HR Generalist - Payroll & Compliance

AP MAX INC•Houston, TX

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The HR Generalist – Payroll & Compliance serves as a critical operational backbone of the People Operations team. This role supports payroll processing, ensures regulatory compliance across federal and state employment laws, manages unemployment claims, supports compensation benchmarking through Payscale, and conducts systematic audits of HR system data. The incumbent works closely with the Director of People Operations.

Requirements

3–5+ years of progressive HR experience with a heavy emphasis on payroll processing
Demonstrated hands-on experience processing multi-state payroll (500+ employees preferred)
Working knowledge of federal and state employment law compliance requirements
Experience managing unemployment claims through the full lifecycle, including hearings
Proficiency with an HRIS platform (ADP, Workday, or similar)
Strong Excel/Google Sheets skills including pivot tables
High attention to detail with a demonstrated track record of data accuracy and error resolution
Ability to manage multiple concurrent deadlines with discretion and sound judgment

Nice To Haves

PHR, SHRM-CP (Certified Payroll Professional), or equivalent certification
Experience supporting compensation analysis and salary review processes
Exposure to HR system data auditing, data governance, or people analytics
Experience working in a fast-growing or mid-size organization supporting a Director-level HR leader

Responsibilities

Supports and acting back-up, multi-state payroll processor including data entry, verification, and timely submission for all employee populations (salaried, hourly, and part-time)
Reconcile payroll data against timekeeping systems prior to each pay run; resolve discrepancies with managers and employees
Administer off-cycle payrolls, manual checks, final paychecks, and special pay events (bonuses, commissions, retroactive adjustments)
Stay current on payroll tax law changes and implement required updates proactively
Maintain and update required employment posters, notices, and mandatory disclosures
Conduct periodic internal audits of HR practices, I-9 documentation, and personnel records to ensure regulatory adherence
Track and report EEO-1, and other required government filings on established deadlines
Serve as the primary point of contact for all unemployment insurance (UI) claims and related correspondence
Review, research, and prepare timely, well-documented responses to state unemployment agency inquiries and separation notices
Represent the organization at unemployment hearings, either in person or virtually, as required
Track UI claim trends and outcomes; provide summary reports to the Director of People Operations to inform HR strategy
Conduct regular, structured audits of HRIS data (employee records, org structure, position data, compensation fields) to ensure completeness and accuracy
Develop and maintain audit checklists, tracking logs, and exception reports for Director review
Support system implementations, upgrades, and integrations
Support internal administrator for the Payscale compensation platform
Respond to employee inquiries related to pay, deductions, tax withholding, and HR policies with professionalism and confidentiality
Maintain organized, compliant personnel files (electronic and physical) in accordance with document retention policies
Support HR projects, and People Operations initiatives as assigned by the Director