Payroll Specialist / Analyst - Hybrid 4 days / week on-site

Job Description

Job Description

Payroll Specialist / Analyst

Location: Ann Arbor, MI – Hybrid 4 days / week on-site (Mon-Thurs / remote Fridays)

Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced, analytical, and detail-oriented Payroll Specialist to support payroll operations for a large, fast-paced organization. This individual will be responsible for processing and reconciling payroll transactions, investigating discrepancies, ensuring payroll accuracy, and maintaining compliance with applicable payroll regulations.
The ideal candidate will bring 5–7 years of hands-on payroll experience, strong reconciliation and problem-solving skills, and proficiency with Microsoft Excel. This position requires someone who can independently research payroll issues, identify discrepancies, and work collaboratively with internal teams to ensure timely and accurate payroll processing.

Key Responsibilities
Payroll Processing & Reconciliation (40%)

• Process regular and off-cycle payroll requests, adjustments, and corrections.
• Review payroll reports and audit adjustments entered through time and attendance systems.
• Reconcile weekly payroll data to ensure accurate and timely employee payments.
• Research, identify, and resolve payroll discrepancies and processing errors.
• Maintain accurate employee payroll records, including garnishment information.
• Utilize Excel to analyze payroll data, perform reconciliations, and identify inconsistencies.

Payroll Case Management (25%)

• Process paycheck voids, reissues, and manual check requests.
• Investigate and resolve employee payroll inquiries and escalated issues.
• Respond to payroll-related emails, service tickets, and requests from internal departments.
• Support payroll check printing and distribution processes.
• Collaborate with HR Shared Services and other internal teams to resolve payroll concerns.

Payroll Compliance & Auditing (25%)

• Audit and balance payroll data to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Ensure payroll processes comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Support garnishment processing and related legal documentation.
• Assist with court notifications, subpoenas, and other payroll compliance requests.
• Identify payroll discrepancies and recommend corrective actions.

Additional Projects & Responsibilities (10%)

• Assist with payroll reporting, data analysis, and special projects.
• Support process improvements to increase payroll accuracy and operational efficiency.
• Respond to inquiries from HR, Shared Services, and other internal business partners.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by payroll leadership.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on payroll processing, administration, or payroll operations experience; ideally 5–7 years.
• Strong experience reconciling payroll data, identifying discrepancies, and resolving payroll-related issues.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including PivotTables and XLOOKUP or VLOOKUP.
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail with a demonstrated commitment to accuracy.
• Experience reviewing payroll reports, auditing payroll transactions, and researching payroll errors.
• Working knowledge of payroll processes and applicable federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a customer-service-oriented approach.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict payroll deadlines.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with internal teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with PeopleSoft, Oracle, or similar enterprise payroll/HRIS platforms.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience supporting payroll operations in a large, complex organization.
• Experience with payroll garnishments, manual checks, off-cycle payroll, and payroll compliance.
• Experience identifying opportunities to improve payroll processes and reporting.

Ideal Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will be a hands-on payroll professional who is highly analytical, organized, and detail-oriented. They should be comfortable working with large amounts of payroll data, performing detailed reconciliations, and independently researching and resolving discrepancies.

Strong Excel capabilities, payroll accuracy, and the ability to troubleshoot complex payroll issues will be more important than experience with any specific payroll software platform.

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