Payroll Specialist

Position Summary

The Payroll Specialist – Operations Liaison serves as the primary link between Operations and the Payroll team. This role is responsible for resolving employee pay concerns, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing, and supporting payroll operations through administrative and technical functions. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, service-focused, and excels at collaborating across teams to deliver a seamless payroll experience.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Employee Support

• Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll-related inquiries from Operations leaders and employees
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies by reviewing timecards and coordinating with supervisors and managers
• Provide guidance on timekeeping practices, pay policies, and correction procedures
• Assist employees with payroll-related questions, including pay, deductions, direct deposit updates, and tax withholdings

Payroll Processing Support

• Review, validate, and reconcile time and attendance data prior to payroll submission
• Process payroll adjustments, retroactive payments, earnings codes, and special pay scenarios
• Support employee lifecycle transactions including new hires, terminations, and status changes
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage-and-hour regulations

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Partner with HR, Operations, and Finance to support payroll initiatives and escalations
• Communicate payroll policies, pay rules, and system updates to leaders and employees
• Collaborate with IT/Systems teams to troubleshoot payroll and timekeeping system issues

Reporting & Data Integrity

• Prepare and review payroll reports, audits, and reconciliations to ensure accuracy
• Maintain payroll records in compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements
• Identify process gaps and recommend improvements to enhance payroll accuracy and efficiency

Qualifications

Required

• 2–4 years of experience in payroll, HR, or timekeeping (preferably in a multi-location or operations-heavy environment)
• Strong knowledge of payroll processes, wage-and-hour laws, and pay practices
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain payroll concepts clearly
• Strong attention to detail and analytical/problem-solving abilities
• Experience with payroll/timekeeping systems (e.g., ADP, UKG, Paycom, Workday)
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel

Preferred

• Experience serving as a liaison between HR, Payroll, and Operations
• Knowledge of union pay practices
• Familiarity with multi-state payroll requirements

Core Competencies

• Customer Service Mindset: Approaches employee concerns with urgency, empathy, and accuracy
• Collaboration: Builds strong relationships across teams
• Problem Solving: Uses data and critical thinking to resolve issues effectively
• Confidentiality: Maintains discretion when handling sensitive payroll information
• Organizational Skills: Manages multiple priorities and deadlines efficiently