Senior Payroll Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

We are looking for an experienced Senior Payroll Specialist to join a service-focused organization in Memphis, Tennessee. In this role, you will oversee complex payroll activities with a strong emphasis on accuracy, compliance, and responsive internal support. The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of full-cycle, multi-state payroll and can confidently manage exceptions, audits, and process improvements in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities:
• Manage assigned weekly and semi-monthly payrolls from initial data review through final approval, ensuring each cycle is completed accurately and on schedule.
• Conduct detailed audits and reconciliations involving time records, pay components, deductions, taxes, commissions, and payroll balancing totals before and after processing.
• Investigate complicated payroll issues, determine appropriate corrections, and escalate high-risk concerns when needed to protect compliance and accuracy.
• Handle non-routine payroll transactions such as off-cycle payments, manual checks, reversals, voids, overpayment recovery, final pay, and other special payment situations.
• Serve as a trusted resource for employees and internal partners by providing clear payroll guidance while safeguarding sensitive information.
• Apply federal, state, and local payroll regulations, along with company policies and approval standards, to resolve complex pay scenarios.
• Support team effectiveness by assisting less experienced payroll staff with troubleshooting, knowledge sharing, and day-to-day guidance.
• Contribute to payroll accounting and compliance activities by preparing reconciliations, assisting with tax and garnishment matters, and supporting quarter-end and year-end tasks.
• Identify patterns in payroll errors or service issues and recommend practical enhancements to workflows, controls, reporting, training, or system setup.
• Participate in payroll-related projects, including testing and integration efforts, while documenting outcomes, risks, and required follow-up actions.• Demonstrated experience managing full-cycle payroll processing in a high-volume environment supporting more than 500 employees.
• Strong working knowledge of multi-state payroll practices, wage and hour requirements, payroll taxes, and deductions.
• Proven ability to reconcile payroll data, research discrepancies, and resolve complex issues with sound judgment and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including the use of formulas for analysis, validation, and reporting.
• Experience using payroll systems such as UltiPro to process payroll and maintain accurate records.
• Ability to manage confidential information with professionalism and provide dependable support to employees and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills with the flexibility to adjust priorities and meet critical deadlines in a dynamic work environment.