Payroll Senior Specialist

Sempra•Houston, TX

About The Position

Performs advanced payroll support activities and independently resolves complex operational issues across payroll processes, transactions, and systems. Applies extensive knowledge of established payroll procedures and practices to address unusual situations, identify recurring problems, and support accurate payroll execution with minimal supervision. The position also supports health and retirement plan administration, insurance billing and claims, wellness and timekeeping initiatives, vendor management, benefit communications, and 401k contribution reporting.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
Typically requires 5 years of related experience.
Ability to communicate sensitive or time-critical payroll information clearly and professionally.
Ability to independently diagnose and resolve support issues with limited precedent.
Ability to recommend improvements to payroll support workflows.
Knowledge of advanced payroll support practices within complex payroll environments.
Knowledge of internal controls and approval requirements affecting payroll processing.
Skill in coordinating payroll documentation and issue resolution across multiple functions.
Skill in synthesizing information from multiple sources to support accurate payroll outcomes.
Knowledge of health and welfare programs.
Knowledge of insurance billing and claims processes with external carriers.
Knowledge of 401k processes, including plan contributions and reporting.

Responsibilities

Resolve payroll discrepancies involving multiple transactions, pay periods, deductions, employee records, or related payroll processes.
Perform payroll reconciliations and research differences among payroll results, time records, deductions, adjustments, and supporting documentation.
Process unusual or highly detailed payroll transactions using established policies, procedures, practices, and prior precedents.
Review payroll exception and control reports to identify recurring errors, incomplete transactions, and processing issues requiring corrective action.
Research employee and manager inquiries about payroll calculations, adjustments, deductions, time reporting, and transaction histories, and explain applicable procedures.
Support payroll audits and reviews by researching transactions, compiling records, tracing processing histories, and addressing documentation or transaction discrepancies.
Test payroll system changes, interfaces, configurations, and workflows, and document defects or unexpected results.
Identify recurring payroll processing issues and recommend practical improvements to procedures, documentation, job aids, and workflows within established guidelines.
Ensure health and retirement plan elections match active payroll deductions in the system.
Reconcile monthly insurance billing statements and resolve eligibility or claim issues with external carriers.
Assist with wellness and timekeeping initiatives, including leave-of-absence case monitoring, tracking, and support.
Assist with vendor management and benefit communication.
Assist with 401k contribution reporting.
Perform other duties as assigned.