Payroll Specialist II

The Payroll Specialist II is a mid-level Individual Contributor responsible for the accurate and timely processing of payroll for assigned pay groups within Jackson Healthcare’s multi-company Workday environment. Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Payroll Operations, this role applies a solid working knowledge of payroll principles, federal and state tax regulations, and Workday Payroll to ensure all employees are paid correctly and in compliance with applicable laws. The Payroll Specialist II collaborates with HR, Benefits, Finance, and business partners to resolve payroll discrepancies, supports audit and compliance activities, and contributes to continuous process improvement across the payroll function. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES 1. Payroll Processing & Administration – 50% Process, balance, audit, and complete payroll for assigned pay groups with accuracy and timeliness in the Workday payroll system. Prepare and import time files, deduction files, and other employee payroll data; validate imports for accuracy prior to payroll confirmation. Review and analyze payroll audit reports, investigate and resolve discrepancies, and ensure corrective actions are documented. Process off‑cycle payments, manual checks, voids, reversals, and retroactive adjustments as needed. Support year‑end payroll activities including W‑2 preparation, reconciliation, and distribution in coordination with the payroll team. Ensure payroll transactions are processed in accordance with established procedures, deadlines, and internal controls. Conducts job duties in accordance with the Corporate Values and Culture: Others First | Wisdom | Growth. 2. Compliance & Audit – 25% Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, FLSA, and garnishment laws across multi‑state operations. Research and resolve payroll tax issues at both the employee and company level; escape complex compliance matters to the Sr. Manager, Payroll Operations. Support Tax Analyst with tax correspondence and reconciliation of payroll tax filings and deposits. Maintain strict confidentiality of all payroll and financial information in accordance with company policy and applicable regulations. Support internal and external audit requests by providing accurate payroll records and documentation. 3. Collaboration & Employee Communication – 15% Collaborate effectively with HR, Benefits, Finance, Treasury, and IT teams to ensure accurate and complete payroll data. Communicate empathetically and professionally with employees to resolve payroll inquiries, explain pay calculations, and address concerns in a timely manner. Partner with HR and Benefits teams to ensure pre‑ and post‑tax benefit deductions, garnishments, and other payroll‑affecting transactions are reflected accurately. Serve as a resource to business partners on Workday payroll processes, timekeeping, and self‑service functionality. Document payroll processes, maintain up‑to‑date procedural guides, and identify opportunities to improve accuracy and efficiency. Follow established procedures while proactively recommending process improvements that reduce manual effort and risk of error. Participate in HCMS and Payroll team meetings, stay current on Workday Payroll feature updates, and contribute to testing during Workday bi‑annual release cycles. SECONDARY FUNCTIONS May assist with onboarding of additional pay groups or companies into the Workday payroll environment. May support Workday Payroll configuration testing in a non‑configuration capacity. May provide backup payroll processing support for other pay groups during periods of high volume or team absence. May work on special projects or other duties as assigned. Conducts job duties in accordance with the Corporate Values and Culture: Others First | Wisdom | Growth. SUPERVISORY / BUDGETARY / EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION RESPONSIBILITY This is an Individual Contributor role with no direct reports. May communicate with third‑party vendors, tax agencies, or garnishment processing services in the normal course of payroll operations. QUALIFICATIONS – EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE, CERTIFICATIONS Required Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience considered. 3+ years of payroll processing experience, preferably in a multi‑state environment. Working knowledge of payroll principles, federal and state tax laws, garnishments, and pre‑ and post‑tax benefit deductions. Experience with end‑to‑end payroll processing including input, audit, balancing, and regulatory reporting reconciliations. Experience with Workday Payroll or another enterprise payroll system (e.g., ADP, Ceridian). Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office 365 applications. Preferred FPC (Fundamental Payroll Certification) or CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation preferred. Experience processing payroll in a multi‑company or shared services environment. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Payroll & Technical Skills Solid working knowledge of payroll concepts including earnings, deductions, garnishments, pre‑ and post‑tax benefits, and multi‑state tax withholding. Proficiency in payroll processing; ability to navigate payroll worklets, run audit reports, and troubleshoot pay calculation discrepancies. Working knowledge of federal and state payroll tax regulations, FLSA requirements, and garnishment processing rules. Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data validation); proficient in Outlook, Word, and Teams. Analytical skills: ability to reconcile payroll data, investigate discrepancies, and identify root causes. Professional Skills Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy and confidentiality. Strong customer service orientation; ability to communicate empathetically and effectively with employees at all levels regarding sensitive pay matters. Excellent organizational and time management skills; ability to manage competing deadlines in a high‑volume, fast‑paced payroll environment. Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to explain complex payroll calculations in clear, non‑technical language. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a cross‑functional team environment. Adaptability: ability to embrace change and shift focus when unexpected work arises. KEY COMPETENCIES REQUIRED Action Oriented Manages Complexity Communicates Effectively Ensures Accountability Situational Adaptability Customer Focus Plans and Aligns Self‑Development PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS Payroll is processed accurately and on schedule for all assigned pay groups; error and correction rates are tracked and minimized. Payroll audit reports are reviewed and discrepancies resolved prior to payroll confirmation; defect leakage to post‑processing is minimal. Compliance with federal, state, and local tax and garnishment regulations is maintained; zero significant compliance violations. Employee payroll inquiries are resolved empathetically, accurately, and within established response time standards. Payroll documentation and procedural guides are current, complete, and accessible to the team. Collaboration with HR, Benefits, Finance, and IT partners is proactive, and cross‑functional data issues are flagged and resolved timely. Internal customers and business partners report high satisfaction with payroll accuracy, responsiveness, and professionalism. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS No travel required under normal operating conditions; occasional on‑site attendance may be requested for implementation events or team training. Typical hybrid or office environment – sedentary work with typing, writing, and reading requirements. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. #J-18808-Ljbffr