Payroll Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title : Payroll Specialist

Location : Tonawanda, NY

Hire Type : Direct Hire

Pay Range : $55,000 - $85,000

Work Type : Full-time

Work Model : Hybrid

Work Schedule : Monday – Friday, 8am – 4:30pm

Recruiter Contact: Amy Dugenske | View email address on ziprecruiter.com

Nature & Scope :

Positional Overview

The Imagine Group is recruiting for a Payroll Specialist on behalf of our client, a leading real estate development, construction, and renewable energy organization in Tonawanda, NY , this company delivers innovative projects that enhance communities. With expertise spanning commercial development, construction management, and solar energy solutions, the organization is committed to quality, collaboration, and sustainable growth while creating distinctive spaces for clients and tenants alike.

In this role you will be responsible for processing multi-state payroll accurately and on time while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations. You will support payroll reporting, maintain employee payroll records, assist with benefits and deductions administration, and collaborate with internal departments to resolve payroll-related questions in a fast-paced professional environment.

Role & Responsibility:

Tasks That Will Lead to Your Success

• Manage full-cycle weekly payroll processing, ensuring accuracy and adherence to established deadlines
• Review weekly timesheets and coordinate with employees and approvers to ensure timely and accurate completion
• Maintain and update payroll data including deductions, reimbursements, raises, bonuses, per diem, and allowances
• Process payroll and investigate, resolve, and correct discrepancies or inaccuracies on a weekly basis
• Serve as a primary point of contact for employee and manager inquiries related to timekeeping, payroll, and prevailing wage requirements
• Maintain prevailing wage payroll processes, ensuring reporting and documentation comply with federal, state, client, and jobsite requirements
• Collaborate with internal and external auditors to meet project and compliance requirements, including reviewing audit reports and issuing corrections as needed
• Ensure payroll deductions, allowances, and reimbursements are accurate and aligned with employee elections and employer contributions
• Reconcile benefit and employee insurance billings
• Prepare labor reports, general ledger reports, and ad hoc payroll-related reporting as requested
• Manage expense reimbursement processes and ensure team members are proficient in the expense reimbursement software platform
• Support data generation and recordkeeping related to raises, bonuses, and total compensation
• Systematic, compliance-driven approach to payroll administration
• Exceptional attention to detail to ensure accuracy and audit readiness
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills related to payroll and accounting data
• Process-oriented mindset with strong systems and controls awareness

Skills & Experience

Qualifications That Will Help You Thrive

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, or a related discipline (or Associate's Degree with 5 or more years of payroll experience)
• Three (3) or more years of experience in an accounting or payroll role with direct responsibility for payroll processing and reporting
• Experience with SaaS payroll software and expense management software
• Strong understanding of payroll regulations, wage and hour compliance, and internal controls

Education & Experience Preferred

• Experience with Miter payroll software
• American Payroll Association (APA) certification
• Prevailing wage payroll experience