Specialist, Time & Attendance Analyst (Hybrid - Rahway, NJ)

Merck seeks a Time & Attendance Analyst to manage payroll validation, HRIS reconciliation, and compliance for US and Puerto Rico non-exempt employees on a biweekly cycle. The role bridges HR operations, IT, and business units to ensure accurate processing and drive process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Execute biweekly payroll cycle activities including data validation, payroll verification, timesheet coordination, and post-run reconciliations
• Investigate and resolve T&A and payroll discrepancies across HRIS, time, and payroll systems
• Lead root-cause analysis on recurring T&A issues and implement remediation to improve data quality
• Manage T&A projects with ADP and stakeholders; generate standard and ad hoc reporting and analytics
• Develop standardized SOPs, maintain audit documentation, and support SOX and compliance requirements

Requirements

• Minimum 3 years payroll, time and attendance, or HRIS support experience
• Experience supporting payroll audits, SOX controls, or internal control frameworks
• Proficiency with payroll and HRIS systems such as ADP, E-Time, Workday, or UKG
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, and formulas
• Working knowledge of payroll concepts: wage calculations, overtime rules, deductions
• Strong understanding of federal and state labor laws and T&A compliance requirements
• Excellent verbal and written communication; high attention to detail and problem-solving ability