Payroll Accountant

Job Description

Job Description

We are looking for a Payroll Accountant to join our team in Princeton, NJ on a contract basis with the potential to become permanent. This position will manage payroll accounting activities from payroll execution through reconciliation and financial close, helping ensure accurate reporting and regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical ability, hands-on payroll experience, and a disciplined approach to maintaining precise payroll records in a deadline-driven environment.

Responsibilities:

• Administer biweekly and monthly payroll cycles for employees across multiple sites, ensuring timely and accurate completion.

• Examine payroll activity including compensation, deductions, taxes, benefit withholdings, and garnishments to confirm accuracy and resolve exceptions.

• Reconcile payroll output to general ledger balances and research discrepancies to support clean financial records.

• Prepare payroll-related journal entries, accruals, and account adjustments to support accurate accounting treatment.

• Manage payroll balance sheet accounts and complete recurring reconciliations as part of the monthly close process.

• Record payroll taxes, employee withholdings, and employer-paid liabilities correctly in accordance with accounting standards.

• Contribute to month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities tied to payroll and compensation reporting.

• Review payroll expense trends and explain variances to finance stakeholders when needed.

• Collaborate with Human Resources and Finance teams to address payroll issues, improve data accuracy, and support audit requests with schedules and documentation.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
• At least 3 years of experience in payroll accounting, payroll administration, or general accounting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of payroll accounting processes, including reconciliations, accruals, and journal entry preparation.
• Experience supporting month-end close and financial reporting activities.
• Proficiency with payroll platforms such as ADP Workforce Now, Workday, Oracle, or similar systems.
• Advanced Excel skills, including functions such as VLOOKUPs, PivotTables, and data analysis tools.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage deadlines in a fast-paced work environment.