Payroll Administrator

Bavarian Nordic•Durham, NC

About The Position

Bavarian Nordic is hiring a Payroll Administrator to handle payroll administration and related payroll accounting for its North American operations in the United States and Canada. The role is part of a six-person Finance team supporting more than 170 employees. The administrator will process payroll for hourly and salaried employees, maintain payroll records, and apply relevant U.S. and Canadian payroll requirements, including tax, overtime, statutory deduction, contribution, reporting, and garnishment rules. The role also manages payroll accounting in Microsoft Dynamics D365, including payroll postings, journal entries, and account reconciliations. It supports payroll audits, employee payroll inquiries, expense reviews and reimbursements, and commission calculations with commercial leadership. The Payroll Administrator will help align and improve payroll activities, tools, and processes as the company grows. The position reports to the Director of North American Finance. Proximity to the Durham, North Carolina office is preferred but not required; occasional travel may be required for Finance team and local in-person meetings.

Requirements

At least 3 years of payroll experience, including automated payroll processing.
Working knowledge of payroll accounting, financial system postings, and monthly, quarterly, and annual account reconciliations.
Proficiency in HRIS systems.
Strong Excel skills, including PivotTables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, SUMIFS, and data validation for payroll analysis, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
Strong communication and internal customer service skills.
Ability to deliver accurate, timely payroll in a deadline-driven environment.
Initiative, a continuous improvement mindset, and adaptability to develop new skills and assume broader responsibilities as the company grows.
Flexible communication style and cultural awareness when collaborating across functions and countries.

Nice To Haves

Experience with TriNet, Empower 401(k), and Microsoft Dynamics D365.
Proximity to the Durham, North Carolina office.

Responsibilities

Process timely and accurate payroll for hourly and salaried employees under general supervision, maintaining related records and accounting.
Ensure compliance with U.S. and Canadian payroll laws and requirements, including taxes, statutory deductions, contributions, and reporting.
Prepare payroll reports and support audits of payroll records and related general ledger accounts.
Lead the annual 401(k) audit with support from the Director of North American Finance, coordinating requests, preparing documentation and reconciliations, and serving as the primary auditor contact.
Review payroll entries made by others, including pay changes, benefit deductions, terminations, FMLA, applicable Canadian leaves, and other unpaid leave.
Assist employees with payroll questions, deductions, benefits, PTO accruals, and pay issues.
Process voluntary deductions, garnishments, levies, and court-ordered payments, ensuring timely remittance and reporting to appropriate authorities.
Manage payroll accounting in Microsoft Dynamics D365, including payroll postings, salary, PTO, and benefits journal entries, and monthly, quarterly, and annual account reconciliations.
Review U.S. and Canadian T&E expenses for documentation, approvals, coding, and policy compliance; process reimbursements, including through payroll; and ensure accurate recording and reconciliation in D365.
Identify and implement improvements to payroll administration, accounting, and reconciliations to strengthen accuracy, efficiency, and scalability.
Partner with commercial leadership to calculate performance commissions.