Payroll Specialist

Korn Ferry Interim has partnered with a global technology and software organization seeking a Contract-to-Hire Payroll Specialist to support payroll operations across North America. This is a hands-on role for a payroll professional who is passionate about payroll as a career, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and enjoys owning the payroll process from start to finish. The ideal candidate will have strong experience managing complex multi-state U.S. and Canadian payrolls, partnering with employees and cross-functional teams, and ensuring compliance with payroll tax and labor regulations. This position offers the opportunity to join a collaborative global payroll team with long-term growth potential. Key Responsibilities Process end-to-end bi-weekly payroll for U.S. and Canadian employees, including hourly and salaried populations. Ensure payroll accuracy through data validation, audits, reconciliations, and exception reporting. Administer payroll-related activities including: Garnishments Tax withholdings Benefit deductions Time and attendance processing Overtime and FLSA calculations Serve as a primary point of contact for employee payroll inquiries and issue resolution. Maintain and audit payroll data within HRIS and payroll systems. Review and reconcile payroll tax filings, W-2s, and payroll-related reports. Support internal and external audits and ensure compliance with federal, state, provincial, and local regulations. Partner with HR, Accounting, Finance, and third-party payroll vendors to resolve issues and improve processes. Prepare payroll-related reporting including general ledger files, accruals, headcount reporting, and ad hoc analyses. Assist with payroll process improvements, controls, documentation, and training initiatives. Support payroll operations across multiple North American entities and collaborate with the broader global payroll team. Required Qualifications 3+ years of end-to-end payroll processing experience. Experience owning payroll operations for both the U.S. and Canada. Strong knowledge of: FLSA regulations Overtime calculations Payroll taxes Wage and hour compliance Garnishments and deductions Multi-state payroll experience. Experience reconciling payroll tax filings and payroll-related reports. Strong proficiency in Excel and payroll systems. Experience working within HRIS platforms such as Workday and/or ADP. Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy. Excellent communication and customer service skills. Ability to prioritize competing deadlines in a dynamic environment. High degree of professionalism and confidentiality. Preferred Qualifications CPP or FPC certification. Experience with: Workday ADP Workforce Now (WFN) ADP Celergo General ledger, journal entry, and payroll accounting experience. Experience supporting payroll operations within a large, complex organization. What We\'re Looking For Passionate about payroll and payroll compliance. Self-starter who takes initiative and ownership. Strong business partner who communicates effectively across all levels of the organization. Comfortable wearing multiple hats and supporting a variety of payroll-related responsibilities. Thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment. Solutions-oriented mindset with strong problem-solving abilities. About Korn Ferry Korn Ferry unleashes potential in people, teams, and organizations. We work with our clients to design optimal organization structures, roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward and motivate their workforce while developing professionals as they navigate and advance their careers. To learn more, please visit Korn Ferry at #J-18808-Ljbffr