Payroll Analyst (Financial Services)

This is an office-based role working out of our Chicago location. Your work directly affects financial wellbeing, employee confidence, and the company's ability to operate smoothly. You'll work alongside the Payroll and HR Operations teams in our Chicago office, supporting weekly and bi‐weekly payrolls for salaried and hourly employees across multiple states. Success in the first 90 days looks like independently processing payroll tasks in UKGPro, confidently resolving employee payroll inquiries, and proactively identifying and correcting discrepancies before payroll is finalized. Get hands-on with UKGPro and Workforce Management (WFM), including employee setup, time file audits, and basic reporting Partner with payroll teammates to prepare, audit, and validate weekly and bi‐weekly payroll runs Respond to employee payroll questions via phone and email, learning how to clearly explain payroll policies and resolutions Maintain accurate employee, payroll, and PTO records, including new hires, terminations, tax forms, deductions, incentives, and garnishments Prepare, audit, and reconcile time files for non-exempt employees; identify and resolve out-of-balance issues prior to payroll finalization Research and resolve paycheck, timekeeping, tax, and wage/hour discrepancies in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations Serve as primary support for UKGPro and WFM system questions, password resets, timesheet corrections, and user maintenance Process off-cycle payroll runs as needed (terminations, bonuses, state-specific requirements) Act as a liaison with local tax authorities and financial institutions Support audits and ensure payroll reporting aligns with GAAP and regulatory requirements Hands-on experience processing payroll Practical working knowledge of multi-state payroll laws and regulations Experience auditing timekeeping data and correcting discrepancies Ability to handle confidential information with consistency and discretion Advanced Excel skills for reconciliation, auditing, and reporting Exposure to payroll tax research, garnishments, and wage/hour investigations Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) Experience supporting both hourly and salaried populations across multiple entities Familiarity with UKG modules such as Business Intelligence or People Analytics