Payroll Specialist (Phoenix)

Company Overview

Join SALT Dental Partners and be part of a dynamic team dedicated to revolutionizing the dental industry through innovative marketing strategies and exceptional patient experiences. Since our doors opened in 2019, our mission has been to help specialty dental providers grow their practices. SALT is creating a vast network of like-minded dental specialists throughout the country. At SALT, we provide comprehensive support services, allowing dental specialists to focus on delivering exceptional care.

Numbers person? Puzzle solver? Payroll day hero? Let's talk.

About the Role

Payday should feel like a win — for everyone. Salt Dental Partners is on the hunt for a sharp, detail-loving Payroll Specialist who gets genuine satisfaction from a perfectly balanced payroll register and a zero in the error column. You'll own payroll processing across multiple states and multiple entities, working shoulder-to-shoulder with HR, Benefits, and Accounting to make sure every paycheck lands right, on time, every time. If you love solving puzzles, keeping chaos in order, and being the go-to person people trust with the numbers that matter most, keep reading — this one's for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Process full-cycle, multi-state payroll across multiple legal entities on a bi-weekly or semi-monthly schedule — accuracy and on-time delivery, every single run.
• Review and audit timekeeping data, new hires, terminations, pay rate changes, and other payroll-impacting transactions before they hit the payroll run.
• Calculate and process off-cycle payments, retroactive adjustments, garnishments, wage attachments, bonuses, commissions, and final pay in line with state-specific rules.
• Keep the company on the right side of federal, state, and local wage and hour laws across every jurisdiction we operate in.
• Reconcile payroll registers, tax filings, and general ledger entries; play detective when numbers don't match and team up with FP&A or Accounting to solve it.
• Be the friendly, knowledgeable face of payroll — answering employee and manager questions with patience and clarity, and logging and tracking inquiries through our ticketing system.
• Maintain accurate employee payroll records, including tax elections, direct deposit details, garnishment orders, and deduction setups.
• Support quarter-end and year-end payroll processes, including W-2 and 941 preparation, audits, and unemployment/workers' comp reporting.
• Partner with Benefits on deduction setup and reconciliation during open enrollment and throughout the year.
• Assist with payroll system testing, upgrades, and process improvement projects — we're always looking for a better way to do things.
• Support payroll integration for newly acquired practices as Salt Dental Partners continues to grow through M&A — helping new entities, employees, and pay data land smoothly in our payroll ecosystem.
• Research, respond to, and resolve payroll tax agency notices (IRS, state, and local) in a timely manner, working directly with agencies and internal partners to clear up discrepancies.
• Keep sensitive pay and personal data locked down tight; confidentiality isn't optional, it's the job.

What You Bring

• 3+ years of hands-on payroll processing experience, including multi-state payroll and processing for multiple entities (required).
• Solid working knowledge of federal and multi-state payroll tax and wage and hour regulations.
• Working understanding of payroll tax agency notices — you know how to read one, figure out what it's actually asking, and run it down to resolution.
• Comfort with high-volume payroll (think hundreds of employees) without breaking a sweat.
• Strong Excel skills — formulas, pivot tables, and reconciling large data sets are second nature to you.
• A sharp eye for detail and the discipline to hit the same deadlines, run after run, without missing a beat.
• Great written and verbal communication — you can explain a paycheck deduction to someone who's never thought about payroll in their life.
• Sound judgment and rock-solid discretion when handling confidential compensation and personal data.
• High school diploma or GED required; Associate's degree in Accounting, Business, or a related field is a nice-to-have.

Bonus Points If You Have

• Experience with ADP Workforce Now — a big plus.
• Experience with Zendesk (or a similar case/ticketing system) for managing employee inquiries — also a big plus.
• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP).
• Experience with garnishment and wage attachment administration.
• Time and experience in a multi-site or multi-entity healthcare, dental, or professional services organization.
• Experience supporting payroll through mergers & acquisitions, ideally within a growing Dental Support Organization (DSO) or similar multi-entity healthcare environment — you've helped bring newly acquired practices smoothly into an existing payroll setup before.
• A knack for spotting a process that could be smoother, faster, or more automated — and the initiative to help fix it.

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

This role is performed in a standard office setting (onsite) and, after 90 days, in a hybrid home/office environment. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

• Ability to sit for extended periods at a desk or workstation while working on a computer.
• Frequent use of a computer, keyboard, mouse, and telephone, including repetitive hand and wrist motion.
• Visual acuity to review detailed payroll data, spreadsheets, and reports on a screen for extended periods.
• Ability to communicate clearly, verbally and in writing, including by phone, email, and video conference.
• Occasional standing, walking, bending, or reaching, and ability to lift/move items up to 15 pounds (files, supplies, equipment).
• For remote workdays: a dedicated, distraction-free workspace with secure, reliable high-speed internet able to support company systems and video conferencing.
• For remote workdays: a private workspace where screens and conversations are not visible or audible to others, to safeguard confidential payroll and employee data per company policy.
• Ability to maintain a consistent, reliable schedule and be reachable during core business hours, whether onsite or remote.

Compensation & Schedule

This hourly, non-exempt role pays $27.00–$35.00 per hour, based on your experience and qualifications. You'll start out onsite in Phoenix, Arizona, Monday through Friday during standard business hours, learning our systems, processes, and team. After your first 90 days, you'll move to a hybrid schedule, splitting your time between our Phoenix office and remote work — the best of both worlds. A little extra flexibility around payroll deadlines may be needed from time to time, but we'll always have your back.

Why You'll Love It Here

Salt Dental Partners supports a growing network of dental practices, and our People Operations team is the engine that makes sure every single employee gets paid right, every time. Join us and you'll get real ownership, a front-row seat to a fast-growing, multi-state organization, and a tight-knit HR and Payroll crew that has your back on the toughest deadlines and celebrates the wins with you. If payroll is your superpower, we'd love to meet you.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive benefits package (medical, dental, vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k with Company Match, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Opportunities for professional development and growth
• Flexible work environment

Salt Dental Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties.