Payroll Specialist

Position : Payroll Specialist

Employment Type : Full-Time

Location : In-Person - Grand Junction, CO

Pay : $65,000 - $80,000 per year

Position Summary:

Evergreen Administrative Services is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) to join our team. The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience processing payroll across multiple client accounts or within a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) environment, and possesses deep expertise in payroll tax compliance, reporting, and timely remittance to federal, state, and local agencies. This role requires exceptional organizational skills, a high degree of accuracy, and the ability to manage competing priorities while delivering outstanding service to internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Process multi-state, multi-client payrolls on weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly cycles with a high degree of accuracy
• Serve as the primary payroll point of contact for assigned client accounts or business units, addressing inquiries and resolving discrepancies promptly
• Onboard new clients or companies into the payroll system, ensuring accurate configuration of pay policies, deductions, and tax settings
• Manage and audit employee data changes including new hires, terminations, salary adjustments, and garnishments
• Coordinate with HR, benefits, and finance teams to ensure seamless data flow and reconciliation
• Calculate and process all payroll deductions including federal, state, and local tax withholdings, benefits premiums, 401(k) contributions, and voluntary deductions
• Ensure ongoing compliance with federal and state payroll regulations including Colorado's FAMLI, HFWA, and wage and hour laws — proactively identifying and addressing gaps before they become issues
• Prepare, reconcile, and file payroll tax returns and required quarterly and annual reports including 941s, W-2s, and 1099s in accordance with all applicable deadlines
• Serve as a knowledgeable point of contact for client and employee payroll inquiries, resolving issues professionally and maintaining strong client relationships
• Identify and reconcile payroll discrepancies before payroll is finalized, investigating root causes and communicating resolutions to clients
• Maintain strict confidentiality of all payroll, employee, and client data in accordance with company policies and applicable privacy regulations
• Generate standard and ad hoc payroll reports for management, clients, finance, and HR
• Assist in system upgrades, integrations, and testing of payroll software
• Leverage HRIS and payroll platforms to improve efficiency and reduce manual processing
• Collaborate with the HR team to ensure seamless payroll processing through the full employee lifecycle from onboarding through offboarding and final pay
• Stay current on payroll legislation, IRS guidance, and Colorado law changes — applying updates to client accounts proactively
• Identify opportunities to streamline payroll workflows and actively contribute to process improvement and system implementation initiatives
• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned to support the overall success of the Evergreen team.

Requirements

• Minimum 3 years of hands-on payroll processing experience — PEO or multi-client experience strongly preferred
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) strongly preferred
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state payroll tax compliance, wage and hour laws, and reporting requirements
• Experience processing multi-state payroll
• Proficiency with payroll software platforms — experience with Prism, Worklio, ADP, Paylocity, MasterTax, Vertex, or similar systems preferred
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, reconciliation).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong attention to detail with a track record of high accuracy under deadline pressure
• Experience with benefits deduction reconciliation and year-end payroll processes
• Familiarity with Colorado-specific requirements including CO FAMLI, and Colorado HFWA
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with the utmost discretion
• Excellent communication skills — able to clearly explain payroll matters to clients and employees

Benefits based on eligibility

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Supplemental Insurance
• 401k with matching contribution
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays

Evergreen provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.