Payroll Administrator

Ideal Tridon•Smyrna, TN

20d•$65,000 - $85,000

About The Position

The Payroll Administrator supports accurate, timely, secure, and compliant payroll processing for assigned employee populations. The role reviews payroll inputs, employee data, time and attendance records, deductions, taxes, direct deposits, and payroll reports; performs reconciliations; resolves employee questions; maintains documentation; and provides administrative support for quarter-end, year-end, audits, and process improvements. The position works closely with Human Resources, Finance, managers, employees, payroll vendors, tax providers, and benefit partners to protect data integrity and deliver reliable payroll service. The role processes payroll data for regular, off-cycle, correction, bonus, commission, and final payrolls; reviews employee and timekeeping information; coordinates authorized deductions and payroll transmissions; and maintains payroll records and documentation. It also reconciles payroll and related reports, researches variances, supports tax and audit activities, responds to employee and manager inquiries, maintains payroll data in HRIS, payroll, and timekeeping systems, and contributes to system updates and process improvements. The position requires experience with an HRIS, payroll platform, and time and attendance system, along with working knowledge of payroll processing, taxes, wage and hour concepts, deductions, garnishments, payroll accounting interfaces, and year-end reporting. A bachelor’s degree in a related field is preferred, as is five or more years of payroll administration or closely related processing experience. An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

Requirements

Experience with an HRIS, payroll platform, and time and attendance system is required.
Working knowledge of payroll processing, payroll taxes, wage and hour concepts, deductions, garnishments, payroll accounting interfaces, and year-end reporting.
Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, lookups, filtering, sorting, reconciliation, and preparation of clear payroll reports.
Exceptional attention to detail and ability to work accurately under recurring deadlines and changing priorities.
Ability to research discrepancies, compare data across systems, document findings, and escalate issues using sound judgment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and a service-oriented approach.
Integrity and discretion in handling confidential employee, banking, tax, compensation, and personal information.
Ability to work independently while following established controls, approval requirements, and documented procedures.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Human Resources, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
Five or more years of payroll administration or closely related payroll processing experience.
Experience supporting multi-state, multi-location, manufacturing, or distributed workforces.
Experience with system implementations or process changes.
Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or progress toward the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) credential.
Continuing education in payroll taxation, payroll compliance, accounting, HRIS administration, or data analysis.

Responsibilities

Prepare, enter, review, and validate payroll data for regular, off-cycle, correction, bonus, commission, and final payrolls within established deadlines.
Review time and attendance records and employee changes, including hires, terminations, transfers, pay changes, retroactive adjustments, paid time off, earnings, deductions, and direct-deposit information.
Process or support garnishments, child support orders, levies, benefit deductions, retirement contributions, and other authorized payroll deductions.
Maintain payroll calendars, checklists, approval records, processing documentation, and employee payroll files.
Coordinate payroll funding information, pay statements, bank files, and vendor transmissions; escalate exceptions promptly.
Reconcile payroll registers, employee deductions, tax reports, direct deposits, benefit interfaces, retirement contributions, and payroll-related general ledger outputs.
Identify variances, research root causes, document corrections, and follow issues through resolution.
Prepare recurring and ad hoc payroll reports for Human Resources, Finance, Operations, auditors, and leadership while maintaining confidentiality controls.
Support quarter-end and year-end balancing, Forms W-2, amendments, tax notices, audit requests, and employee communications.
Follow segregation-of-duties, approval, access, record-retention, and data-privacy controls; report suspected errors or control concerns.
Respond professionally and discreetly to employee and manager questions about pay, time records, deductions, taxes, direct deposit, and payroll procedures.
Partner with Human Resources and benefits representatives to resolve payroll discrepancies involving deductions, eligibility, leave, and status changes.
Coordinate with payroll, tax, banking, benefit, and timekeeping vendors to research cases, monitor service issues, and validate corrections.
Communicate payroll deadlines, required documentation, and issue status to employees, managers, and internal partners.
Maintain accurate employee payroll data in HRIS, payroll, and timekeeping systems; support approved system updates, testing, integrations, and file feeds.
Audit employee records, pay rates, tax setup, deductions, bank information, and system outputs; correct approved discrepancies.
Maintain standard operating procedures, desk guides, backup documentation, and training materials for assigned payroll activities.
Recommend improvements to accuracy, timeliness, documentation, automation, employee service, and audit readiness.
Serve as a trained backup for designated payroll responsibilities and perform related duties or special projects as assigned.