Payroll Specialist

Payroll Specialist

Worldwide Mission Critical is a global owner's representation and project management company dedicated to the mission-critical industry, helping companies deliver their data centers on time and under budget. Founded on the principle that the right team of experienced data center professionals will deliver great projects, our ability to provide oversight for all aspects of a project sets us apart.

Worldwide Mission Critical is seeking a detail-oriented and dependable Payroll Specialist to join our Accounting team. This role is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of biweekly payroll for all employees, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. The Payroll Specialist maintains payroll records, prepares reconciliations and reports, resolves payroll discrepancies, and provides excellent customer service to employees and management. This position works closely with Human Resources and Accounting to ensure data integrity, support audits, and continuously improve payroll processes.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of payroll administration experience, preferably multi-state.
• Strong knowledge of payroll law, wage and hour regulations, and compliance (FLSA, tax withholding).
• Experience with Ajera and Paylocity strongly preferred.
• Advanced Excel skills and comfort working with complex payroll data.
• Proven ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on accuracy and efficiency.

Primary Responsibilities

• Coordinate and process bi-weekly payroll through a third-party payroll system (Paylocity), including reviewing payroll registers and resolving exceptions prior to submission.
• Maintain accurate employee payroll records, including pay rates, withholdings, time policies, accruals, new hires, terminations, and job changes.
• Input and administer salary increases, bonuses, retroactive pay, PTO, short-term disability (STD), leave-related pay, and other payroll adjustments.
• Process and administer voluntary and involuntary deductions, including benefit deductions, repayments, wage garnishments, levies, and child support orders.
• Record payroll-related journal entries for month-end and year-end close and prepare reconciliations for benefits, 401(k), and garnishment-related payables.
• Collaborate with payroll providers to validate accurate calculation of employee and employer taxes and apply for required state and local tax withholdings in new jurisdictions.
• Prepare, distribute, and support payroll reporting for accounting, management, and compliance purposes.
• Maintain complete and accurate payroll records to support internal controls, audits, and external audit requests.
• Maintain and validate payroll system configurations (pay codes, accruals, cost centers, integrations) and assist with system updates, testing, and data integrity initiatives.
• Maintain and update payroll policies, procedures, and guidelines; stay current on payroll laws, regulations, system updates, and required trainings.
• Provide timely, professional support to employees and external agencies regarding pay, deductions, direct deposit, and attendance inquiries.
• Partner closely with HR and Finance on payroll-related activities while maintaining the highest level of confidentiality, integrity, and professionalism. Perform other duties as assigned.