Senior Payroll & Benefits Accountant

Southland Industries; Virginia, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k match

Medical/dental/vision insurance

Annual bonus

Parental leave

Holidays & PTO

Professional development

Wellness benefits

Job summary

Southland Industries is seeking a payroll professional to onboard union employees weekly, review orientation documents, and manage ERP payroll data for the division. The role requires strong payroll operations knowledge, multi-jurisdictional leave compliance, and cross‑functional coordination with foremen and managers to support scalable payroll and benefits workflows.

You will maintain accurate records, monitor PTO balances, assist audits, and drive process improvements while protecting

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience) with a minimum of three to five years’ experience.
• Proficiency in computer usage with intermediate to expert Excel skills, and prior experience using various payroll processing and reporting systems.
• Strong problem-solving abilities, including identifying and resolving straightforward payroll or accounting discrepancies promptly, and knowing when to extend complex issues for management resolution.
• Maintains confidentiality and manages sensitive information discreetly.
• Demonstrated multitasking skills, meeting critical deadlines even under pressure, and adapting to a dynamic environment.
• Effective written and verbal communication, with strong people skills for interacting with employees at all levels.
• Detail-oriented, highly organized, and possesses strong analytical capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Work with payroll team regarding union employees and supervisors to ensure that employees’ records are accurately created and maintained and ensure all employee documentation is accurately and timely updated.
• Administers accurate employee payroll records, including new hire paperwork, payroll form updates, employee status change forms and employee terminations.
• Helps monitor and track employee paid time off balances (vacation, holiday, jurisdictionally mandated sick and safe leave, and other personal time off) and provide updated reports to management regularly.
• Proactively identify divisional payroll needs for increased accuracy and coordination with all levels of employees to resolve issues resulting from weekly payroll audits.
• Compliance, Reporting & Continuous Improvement related to State and Federal sick and safe programs.
• Help design and manage Sick and Safe Leave accrual structures, including eligibility, accrual rates, caps, carryover, and usage rules.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes impacting Sick and Safe Leave and payroll practices.
• Prepare reports and analysis related to leave usage, accrual balances, and payroll compliance.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, controls, and employee experience through process enhancements and automation.
• Support internal and external audits as necessary.
• Helps coordinate and process any necessary payroll adjustments ensuring the proper documentation has been provided, including wage rate and/or fringe adjustments, expense reports, travel pay, subsistence, allowance, or other pay corrections.
• Supports the Division Payroll Team and Corporate Payroll in ensuring that payroll information is communicated timely, and effectively while maintaining confidentiality and high levels of customer service.
• Assists with other special projects as required.

Job description

Southland Industries is seeking a payroll professional to onboard union employees weekly, review orientation documents, and manage ERP payroll data for the division. The role requires strong payroll operations knowledge, multi-jurisdictional leave compliance, and cross‑functional coordination with foremen and managers to support scalable payroll and benefits workflows.

You will maintain accurate records, monitor PTO balances, assist audits, and drive process improvements while protecting