Payroll Specialist

Payroll Specialist

LaSalle Network is partnering with a growing organization to identify a Payroll Specialist to join its payroll team. This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional who enjoys owning payroll processes, ensuring compliance, resolving complex payroll issues, and partnering closely with HR and operations teams. The ideal candidate will bring a strong understanding of payroll administration, tax regulations, and multi-state payroll compliance, along with hands-on experience processing payroll within Workday. This role offers the opportunity to play a critical part in maintaining payroll accuracy while supporting process improvements and system optimization initiatives.

Payroll Specialist Responsibilities:

• Independently manage and process bi-weekly payroll for hourly, salaried, and salaried non-exempt employees.
• Review, audit, and validate payroll-related data within Workday and ADP, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies related to pay, deductions, benefits, taxes, and 401(k) transactions.
• Reconcile payroll records and ensure accurate balancing of payroll data from UKG or other workforce management systems.
• Process off-cycle payrolls, bonus payments, commissions, and other special payroll transactions.
• Serve as a primary payroll resource for HR teams, managers, and employees, responding to payroll-related questions and issues.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure payroll changes are communicated and processed accurately and timely.
• Assist with payroll tax activities, including quarterly tax reporting, year-end balancing, and W-2 preparation.
• Support internal and external audits by providing payroll reports, reconciliations, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive employee and payroll information.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, and reporting capabilities.
• Participate in cross-functional projects, system enhancements, and compliance initiatives impacting payroll operations.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or equivalent field preferred.
• Equivalent experience considered in lieu of a degree.
• 3+ years of payroll processing experience, preferably within a manufacturing, distribution, or industrial environment.
• Experience with Workday or ADP SmartCompliance strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, tax requirements, garnishments, and payroll compliance.
• Experience reconciling payroll transactions and resolving complex payroll discrepancies.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including PivotTables, VLOOKUPs, and data analysis functions.
• Familiarity with UKG, workforce management systems, and cloud-based collaboration tools such as Smartsheet, SharePoint, ServiceNow, and Box is a plus.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively across HR, Finance, and Operations teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

Key Details:

• Compensation: $35-$37/hr
• Benefits: LaSalle Network consultants are eligible to enroll in benefits. For details, visit
• Hybrid work schedule in Deerfield, IL.
• Opportunity to work with leading payroll and HR technologies including Workday and ADP.
• High-visibility role supporting a large employee population.
• Collaborative culture with strong cross-functional interaction.
• Opportunity to contribute to payroll process improvements and systems optimization.