Sr. Payroll Specialist

LANXESS; Shelton (CT); On-site; USD 75,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay range

Retirement plans

Global Xwork program

Professional development

Diversity & Inclusion

Job summary

LANXESS is seeking a skilled payroll professional to own payroll accounting and reconciliation, including Vanguard/401k activities, and support U.S. and Canada tax compliance.

You will manage year-end processes, system controls, and cross-train teammates in a global, value-driven environment. The role requires 5–10 years of experience in complex multi-state payroll, strong technical knowledge of payroll systems, and a proactive approach to process improvements.

Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources preferred; equivalent payroll experience may be considered.
• 5-10 years of advanced payroll experience required, preferably in a large, multi-state, multi-entity, union, and/or North America payroll environment.
• Experience with payroll accounting, payroll tax, retirement plan/401k reconciliation, year-end processing, audit support, and payroll reporting strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of payroll accounting, payroll liabilities, gross-to-net reconciliation, journal entries, and general ledger support. Ability to provide backup payroll processing support when needed.
• Experience with U.S. and/or Canada year-end payroll processing and statutory reporting, including W-2, 941, 940, state unemployment, T4, and related reconciliations as applicable.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex payroll, tax, accounting, system, or vendor issues and to identify control gaps and recommend process improvements.
• Experience with union payroll accounting, collective bargaining agreement requirements, union deductions, union arrears, retroactive adjustments, and related payroll liability reconciliations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary owner for payroll accounting and reconciliation activities, including month-end/quarter-end/year-end close support and investigation/resolution of reconciliation differences.
• Lead Vanguard/401k and retirement plan payroll activity, including processing, funding, reconciliation, issue resolution, deductions, employer contributions, and reporting.
• Support payroll tax and statutory compliance activities for U.S. and/or Canada payroll operations, including tax code setup, W-2s, 1099s, and related reporting.
• Coordinate year-end, quarter-end, and annual reporting and audit activities; ensure deadlines are met.
• Maintain payroll processing knowledge and provide backup processing support; cross-train on procedures, calendars, audits, and corrections.
• Support systems, controls, documentation, cross-training, and process improvement; act as a technical resource for payroll processes.

Education

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources

CPP / FPC / PCP payroll certification or equivalent

Job description

• Serve as primary owner for payroll accounting and reconciliation activities, including payroll liability reconciliations, union dues, initiation fees, union arrears, gross-to-net review, journal entry support, general ledger file review, payroll funding support, cash activity review, check request/wire transfer support, month-end/quarter-end/year-end close support, and investigation/resolution of reconciliation differences.
• Serve as primary owner for Vanguard/401k and retirement plan payroll activity, including processing, funding, reconciliation, issue resolution, employee deductions, employer contributions, loan repayments, corrections, limits, reporting, vendor coordination, Benefits/Finance coordination, annual retirement plan support, audit requests, and process documentation.
• Support payroll tax and statutory compliance activities for U.S. and/or Canada payroll operations, including tax code setup, tax IDs, SUI/SDI rates, provincial/local requirements, payroll tax configurations, quarter-end and year-end payroll tax review, W-2, W-2PR, 1099, 941, 940, state unemployment, T4 preparation/review, taxable benefit review, statutory deduction review, and related reporting/reconciliation as assigned.
• Support and/or coordinate assigned year-end, quarter-end, annual reporting, and audit activities. Review and validate employee tax form data, QTD analysis, Q4/year-end packages, vendor reports, audit requests, documentation, and correction processes. Help ensure U.S. and/or Canada year-end deadlines are met.
• Maintain payroll processing knowledge and provide backup payroll processing support as needed. Remain cross-trained on payroll procedures, pay groups, payroll calendars, payroll audits, exception resolution, off-cycle processing, and corrections. Support payroll processing during absences, leaves, turnover, peak periods, urgent deadlines, or business continuity events, and as needed.
• Support systems, controls, documentation, cross-training, and process improvement. Validate data interfaces, troubleshoot system issues, identify control gaps, recommend improvements, maintain documentation/checklists, cross-train payroll team members, and serve as a technical resource for payroll accounting, Vanguard/401k, tax, year-end, audit, compliance, U.S. payroll, and/or Canada payroll processes
  

Job Highlights

• Serve as primary owner for payroll accounting and reconciliation activities, including payroll liability reconciliations, union dues, initiation fees, union arrears, gross-to-net review, journal entry support, general ledger file review, payroll funding support, cash activity review, check request/wire transfer support, month-end/quarter-end/year-end close support, and investigation/resolution of reconciliation differences.
• Serve as primary owner for Vanguard/401k and retirement plan payroll activity, including processing, funding, reconciliation, issue resolution, employee deductions, employer contributions, loan repayments, corrections, limits, reporting, vendor coordination, Benefits/Finance coordination, annual retirement plan support, audit requests, and process documentation.
• Support payroll tax and statutory compliance activities for U.S. and/or Canada payroll operations, including tax code setup, tax IDs, SUI/SDI rates, provincial/local requirements, payroll tax configurations, quarter-end and year-end payroll tax review, W-2, W-2PR, 1099, 941, 940, state unemployment, T4 preparation/review, taxable benefit review, statutory deduction review, and related reporting/reconciliation as assigned.
• Support and/or coordinate assigned year-end, quarter-end, annual reporting, and audit activities. Review and validate employee tax form data, QTD analysis, Q4/year-end packages, vendor reports, audit requests, documentation, and correction processes. Help ensure U.S. and/or Canada year-end deadlines are met.
• Maintain payroll processing knowledge and provide backup payroll processing support as needed. Remain cross-trained on payroll procedures, pay groups, payroll calendars, payroll audits, exception resolution, off-cycle processing, and corrections. Support payroll processing during absences, leaves, turnover, peak periods, urgent deadlines, or business continuity events, and as needed.
• Support systems, controls, documentation, cross-training, and process improvement. Validate data interfaces, troubleshoot system issues, identify control gaps, recommend improvements, maintain documentation/checklists, cross-train payroll team members, and serve as a technical resource for payroll accounting, Vanguard/401k, tax, year-end, audit, compliance, U.S. payroll, and/or Canada payroll processes
  

Experience / Skills

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or related field preferred; equivalent payroll experience may be considered. CPP, FPC, PCP, or equivalent payroll certification preferred; advanced certification strongly preferred for technical scope.
• 5-10 years of advanced payroll experience required, preferably in a large, multi-state, multi-entity, union, and/or North America payroll environment.
• Experience with payroll accounting, payroll tax, retirement plan/401k reconciliation, year-end processing, audit support, and payroll reporting strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of payroll accounting, payroll liabilities, gross-to-net reconciliation, journal entries, and general ledger support. Ability to provide backup payroll processing support when needed.
• Experience with U.S. and/or Canada year-end payroll processing and statutory reporting, including W-2, 941, 940, state unemployment, T4, and related reconciliations as applicable.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex payroll, tax, accounting, system, or vendor issues and to identify control gaps and recommend process improvements.
• Experience with union payroll accounting, collective bargaining agreement requirements, union deductions, union arrears, retroactive adjustments, and related payroll liability reconciliations preferred.
  

Location Shelton

Employee Type Regular

Who We Are

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with about 12,000 employees in 32 countries. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives and consumer protection products. LANXESS has achieved leading positions in the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Index and the MSCI ESG and ISS ESG ratings, among others, for its commitment to sustainability.

Be part of it!

What We Offer

• Compensation We offer competitive compensation packages, inclusive of a global bonus program. The established pay range for this position is $74,500 to $99,300. Please note, the actual compensation may vary based on geographic location, work experience, education, and skill level.
• Comprehensive Benefits We provide a variety of benefits to support your financial security, health and wellbeing including retirement plans, health programs, life insurance and medical care.
• Work-Life & Flexibility We support you in maintaining a balance between working hours and personal life. With our global "Xwork" program, we offer flexible working arrangements in all countries in which we operate.
• Training & Development We are committed to your professional and personal development and encourage you in the ongoing pursuit of education, training and knowledge through both formal and informal learning.
• Diversity LANXESS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religion, national origin, veteran status and political beliefs.
  

LANXESS has a value-based performance culture. We are seeking a range of human interests, backgrounds, and experiences that can be engaged to achieve respect, ownership, trust, professionalism, integrity and healing across all sectors.

We are looking to find diverse and talented people to join our team. Studies have shown that some individuals are less likely to apply if they do not meet 100% of the criteria. We are looking to equalize the gap! If you are excited about this role but your past experiences do not align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We will look to assess your talent against our competencies, values and requirements to get the best organizational fit. You might be the right candidate for this or other roles we have available!

Join the LANXESS team!