HRIS Payroll Specialist, Workday

Covenant Living•Skokie, IL

15d

About The Position

We Are Inspired to Serve. Join us! The Payroll Specialist (Workday) is responsible for the end to end processing cycle of a national, multi-state payroll operation with bi-weekly execution and pay delivery to staff. This role will be heavily focused on payroll tax processing, auditing, and compliance in partnership with our vendor. Will partner with various taxing agencies (state unemployment, IRS, state / local tax, etc.) to prevent and respond to agency inquires / notices. Resolves tax issues through agency, vendor, and internal team collaboration. Works with internal and external resources to ensure payroll tax configurations are current in the HRIS system, Workday, such as auditing tax tables, state funded benefit program tax rates and earning / deduction codes. This role is part of a Shared Services team and will respond to and resolve user tickets from the field, as well as address themes with training and user education

Requirements

High School Diploma
Minimum 5 years’ payroll experience, including specialized experience with payroll tax and working with taxing authorities.
Experience being a partner with 3rd party vendors.
Experience with utilizing HRIS and vendor reports for purposes of auditing.
Multi-state and national experience required.
Knowledge of payroll tax laws and requirements in the US (in a multi-state jurisdiction environment).
Must have solid experience with Workday and high proficiency with technology.
Must have experience working in a highly automated HRIS system.
Workday experience is required.
Must have experience working collaboratively with internal partners, such as legal or benefits, on project teams.
Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem solving skills; ability to combine attention to detail with big picture perspective.
Understanding of cross functional concepts and technical impacts (security, reporting).
Ability to research, quickly learn, and analyze information, make recommendations, document and present information clearly.
Ability to work with limited direction or supervision, take initiative, plan and carry out responsibilities, organizing own schedule and duties in order to complete responsibilities.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and utilize sound judgment.
Skilled in accurate, timely documentation.
Skilled in written and verbal English communication, with excellent communication skills.
Attention to detail and highly organized, with ability to prioritize and implement on time.
Skilled in high efficiency and able to work at a fast pace with high volume output.
Ability to work as part of a broader team and engage effectively with colleagues and stakeholders.
Highly skilled in problem solving, root cause analysis, and implementation of solutions.
Highly skilled in in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams.
Advanced Excel skills highly preferred.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree
Payroll related training or certificates preferred, such as CPP
Workday Certified in US Payroll or related certificates preferred
Previous experience in HR or a shared service model is preferred.

Responsibilities

End to end processing cycle of national, multi-state payroll operation bi-weekly in HRIS (Workday). Ensure on-time and compliant delivery of pay to employees.
Triage incoming tickets in our Shared Services platform, tackling Level 1 issues independently. This includes processing wage verification requests, garnishments, off cycle check requests, lock in letters, arrears management, and responding to other timekeeping and payroll inquiries. Escalates advanced issues to the HRIS Analyst team or the Senior Payroll Administrator.
Regularly audit Payroll Tax reconciliation provided by vendor and resolve discrepancies, ensuring tax liability balancing.
Process state registrations and set up new jurisdictions in HRIS.
Manage issues with taxing authorities to resolve agency notices / letters / inquiries.
Proactively review payroll taxation through audits and reporting, and tools provided by the vendor to ensure taxing compliance.
Monitor payroll tax status to ensure self-insured / reimbursable status for unemployment is maintained.
Process state required security bonds to maintain reimbursable status timely, in partnership with Finance.
Research tax regulations and withholdings. Audit and maintain accuracy of tax rates in HRIS.
Review taxability of pay components (earnings/deductions), including identification of tax authority exceptions by state or local jurisdictions, and partner with HRIS Analyst to implement. Review and maintain codes annually as well as setting up new codes.
Make continuous improvement suggestions related to user experience and process opportunities. Partner with the community locations and internal partners to improve payroll delivery and services.
Identify themes and develop incident reduction strategies, to include training and user education.
Partner on special employee or company programs that touch payroll services, such as bonus, merit, commissions, benefits, acquisitions, org restructurings, special government reporting (BLS), etc.