Payroll Specialist
Location: Oak Creek, WI (Hybrid)
Compensation: $75,000–$85,000 base salary
Job Type: Full-time; permanent
We are seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to join the payroll team of an established, multi-state manufacturing organization. This individual will play a key role in ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing for a workforce of more than 1,200 employees. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented payroll professional with hands-on experience managing high-volume payroll, strong knowledge of multi-state payroll regulations, and advanced Excel skills.
Key Responsibilities:- Process weekly payroll accurately and on schedule using established payroll systems
- Review employee timekeeping data, identify discrepancies, and coordinate corrections with supervisors
- Transfer and validate timekeeping information between systems to ensure payroll accuracy
- Maintain payroll reports, spreadsheets, and supporting documentation
- Reconcile payroll registers, tax reports, cash activity, and general ledger transactions
- Prepare payroll-related journal entries and account reconciliations
- Process manual checks, special payrolls, bonuses, new-hire payments, termination pay, and other payroll adjustments
- Respond to employee inquiries regarding paychecks, deductions, tax withholding, and payroll discrepancies
- Calculate and verify payroll deductions, garnishments, overtime, and applicable tax withholdings
- Reconcile payroll reporting with quarterly and annual tax filings, including Forms 941 and W-2Support payroll tax compliance across multiple states, including state unemployment insurance and reciprocity requirements
- Assist with internal and external payroll audits and workers' compensation reporting
- Monitor changes in payroll legislation and recommend opportunities to improve payroll accuracy and efficiency
Required Qualifications:- High school diploma or GEDAt least three years of hands-on corporate payroll processing experience supporting a workforce of more than 1,200 employees
- Experience processing multi-state payroll
- Strong working knowledge of ADP or a comparable payroll processing platform
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, pivot tables, and VLOOKUPKnowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements, wage and hour regulations, state unemployment insurance, and reciprocity agreements
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to research and resolve complex payroll discrepancies
- Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to manage recurring payroll deadlines
Preferred Qualifications:- Associate degree in business or a related field
- Experience working in a manufacturing or similarly complex operational environment
- Experience with integrated timekeeping and payroll systems
- Familiarity with payroll reconciliations, general ledger transactions, and payroll tax reporting
Compensation & Benefits:- Base salary of $75,000–$85,000, depending on experience
- Hybrid schedule with onsite work Monday through Wednesday and remote work Thursday and Friday
- Discretionary bonus opportunity anticipated beginning in the next fiscal year
- Medical, dental, vision insurance
- Retirement plan
- Paid time off
