HR Payroll and Process Specialist

Payroll Processing: Administer semi-monthly payroll, review timesheets, process pay adjustments, garnishments, and maintain employee payroll benefit elections. Tax Compliance: Create new tax accounts as needed (federal, state and local), reconcile payments and filings, prepare W-2s, and 1099s as needed. Audits & Reporting: Provide payroll documentation for internal and external audits, prevailing wage reporting; compile and analyze HR-related data from systems such as Dayforce or Power BI to support reporting and compliance. Retirement Plans: Process contributions, enrollments, distributions, rollovers, and collaborate with Vanguard to complete compliance testing Leave, Disability and State Program Management: Coordinate paid leave, disability, and unemployment claims, ensure compliance with overlapping leave policies, and support employees with forms and return-to-work requirements.

Administration: Oversee benefit programs including tuition reimbursement, travel fund programs, charitable giving, and other company-supported programs; conduct benefit audits and reconciliations.

Employee Support: Respond to payroll-related inquiries and provide resources and communication regarding pay, benefits, and tax matters.

Onboarding & Offboarding: Process payroll-related documentation for new hires and separating employees, including final paychecks, direct deposits, and termination recordkeeping.

Policy Development: Draft, update, and maintain HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance and clarity across the organization.

Employee Engagement: Support initiatives that promote a positive workplace culture, including recognition programs and engagement activities; analyze engagement data and feedback to identify trends and recommend improvements.

Staff Communication: Create clear, professional communications regarding HR policies, benefits, and organizational updates.

HR Data Analysis & Insights: Collect, structure, and interpret HR data to identify trends, support decision-making, and improve HR processes and strategic outcomes.

Qualifications & Skills

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field, OR equivalent work experience.
• 2+ years of experience in payroll, HR administration, accounting, or a similarly detail-heavy administrative role.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to craft clear, professional messaging, collaborate across teams, and present data insights to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency with payroll software (Dayforce, ADP, Paylocity, or similar) and HRIS platforms.
• Microsoft Excel skills such as pivot tables, formulas, and data analysis; experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI) is a plus.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll, labor, and tax regulations; experience with retirement plan administration (401(k), 5500 compliance) is a plus.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, including the ability to identify trends and translate data into actionable insights.
• Ability to troubleshoot payroll discrepancies and reconcile financial data accurately.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with a high level of attention to detail.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and integrity when handling sensitive information.
• Proactive mindset with a willingness to learn, improve processes, and leverage data to drive continuous improvement.

Other Duties This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities required for this role.

Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Physical Demand Requirements Work Environment This role operates primarily in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing systems.

Physical Demands This is largely a sedentary role with occasional travel required.

The position may require the ability to walk stairs and enter, travel in, and exit vehicles and airplanes.