Senior Payroll & Compliance Specialist

Highmark Health Company; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Highmark Health is seeking a Senior Payroll Specialist to oversee enterprise-wide payroll, ensuring accurate, timely disbursements and compliance across multiple states. The role requires expert knowledge of complex pay structures, including union and non-union, exempt and non-exempt compensation, and expert-level support for escalated payroll issues.

You will manage payroll processing cycles, maintain records, perform audits, and partner with HRIS to implement process improvements.

Qualifications

• Senior-level payroll experience across multiple states.
• Deep knowledge of federal, state and local payroll regulations including FLSA.
• Experience with union and non-union, exempt and non-exempt compensation structures.
• Strong analytical and process-improvement skills.
• Experience with HRIS and payroll reporting.

Responsibilities

• Process multi-state payroll on weekly/bi-weekly/monthly cycles ensuring timely disbursement.
• Maintain payroll records, reconcile accounts and prepare management reports.
• Handle complex calculations, garnishments, off-cycle payments and year-end activities.
• Collaborate with HRIS and compliance teams to implement improvements.
• Respond to employee inquiries and manage payroll-related escalations.
• Lead testing and validation of new payroll implementations and maintain internal controls.

Skills

Payroll processing

HRIS management

Regulatory compliance

Data analysis

Employee relations

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Finance

Tools

Workday

ADP

Payroll reporting tools

Job description

Highmark Health is seeking a Senior Payroll Specialist to oversee enterprise-wide payroll, ensuring accurate, timely disbursements and compliance across multiple states. The role requires expert knowledge of complex pay structures, including union and non-union, exempt and non-exempt compensation, and expert-level support for escalated payroll issues.

You will manage payroll processing cycles, maintain records, perform audits, and partner with HRIS to implement process improvements.