Payroll & HR Ops Specialist

Central States Funds•Chicago, IL

21h•$65,000 - $85,000

About The Position

The Payroll & HR Ops Specialist is responsible for accurate, timely payroll administration and the execution and continuous improvement of HR operational processes throughout the employee lifecycle. The role processes payroll for unionized hourly and salaried employees and non-union salaried exempt employees, ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements, company policies, and applicable laws and regulations. It also handles HR transactions, employee records, HRIS data, HR programs, and compliance initiatives while providing responsive service to employees and leaders. Working closely with Payroll, Total Rewards, Finance, Pension, Talent, and CTS (IT), the specialist uses HRIS capabilities, reporting, and data analysis to strengthen data integrity, streamline workflows, improve system efficiency, and support consistent, compliant payroll and HR operations. The role also partners with the HR Payroll Manager to optimize Workday and support the transition and implementation from UKG to Workday.

Requirements

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in HR, Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
At least 3 years of progressive payroll experience supporting union and non-union populations, including demonstrated ability to resolve complex pay discrepancies.
Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, wage and hour laws, and collective bargaining agreements.
Hands-on experience with HRIS platforms, including Workday and UKG, and involvement in system implementations or payroll process redesign.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and payroll reporting tools, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and other productivity tools.
High attention to detail and ability to manage sensitive and confidential information.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Nice To Haves

CPP or FPC certification.
Multi-state payroll experience.

Responsibilities

Process weekly payroll for union and non-union hourly and salaried employees, applying wage rates, overtime, shift differentials, premiums, retroactive pay, and other earnings in accordance with collective bargaining agreements and company policies.
Manage payroll changes for hires, terminations, promotions, transfers, and union status updates; ensure correct calculations and withholding for union dues, benefit deductions, garnishments, and related items.
Interpret and apply collective bargaining agreements and federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, including FLSA, to payroll processing and employee pay inquiries.
Partner with Total Rewards, Finance, and Pension teams on year-end processing, compensation cycles, audits, retirement transitions, and other cross-functional initiatives.
Respond professionally and confidentially to employee payroll inquiries and serve as a payroll subject matter resource for HR and business leaders.
Complete year-end payroll responsibilities in Workday and UKG.
Conduct regular payroll audits to validate pay, deductions, and system configurations.
Review payroll registers, variance reports, and exception reports before payroll submission.
Identify payroll discrepancies, research root causes, and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Provide payroll documentation, reports, and reconciliations in support of internal audits.
Evaluate workflows and procedures to identify opportunities for process improvement and efficiency gains.
Partner with the HR Payroll Manager to optimize Workday configurations, pay rules, and automation; support system testing, transition and implementation from UKG to Workday, integrations, configuration changes, and updates.
Develop and maintain payroll procedures, job aids, and documentation for consistent processing.
Use HRIS payroll reporting tools to support operations, audits, and compliance requirements; analyze data to identify risks, inefficiencies, and recurring payroll issues.
Serve as a primary contact for HR-related inquiries and provide timely, accurate responses about procedures and programs.
Partner with Total Rewards and Talent to coordinate employee changes and resolve issues.
Participate in or lead HR operational projects, including process standardization, documentation, and system implementations.
Assist with HR metrics, data analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives.