Payroll Analyst

Hollingsworth & Vose•Walpole, MA

33d

About The Position

The Payroll Analyst supports the accurate, timely, and compliant delivery of payroll across H&V's U.S. employee population, including union-represented locations. Working closely with Human Resources, Accounting, and site leadership, this individual will own recurring payroll processing cycles, reconcile payroll data and related general ledger activity, and resolve employee pay inquiries with a high standard of service and confidentiality. Reporting to the Payroll Manager, the Analyst plays a key role in how H&V safeguards payroll accuracy, maintains regulatory compliance, and strengthens the controls and processes behind employee pay.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field required.
3–5 years of progressive payroll experience, including hands-on responsibility for full-cycle payroll processing in a multi-state environment.
Direct experience processing union payroll and administering collective bargaining agreement provisions - including wage scales, shift and overtime premiums, dues, and fringe or benefit-fund contributions - is required.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to reconcile complex payroll data and trace discrepancies to root cause.
Working knowledge of federal and multi-state wage and hour regulations, payroll tax, and year-end reporting requirements.
Ability to read and apply collective bargaining agreement language to payroll setup, retroactive pay adjustments, and union reporting.
Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain pay and deduction matters clearly to employees and managers at all levels.
High proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
Discreet, deadline-driven, and detail-oriented, with a roll-up-your-sleeves style and a bias for action.

Nice To Haves

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) is advantageous.
Experience with payroll in a manufacturing or multi-site environment is highly preferred.
Experience with ADP, Workday, UKG, or similar payroll and time-and-attendance platforms is advantageous.

Responsibilities

Prepare and process multi-state, multi-entity payroll cycles - including salaried, hourly, and union populations - ensuring wages, hours, shift differentials, and overtime are calculated accurately and paid on schedule.
Maintain and audit employee payroll records, including new hires, terminations, transfers, pay-rate changes, tax elections, direct deposits, and garnishments.
Administer payroll deductions and employer contributions for benefits, 401(k), HSA/FSA, and leave programs in coordination with Human Resources and Benefits.
Serve as the first point of contact for employee and manager pay inquiries, researching discrepancies and resolving issues with clear, timely communication.
Ensure payroll practices comply with federal, state, and local wage and hour regulations, including FLSA, multi-state tax withholding, and the pay, premium, and benefit provisions of applicable collective bargaining agreements.
Prepare and validate payroll tax filings, quarterly and annual returns, W-2s, and related year-end reporting in partnership with the payroll provider.
Execute and document payroll internal controls, supporting internal and external audit requests, workers' compensation audits, and SOX-related testing.
Safeguard the confidentiality and integrity of employee compensation data at all times.
Reconcile payroll registers to the general ledger each cycle, preparing journal entries, accruals, and account reconciliations in partnership with Accounting.
Prepare recurring payroll reporting and analysis, including labor cost, headcount, overtime trends, and PTO liability, and provide commentary on drivers of variance.
Support the annual budget and forecast processes with wage, benefit, and payroll-tax data at the site and department level.
Complete government, census, and third-party reporting requests, including EEO, ACA, and unemployment filings.
Maintain payroll system configuration, pay codes, earnings and deduction setups, and workflow accuracy in coordination with Workday and HRIS.
Test and validate payroll system updates, integrations, and time-and-attendance interfaces prior to implementation.
Identify and implement process improvements that reduce manual effort, strengthen controls, and improve payroll cycle time and accuracy.
Document payroll procedures and support cross-training within the payroll function.