Payroll Analyst

Payroll Analyst

Job Description

The Payroll Analyst supports end-to-end payroll operations for a large, multi-state workforce, including unionized employees. This role ensures accurate and timely payroll processing, maintains compliance with federal, state, and local regulations as well as collective bargaining agreements, and performs detailed reconciliations and audits. The Payroll Analyst partners closely with HR, Finance, and Operations to resolve payroll issues, enhance processes, and support reporting and year-end activities.

Responsibilities

• Process and audit weekly, bi-weekly, and/or semi-monthly payrolls for hourly and salaried employees in a high-volume, multi-state environment.

• Review payroll data for accuracy, including regular wages, overtime, shift differentials, bonuses, deductions, and garnishments.

• Maintain accurate payroll records and ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local payroll laws and regulations.

• Interpret and apply collective bargaining agreements to ensure accurate pay calculations for unionized employees.

• Analyze payroll reports and perform reconciliations to identify, investigate, and resolve payroll discrepancies.

• Partner with HR and Operations to ensure employee data changes, such as new hires, terminations, promotions, and pay changes, are accurately reflected in payroll systems.

• Support payroll-related audits by preparing and providing required documentation and responding to auditor inquiries.

• Process employee tax updates, direct deposit changes, wage attachments, and other payroll-related transactions in a timely and accurate manner.

• Investigate payroll issues, research root causes, and respond promptly and professionally to employee payroll inquiries.

• Prepare payroll metrics and reporting for management review, leveraging data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.

• Assist with year-end payroll activities, including W-2 processing and payroll tax reconciliation.

• Contribute to payroll process improvement initiatives and system enhancements, including testing and validation of changes.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support payroll system implementations and upgrades as needed.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.

• At least 3 years of payroll experience in a high-volume environment.

• Hands-on experience with Kronos (UKG Workforce Central or UKG Pro Workforce Management) required.

• Experience processing payroll for unionized employees and interpreting collective bargaining agreements required.

• Demonstrated experience with multi-state payroll processing and related compliance requirements.

• Strong understanding of payroll laws, wage and hour regulations, and payroll compliance requirements.

• Proven experience reconciling payroll data and identifying, investigating, and resolving payroll discrepancies.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, lookup functions, and data analysis tools.

• Experience working with payroll systems such as ADP, Workday, SAP, Oracle, or similar enterprise payroll platforms.

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in handling sensitive payroll data.

• Effective communication skills to collaborate with HR, Finance, Operations, and employees at all levels.

• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation is a plus.

• Experience supporting payroll for multiple locations or business units.

• Knowledge of labor agreements, union dues processing, and contract wage structures.

• Experience with payroll tax filings and year-end payroll activities, including W-2 processing.

• Exposure to process improvement initiatives related to payroll operations.

• Experience participating in payroll system implementations, upgrades, or enhancements.

• Demonstrated ability to analyze payroll data to generate metrics and insights for management.

• Comfort working with and interpreting complex timekeeping and scheduling data within Kronos or similar systems.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Detroit, MI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $75000.00 - $83000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Working on getting all company benefits

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Detroit,MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 18, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io (%View email address on click.appcast.io) for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.