Senior Payroll Specialist

Job Summary:

The Senior Payroll Specialist is responsible for the accurate and timely administration of payroll for multiple North American entities. This includes biweekly payroll processing for both commercial and manufacturing operations, coordinating payroll activities with international Employer of Record (EOR) providers, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations. The role also delivers critical reporting and labor cost analysis to support budgeting, compensation planning, and strategic decision-making.

This role serves as a trusted resource for employees, leadership, Finance, HR, payroll vendors, and benefit providers by providing guidance on payroll processes, deductions, taxes, and compensation programs. The specialist provides data-driven insights on labor costs and payroll metrics to support annual budgeting, salary adjustments, and compensation reviews, while maintaining the highest level of accuracy and confidentiality.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Administers end-to-end payroll processing for commercial and manufacturing operations. Manages employee data entry and maintenance, including rates, salaries, commissions, bonuses, leave, and status changes, and ensures accurate processing of salaries, benefits, garnishments, taxes, and other deductions. Prepares off-cycle payments such as bonuses, commissions, adjustments, corrections, equity events, and final pay.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local payroll, wage and hour laws including complex payroll requirements in states such as CA/CO/IL/NY, etc.
• Facilitates internal and external audits by maintaining and providing accurate payroll records and documentation.
• Performs payroll reconciliations, validates payroll funding, and reviews payroll data for completeness and accuracy across HRIS, payroll, benefits, and timekeeping systems. Prepares, reconciles, and maintains payroll records, reports, and developing labor cost analysis for leadership.
• Provides payroll data for accounting entries and financial reporting to support data-driven decision-making. Provides analytical and data support for annual budgeting, salary planning and adjustment cycles and special projects.
• Coordinates payroll activities with international Employer of Record (EOR) providers supporting professionals in Canada and Costa Rica. Partners with payroll providers, benefit vendors, third-party administrators, HR, and Finance in US and the headquarter to research and resolve payroll discrepancies.
• Coordinate enrollment, claim processing, vendor coordination for benefits programs.
• Serves as the primary payroll resource for employees by researching issues, answering questions, and explaining deductions and tax withholdings. Supports the Global Compensation team by processing equity compensation transactions (RSUs), including tax withholding, payroll reporting, and employee communication.
• Develops and maintains payroll procedures and documentation to support internal controls, business continuity, and cross-functional training. Continuously evaluates payroll processes and recommends improvements to enhance accuracy, efficiency, compliance, and the employee experience.

Skills and Abilities:

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including pivot tables, lookups, data validation, reconciliation, and payroll reporting.
• Strong knowledge of payroll administration, including payroll taxes, garnishments, benefit deductions, wage and hour laws, and payroll accounting principles.
• Ability to interpret and apply federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to research and resolve complex payroll issues.
• Excellent organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent customer service, interpersonal, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to explain payroll, tax withholding, and benefit deductions to employees with varying levels of financial knowledge.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet strict deadlines, and adapt to changing business needs.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when handling sensitive employee and compensation information.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Human Resources, Finance, payroll vendors, benefit providers, and cross-functional teams.