Payroll Specialist

Payroll SpecialistVulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to our core values of being Mission-Focused, having Technical Excellence and Integrity. The Payroll Specialist will be responsible for processing accurate and timely payroll for Vulcan Elements employees, including calculating wages, overtime, deductions, and tax withholdings in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. They'll maintain payroll records, resolve discrepancies, and serve as a point of contact for employee questions regarding pay, benefits deductions, and related policies. As Vulcan scales its workforce across sites like Durham and the new Benson facility, this role will also help ensure payroll systems and processes stay accurate and compliant through that growth. This role will be located at our Durham, NC location and will move to the Benson, NC office when open and operational.ResponsibilitiesVerify employee timesheets are approved by managers to confirm hours worked and ensure accuracy before processingCalculate wages, overtime, and bonuses in accordance with company policy and applicable labor laws using systems such as Rippling, ADP, or QuickBooks PayrollProcess payroll using systems such as ADP, Rippling, or QuickBooks Payroll, including off cycle runs for corrections or urgent adjustmentsEnter and maintain data related to benefits deductions, tax withholdings, and direct deposit preferencesConfirm accuracy of new hires in the payroll system and assist with terminations, ensuring final paychecks comply with state-specific deadlinesMaintain organized, audit-ready records of payroll transactions and employee compensation historyInvestigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, errors, and employee inquiries in a timely and professional mannerEnsure ongoing compliance with federal, state, and local wage, hour, and payroll tax laws, updating systems and processes as regulations changeProcess wage garnishments, tax levies, and other court-ordered deductions accurately and confidentiallyPrepare and file payroll tax reports (e.g., Form 941, state unemployment, W-2s, 1099s) and reconcile payroll tax liabilities using systems such as Rippling, ADP, or QuickBooks payrollReconcile payroll data with the general ledger and support Finance/Accounting during month-end closePartner with the People Partner to track and audit PTO and leave accruals (vacation, sick, FMLA) to ensure accurate employee balancesSupport payroll system upgrades, integrations, and internal or external auditsGenerate payroll reports for management, including labor costs, headcount, and overtime trends, to support budgeting and workforce decisionsResponsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the businessQualificationsAssociate's or Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent work experience)3+ years of experience processing payroll, preferably in a multi-state or high-volume environmentHands-on experience with payroll software (ADP, Rippling, QuickBooks Payroll, or similar)Working knowledge of wage and hour laws, tax withholding requirements, and garnishment proceduresExperience with payroll tax filings and general ledger reconciliation preferredStrong proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets for reconciliation and reportingExcellent attention to detail and ability to handle confidential information with discretionStrong communication skills to resolve employee payroll questions clearly and professionallyMust be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.Preferred QualificationsCPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation a plus, but not requiredInternational payroll experience (e.g., managing payroll across multiple countries, currencies, or working with global EOR/PEO providers) a plus