Senior Payroll & Financial Operations Specialist

Entrega; Troy (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Entrega is a growing technology professional services firm based in Michigan, seeking a Senior Payroll & Financial Operations Specialist to own Entrega's end-to-end payroll and related financial operations. The role partners with WPO to ensure accurate inputs and timely payroll execution, while maintaining strong controls and reconciliations.

The successful candidate will drive process improvements, support month-end close, and provide analytics on workforce costs and payroll trends.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in payroll, payroll accounting, financial operations.
• Experience with multi-state payroll preferred.
• Experience supporting accounting close processes, financial controls.
• Proficient with payroll/HRIS platforms.

Responsibilities

• Own full-cycle payroll processing and successful completion of each payroll run.
• Maintain payroll calendars, processing schedules, deadlines, and cutoffs.
• Independently obtain required payroll inputs from authoritative systems and appropriate internal stakeholders.
• Validate payroll inputs, including compensation, time, deductions, contributions, adjustments, reimbursements, garnishments, and other payroll transactions.
• Identify, investigate, and resolve payroll discrepancies and exceptions before payroll completion.
• Coordinate payroll tax processing, filings, year-end activities, and W-2 administration.
• Serve as the primary Finance contact with Entrega's payroll provider and other payroll-related vendors.
• Establish and maintain payroll processing controls, validation procedures, checklists, and supporting documentation.
• Reconcile payroll registers and activity to the general ledger.
• Reconcile payroll liabilities, payroll taxes, deductions, and employer contributions.
• Validate benefit-related payroll deductions and employer contributions while partnering with WPO on underlying employee and benefit information.
• Reconcile employee retirement-plan deductions, employer contributions, and related payroll funding.
• Maintain payroll accruals and other payroll-related accounting schedules.
• Investigate variances and ensure identified discrepancies are resolved and documented.
• Perform recurring account reconciliations and other assigned financial operations activities.
• Prepare or support recurring journal entries and supporting schedules.
• Support month-end and year-end close activities.
• Assist with recurring vendor financial reconciliations and investigate billing or payment discrepancies.
• Support Finance-side data integrity across payroll, accounting, and related financial systems.
• Maintain accurate and complete supporting documentation for assigned financial processes.
• Prepare payroll and workforce-related financial reporting for Finance leadership.
• Analyze payroll costs, compensation costs, employer payroll taxes, benefit costs, overtime, and other workforce-related financial activity.
• Support headcount and workforce cost reporting and forecasting.
• Analyze actual workforce costs against forecasts and identify significant variances.
• Develop recurring reporting that improves visibility into payroll and workforce-related financial trends.
• Provide financial information and analysis to support budgeting, forecasting, and management decision-making.
• Maintain appropriate financial controls for assigned processes.
• Develop exception reporting and other mechanisms to identify errors, unusual transactions, or control failures.
• Prepare schedules, reconciliations, supporting documentation, and evidence for internal and external audits.
• Support payroll, financial statement, retirement-plan, workers' compensation, and other applicable financial or compliance reviews.
• Maintain confidential payroll and financial information in accordance with applicable company requirements and data privacy standards.
• Develop and maintain documented procedures, SOPs, checklists, and controls for assigned financial processes.
• Identify process weaknesses, recurring errors, unnecessary manual activities, and control gaps.
• Recommend and implement improvements that increase accuracy, efficiency, reliability, and scalability.
• Help automate recurring financial activities and reduce unnecessary manual processing.
• Monitor assigned processes to ensure established procedures and controls are consistently followed.
• Take ownership of identified issues through resolution and follow through on corrective actions.
• Partner closely with WPO to ensure required workforce transactions and information are available, accurate, authorized, and timely for payroll processing.
• Work with Accounting & Finance team members to ensure payroll and related financial activity is properly recorded and reconciled.
• Coordinate with operational leaders when information or issue resolution is required.
• Work effectively with payroll providers, financial vendors, auditors, and other external partners.
• Escalate significant payroll, financial, compliance, or control issues appropriately and in a timely manner.

Skills

Payroll processing

Payroll taxes

Deductions

Garnishments

Employer contributions

Compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Tools

Payroll systems

HRIS

Job description

WHY JOIN ENTREGA

Entrega is a growing technology professional services firm headquartered in Michigan, delivering enterprise technology, digital, and business solutions to global clients. We help leading organizations solve complex business challenges through the successful execution of business-critical technology initiatives, supported by our ongoing investment in our people, processes, and technology.

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WHY JOIN ENTREGA

Entrega is a growing technology professional services firm headquartered in Michigan, delivering enterprise technology, digital, and business solutions to global clients. We help leading organizations solve complex business challenges through the successful execution of business-critical technology initiatives, supported by our ongoing investment in our people, processes, and technology.

At Entrega, we believe exceptional client outcomes begin with exceptional employees. We provide an environment where professionals are trusted with meaningful responsibility, supported by experienced leadership, and empowered to make a measurable impact.

You’ll work alongside a talented team serving Fortune 500 clients, contribute to high‑visibility initiatives, and have opportunities to influence how our company continues to grow. As we expand, employees who consistently deliver results have opportunities to broaden their responsibilities, advance their careers, and help shape the future of the organization.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful impact, learn and grow professionally, and help shape the future of a growing professional services firm, we encourage you to explore a career with Entrega.

POSITION DETAILS

The following information provides an overview of the work arrangement and key logistical aspects of the role. Specific details may vary based on business needs and the requirements of the position.

• Work Location: Onsite – Troy, Michigan
• Employment Type: Full‑Time
• Travel: Occasional local travel, as needed

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Payroll & Financial Operations Specialist is a key member of Entrega's Accounting & Finance team responsible for the accurate, timely, and controlled execution of payroll and other recurring financial operations.

This position owns Entrega's end-to-end payroll process, including independently obtaining and validating required payroll inputs, identifying and resolving exceptions, executing payroll, reconciling payroll activity, and maintaining the financial controls necessary to ensure payroll accuracy and integrity. The role works closely with Workforce Performance & Operations (WPO), which is responsible for maintaining accurate and authorized workforce data and employment transactions that serve as payroll inputs.

Beyond payroll, the Senior Payroll & Financial Operations Specialist supports a broader portfolio of financial operations requiring a high degree of accuracy, control, reconciliation, process discipline, and cross‑functional coordination. Responsibilities include payroll and workforce cost analysis, account and liability reconciliations, month‑end close support, recurring financial controls, audit support, financial reporting, and Finance process documentation and improvement.

This role is well suited for an experienced payroll and financial operations professional who combines exceptional attention to detail with strong analytical skills, sound judgment, and a process‑oriented mindset. The successful candidate will not simply process transactions—they will take ownership of critical financial processes, identify discrepancies and control gaps, improve how work is performed, and help ensure Entrega's financial operations are accurate, reliable, scalable, and well controlled.

Responsibilities

This description reflects the primary accountabilities of the role and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. Role scope may evolve in alignment with business needs.

• Payroll Operations & Execution
  • Own full‑cycle payroll processing and successful completion of each payroll run.
  • Maintain payroll calendars, processing schedules, deadlines, and cutoffs.
  • Independently obtain required payroll inputs from authoritative systems and appropriate internal stakeholders.
  • Validate payroll inputs, including compensation, time, deductions, contributions, adjustments, reimbursements, garnishments, and other payroll transactions.
  • Identify, investigate, and resolve payroll discrepancies and exceptions before payroll completion.
  • Process retroactive pay, corrections, special payments, and other payroll adjustments.
  • Coordinate payroll tax processing, filings, year‑end activities, and W‑2 administration.
  • Serve as the primary Finance contact with Entrega's payroll provider and other payroll‑related vendors.
• Payroll Controls & Reconciliation
  • Establish and maintain payroll processing controls, validation procedures, checklists, and supporting documentation.
  • Reconcile payroll registers and activity to the general ledger.
  • Reconcile payroll liabilities, payroll taxes, deductions, and employer contributions.
  • Validate benefit‑related payroll deductions and employer contributions while partnering with WPO on underlying employee and benefit information.
  • Reconcile employee retirement‑plan deductions, employer contributions, and related payroll funding.
  • Maintain payroll accruals and other payroll‑related accounting schedules.
  • Investigate variances and ensure identified discrepancies are resolved and documented.
• Financial Operations & Accounting Support
  • Perform recurring account reconciliations and other assigned financial operations activities.
  • Prepare or support recurring journal entries and supporting schedules.
  • Support month‑end and year‑end close activities.
  • Assist with recurring vendor financial reconciliations and investigate billing or payment discrepancies.
  • Support Finance‑side data integrity across payroll, accounting, and related financial systems.
  • Maintain accurate and complete supporting documentation for assigned financial processes.
• Financial Reporting & Analysis
  • Prepare payroll and workforce‑related financial reporting for Finance leadership.
  • Analyze payroll costs, compensation costs, employer payroll taxes, benefit costs, overtime, and other workforce‑related financial activity.
  • Support headcount and workforce cost reporting and forecasting.
  • Analyze actual workforce costs against forecasts and identify significant variances.
  • Develop recurring reporting that improves visibility into payroll and workforce‑related financial trends.
  • Provide financial information and analysis to support budgeting, forecasting, and management decision‑making.
• Financial Controls & Audit Support
  • Maintain appropriate financial controls for assigned processes.
  • Develop exception reporting and other mechanisms to identify errors, unusual transactions, or control failures.
  • Prepare schedules, reconciliations, supporting documentation, and evidence for internal and external audits.
  • Support payroll, financial statement, retirement‑plan, workers' compensation, and other applicable financial or compliance reviews.
  • Maintain confidential payroll and financial information in accordance with applicable company requirements and data privacy standards.
• Process Management & Continuous Improvement
  • Develop and maintain documented procedures, SOPs, checklists, and controls for assigned financial processes.
  • Identify process weaknesses, recurring errors, unnecessary manual activities, and control gaps.
  • Recommend and implement improvements that increase accuracy, efficiency, reliability, and scalability.
  • Help automate recurring financial activities and reduce unnecessary manual processing.
  • Monitor assigned processes to ensure established procedures and controls are consistently followed.
  • Take ownership of identified issues through resolution and follow through on corrective actions.
• Cross‑Functional Coordination
  • Partner closely with WPO to ensure required workforce transactions and information are available, accurate, authorized, and timely for payroll processing.
  • Work with Accounting & Finance team members to ensure payroll and related financial activity is properly recorded and reconciled.
  • Coordinate with operational leaders when information or issue resolution is required.
  • Work effectively with payroll providers, financial vendors, auditors, and other external partners.
  • Escalate significant payroll, financial, compliance, or control issues appropriately and in a timely manner.

Qualifications

The following qualifications reflect the experience, capabilities, and attributes typically required to perform successfully in this role.

• Experience
  • 5+ years of progressive experience in payroll, payroll accounting, financial operations, accounting, or a related discipline.
  • Demonstrated experience independently processing and reconciling full‑cycle payroll.
  • Experience with multi‑state payroll strongly preferred.
  • Experience performing payroll‑to‑general‑ledger and payroll liability reconciliations.
  • Experience supporting accounting close processes, financial controls, or recurring financial operations.
  • Experience working with payroll/HRIS platforms and related financial systems.
  • Experience identifying and improving processes, controls, or recurring operational workflows.
  • Experience within professional services or another multi‑state, growth‑oriented business environment preferred.
• Knowledge & Skills
  • Strong knowledge of payroll processing, payroll taxes, deductions, garnishments, employer contributions, and payroll‑related compliance requirements.
  • Working knowledge of accounting principles applicable to payroll, accruals, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
  • Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to identify discrepancies and determine appropriate corrective actions.
  • Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
  • Strong process discipline and ability to operate recurring processes consistently against established deadlines and controls.
  • Ability to exercise sound judgment and independently manage exceptions and issues.
  • Strong Microsoft Excel and financial data analysis skills.
  • Ability to document processes, develop controls, and improve operational workflows.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to work effectively across Finance, WPO, operational teams, and external providers.
  • High degree of discretion and professionalism when handling confidential employee and financial information.
  • Strong organizational discipline, accountability, and follow‑through.
  • Continuous‑improvement mindset with a practical approach to strengthening recurring financial operations.
• Education & Certifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
  • Equivalent relevant professional experience may be considered.
  • Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) preferred but not required.

PERFORMANCE PROFILE

This is a high‑accountability financial operations role within a performance‑driven professional services organization. The Senior Payroll & Financial Operations Specialist is responsible for ensuring critical payroll and assigned financial processes are executed accurately, consistently, and with the controls and operating discipline required to support Entrega's continued growth.

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• High ownership and accountability for the successful completion and quality of assigned financial processes.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to payroll and financial accuracy.
• Strong analytical judgment with the ability to identify discrepancies, understand underlying causes, and determine appropriate corrective actions.
• Ability to independently manage payroll exceptions and issues through resolution.
• Strong process discipline and consistent execution against established deadlines, procedures, and controls.
• Ability to establish practical controls that prevent errors, identify exceptions, and strengthen financial integrity.
• Strong problem‑solving capabilities and willingness to investigate issues rather than simply process transactions.
• Ability to work effectively across Finance, WPO, operational teams, and external providers while maintaining clear accountability for Finance‑owned outcomes.
• Strong organizational discipline and consistent follow‑through on issues, exceptions, corrective actions, and recurring responsibilities.
• High degree of discretion and professionalism when handling confidential employee, payroll, and financial information.
• Continuous focus on simplifying, automating, strengthening, and improving recurring financial processes.
• Commitment to accurate and reliable financial outcomes rather than transaction processing alone.