Lead Payroll Specialist

Carestream Health•Rochester, NY

1d•$93,000 - $110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Carestream Health is hiring a Lead Payroll Specialist (individual contributor) at its 1565 Jefferson Road facility in Rochester, NY. This is a hybrid role requiring three or more (3) days onsite and two (2) days flexible work from home per week. Occasional remote support on weekend or ahead of holiday based on payroll schedule. The Lead Payroll Specialist will be responsible to process and coordinate end-to-end payroll operations primarily for our U.S. workforce. This role owns accurate and timely multi state payroll processing, payroll tax compliance, reporting and analytics, wage garnishments, time and attendance administration, and vendor management. The ideal candidate is a detail oriented problem solver who thrives in a dynamic environment and has experience with Dayforce (Ceridian) and SuccessFactors (SAP), along with prior payroll system implementation or migration work.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree preferred (business, finance, human resources), or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum of 5+ years of payroll experience, including hands-on multi-state U.S. payroll processing.
Strong knowledge of U.S. payroll tax rules, wage and hours laws, garnishments, and timekeeping/pay policies.
Experience reconciling payroll to general ledger and supporting audits.
Familiarity with Dayforce or other payroll platform.
Familiarity with SuccessFactors or other HRIS platforms.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and payroll reporting tools.
Excellent attention to detail, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and integrity.
Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and needs.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge/experience with DayForce (Ceridian) payroll system and SuccessFactors (SAP) HRIS.
CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or PCP (Payroll Compliance Practitioner) certification.
Experience in a multinational organization.
Continuous improvement mindset for streamlining and changing processes to eliminate waste and/or improve outcomes.
Willingness to travel less than 10% occasionally (if needed).

Responsibilities

Direct and perform full-cycle, multi-state biweekly payroll processing for exempt and non‑exempt employees, including final pay, retro pay, bonuses, commissions, and off‑cycle runs.
Validate payroll inputs (new hires, transfers, terminations, pay rates, earnings, deductions) and reconcile results to ensure accuracy.
Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws (e.g., FLSA, state overtime rules, minimum wage, meal/rest requirements where applicable).
Oversee wage garnishments, child support, tax levies, and other court-ordered deductions, ensuring timely setup, calculation, and remittance.
May contribute oversight and alignment of payroll processing in/for other countries.
Manage payroll tax activities (withholding, employer taxes, SUI/SUTA, local taxes), partnering with tax agencies and/or third-party tax providers for filings, deposits, notices, and reconciliations.
Own quarter‑end and year‑end processes (e.g., W‑2, W‑2C, 1099‑NEC where applicable), balancing payroll registers to tax filings.
Conduct regular internal audits of payroll records and procedures. Reconcile payroll and tax data, identifying and resolving any discrepancies promptly and accurately.
Develop and deliver routine and ad‑hoc payroll reporting (labor costs, overtime trends, headcount/payroll analytics, GL files) and partner with Finance/Accounting on journal entries and month‑end close.
Establish and maintain strong internal controls, SOPs, and audit readiness; address agency notices and lead remediation.
Administer and optimize timekeeping systems (policy configuration, schedules, pay rules, accruals, approvals, integrations).
Serve as the payroll systems SME for Dayforce and SuccessFactors, including configuration, testing, integrations with HRIS/benefits/GL, and ongoing enhancements.
Lead or support payroll system implementations or migrations, including requirements gathering, UAT, change management, documentation, and training.
Provide high‑quality employee service and issue resolution (pay questions, taxes, deductions, garnishments, direct deposit).
Manage third‑party vendors (payroll processing, tax services, timekeeping, HCM/HRIS), including SLAs, contracts, performance, and escalations.
Partner cross‑functionally with HR, Benefits, Finance, and Legal to ensure policy alignment and compliance.
Monitor regulatory changes (federal/state/local) impacting payroll and implement timely updates.
Drive process improvements and automation to increase accuracy, speed, and compliance; maintain clear procedures and knowledge base.