Payroll Administrator (Contract)

SOCOTEC•New York, NY

19d•$35 - $45•Hybrid

About The Position

SOCOTEC is seeking a detail-oriented and experienced Payroll Administrator for a contract assignment with its Human Resources and Finance team. The role owns end-to-end payroll for salaried and hourly employees, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant pay. It also contributes to payroll-related projects, including system implementations, process improvements, and cross-functional initiatives. The assignment runs October 2026 through January 2027 and is hybrid from SOCOTEC’s New York, NY office, with an immediate start indicated in the posting. The Payroll Administrator processes bi-weekly payroll, prepares management reports, resolves discrepancies, responds to employee payroll inquiries, and maintains employee lifecycle updates in payroll and ERP systems. The role also handles payroll tax registrations, supports HR/Benefits Operations work, processes off-cycle payments, and provides backup coverage for other Payroll Administrators. Alongside regular payroll operations, the role may lead or support payroll projects, including system implementation and migration, workflow improvements, cross-functional coordination, project tracking, stakeholder communications, risk management, documentation, and training.

Requirements

5–8 years of professional work experience, including hands-on payroll processing in a mid-to-large-size organization.
Advanced Excel skills, including working with large data sets, pivot tables, and formulas for reconciliation and reporting.
Strong analytical skills, meticulous attention to detail, and commitment to data accuracy.
Deep working knowledge of state and federal payroll laws, tax regulations, and compliance requirements.
Ability to learn and navigate payroll, HRIS, and ERP systems.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain payroll matters clearly to employees at all levels.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to research and resolve issues independently.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a cross-functional team.
Ability to handle highly confidential information professionally and discreetly.
Strong organizational and time-management skills; ability to meet deadlines and adapt to shifting priorities while maintaining quality and accountability.
Demonstrated project management skills, including planning, prioritization, and stakeholder management, are highly valued.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Paylocity and/or ADP Workforce Now; experience with other payroll/HRIS platforms is also considered.
Prior involvement in payroll system implementations, migrations, or process improvement projects.

Responsibilities

Accurately process bi-weekly payroll for salaried and hourly employees, including earnings, deductions, and taxes.
Create payroll reports for management, including labor cost summaries, headcount analyses, and ad hoc reporting.
Identify, investigate, and report payroll discrepancies, coordinating with HR and Finance to resolve issues and prevent recurrence.
Respond to employee questions about pay, deductions, and tax withholdings.
Process new hires, terminations, salary changes, promotions, and other employment status updates in payroll and ERP systems.
Complete and maintain payroll tax registrations with state and local municipalities as required.
Assist the HR/Benefits Operations team with related work, including open enrollment, audits, and compliance reporting.
Process out-of-cycle payments, including state-mandated final pay, termination payouts, and other time-sensitive disbursements in accordance with applicable law.
Provide backup coverage for other Payroll Administrators during absences or peak processing periods.
Perform other duties as assigned by a supervisor or manager.
Lead or support payroll system implementations and migrations, including data validation, parallel testing, and go-live support.
Coordinate project timelines and deliverables with HR, Finance, and IT stakeholders.
Identify opportunities for payroll process improvements and automation; design, pilot, and implement improved workflows.
Develop and maintain project plans; track milestones, deliverables, and budgets; and flag risks or delays to project sponsors.
Prepare and deliver project status updates, dashboards, and post-implementation reports to leadership and stakeholders.
Assess and mitigate payroll project risks related to data integrity, compliance, and business continuity, developing contingency plans as needed.
Create and maintain process documentation, SOPs, and training materials, and deliver training to payroll and HR team members.
Promote continuous improvement by soliciting feedback, measuring project outcomes, and refining processes after launch.