Payroll Specialist II

Payroll Specialist Houston, TX

The Payroll Specialist is responsible for the accurate and timely end-to-end processing of multi-state payroll while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations. This position manages the full payroll lifecycle, including validating employee data, processing earnings and deductions, auditing payroll results, resolving discrepancies, and responding to payroll-related inquiries.

The Payroll Specialist will partner closely with Human Resources, Finance, Benefits, and other internal teams to maintain payroll accuracy, meet critical deadlines, and provide employees and managers with a high level of payroll support.

Key Responsibilities

• Process bi-weekly and semi-monthly payroll accurately and within established deadlines.
• Manage payroll activities throughout the full end-to-end payroll cycle.
• Review payroll data for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with company policies and applicable regulations.
• Audit employee timecards, new hires, terminations, pay changes, leaves of absence, and other payroll transactions.
• Process regular and supplemental earnings, deductions, reimbursements, bonuses, retroactive pay, and payroll adjustments.
• Review payroll reports prior to finalization and identify and correct exceptions or discrepancies.
• Process final paychecks in accordance with applicable state requirements and deadlines.
• Research and resolve complex payroll discrepancies and employee pay issues.
• Maintain and monitor the payroll Salesforce queue, providing timely and professional responses to employee and management inquiries.
• Coordinate payroll activities and information with Human Resources, Finance, Benefits, and other business partners.
• Maintain accurate employee payroll records, documentation, and supporting information.
• Ensure payroll processing deadlines are consistently achieved.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive employee and payroll information.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, efficiency, controls, and accuracy.
• Perform additional payroll-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum of 3 years of payroll administration experience.
• Demonstrated experience with end-to-end payroll processing.
• Experience processing multi-state payroll.
• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• Experience auditing payroll and researching and resolving complex payroll discrepancies.
• Experience with payroll/HR systems such as ADP, Workday, Salesforce, or comparable HRIS/payroll platforms.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to handle confidential employee and payroll information appropriately.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across HR, Finance, Benefits, and other internal teams.

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