Payroll Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Payroll Specialist

Job Description

The Payroll Specialist executes and owns end-to-end biweekly U.S. payroll processing in UKG Pro, ensuring timely and accurate pay delivery for a multi-state workforce. This role manages complex payroll cycles, supports time and attendance processing, and serves as an escalation point for complex payroll issues. The Payroll Specialist also drives process improvements, supports system enhancements, and ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local wage and tax regulations.

Responsibilities

• Execute and own end-to-end biweekly U.S. payroll processing in UKG Pro, ensuring timely and accurate pay delivery for all employees.
• Review and respond to employee and manager inquiries related to pay, taxes, timecards, PTO balances and policy, employment verifications, year-end W-2 requests, and historical timecard corrections.
• Support time and attendance processing in UKG Pro Workforce Management, including timecard audits, overtime validation, corrections, and accurate timecard coding for employees on leave of absence based on updated leave status information.
• Process off-cycle payrolls, retroactive adjustments, special earnings, and payroll corrections as needed.
• Perform payroll balancing, validation, reconciliations, and approvals prior to payroll submission to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Identify and implement payroll process improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and audit controls.
• Participate in payroll- and benefits-related projects, including system enhancements, upgrades, integrations, and compliance initiatives.
• Lead assigned year-end tasks related to W-2s, system reviews, and employee data reviews to ensure accurate year-end reporting.
• Support testing, validation, and documentation related to UKG system updates and enhancements.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), job aids, and payroll documentation to support consistency and knowledge sharing within the team.
• Act as an escalation resource for complex payroll issues, providing subject matter expertise without formal supervisory responsibility.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local wage and tax regulations and apply these requirements to every payroll run.
• Prepare and support statutory and compliance reporting, as well as internal and external payroll audits, by producing required reports, reconciliations, and supporting documentation.
• Provide tactical support for payroll- and benefits-related data audit requests, including annual 401(k) audits, workers’ compensation audits, payroll system processing audits, and related reconciliations and documentation.
• Utilize a case management system to document, track, prioritize, and resolve payroll and time-related inquiries in line with established controls and service-level expectations.

Essential Skills

• 3–5 years of payroll processing experience supporting multi-state payrolls.
• Hands-on, recent experience with configuration of UKG Pro and UKG Pro Workforce Management at an intermediate level.
• Strong working knowledge of payroll compliance, wage and hour laws, tax reporting, audits, and payroll accounting principles.
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills for complex reporting and analysis.
• Experience using a case management system to document, track, prioritize, and resolve payroll and time-related inquiries.
• Associate degree in Human Resources, Finance, Business, or a related field.
• Understanding of UKG administrative tools, including UKG Pro, Workforce Management, and Plan Source (benefits platform).
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy in all payroll-related tasks.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to manage complex payroll scenarios.
• Ability to manage complex payroll cycles independently, including retroactive payments, gross-ups, and stock vesting.
• Strong professional communication skills and a customer service-oriented approach.
• Ability to influence and collaborate cross-functionally without direct authority.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Finance, Business, or a related field is preferred.
• Experience supporting payroll for a large, multi-state employee population.
• Demonstrated experience participating in system enhancements, upgrades, and integrations related to payroll and benefits.
• Experience developing and maintaining SOPs, job aids, and payroll process documentation.
• Proven ability to identify, recommend, and implement process improvements to enhance payroll efficiency and controls.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Berkeley Heights, NJ.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $27.40 - $45.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Berkeley Heights,NJ.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 30, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.