process payroll changes including new hires, terminations, pay-rate changes, deductions, garnishments, and other employee updates.
• Interpret and administer applicable collective bargaining agreement provisions related to wages, overtime, premiums, and other payroll requirements.
• Identify and resolve payroll discrepancies, calculation errors, and employee pay issues.
• Respond to payroll-related questions from employees, supervisors, HR, Operations, and other internal stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and employee data while protecting confidentiality and data integrity.
• Support payroll reconciliations, reporting, audits, and year-end payroll activities.
• Maintain and troubleshoot payroll system configurations, including earnings codes, deduction codes, calculation rules, and system accuracy.
• Partner cross-functionally with Human Resources, Finance, and Operations to maintain accurate employee and payroll information.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage-and-hour requirements and internal payroll policies.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, system functionality, and overall efficiency.
• Perform additional payroll and administrative responsibilities as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field preferred; equivalent payroll experience will also be considered.
• Previous experience in payroll processing, payroll administration, accounting, or a related function required.
• Experience processing payroll in a manufacturing, industrial, or high-volume hourly workforce environment strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting union payroll and collective bargaining agreements preferred.
• Working knowledge of overtime calculations, shift differentials, premiums, deductions, garnishments, and other payroll components.
• Experience with payroll, HRIS, workforce management, and timekeeping platforms such as ADP, UKG, Kronos, Workforce Management, or comparable systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, formulas, filters, data reconciliation, and reporting.
• Ability to audit large amounts of payroll and timekeeping data and quickly identify discrepancies.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage confidential employee and compensation information appropriately.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a customer-service-oriented approach.
• Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to recommend payroll process and system enhancements.