Specialist II, Payroll (Contract to Hire)

LG Energy Solution Arizona•Queen Creek, AZ

About The Position

The Payroll Specialist II provides end-to-end payroll administration and support for a manufacturing workforce of approximately 1,500 or more employees, including administrative professionals, engineers, technicians, and production operators. The role manages the payroll lifecycle, from time and attendance review and payroll processing through deductions, taxes, corrections, reconciliations, reporting, and post-payroll activities. It monitors compliance with federal, state, and local wage and tax requirements and processes payroll amendments and corrections in accordance with internal policies, accounting standards, and external regulatory requirements. The position also supports accounting and reconciliation activities for payroll, employee benefits, staffing and recruiting expenses, payroll and HR system fees, and other employment-related costs. It partners with Accounting, Finance, HR, Benefits, Recruiting, operational teams, and external vendors to resolve discrepancies; prepares payroll reports and audit documentation; supports system testing and process improvements; responds to payroll inquiries; and maintains confidential information and process documentation. The role provides guidance and technical support to Payroll Specialist I and other users involved in payroll and timekeeping.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
At least 3 years of payroll administration or payroll processing experience.
Experience supporting payroll for a mid-size or large employee population.
Working knowledge of payroll processing, wage and hour requirements, payroll taxes, deductions, garnishments, and payroll reconciliation.
Experience researching and correcting payroll discrepancies and processing retroactive adjustments or payroll amendments.
Experience performing payroll-related accounting reconciliations or financial analysis.
Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including formulas, lookups, pivot tables, and reconciliation of large data sets.
Experience working with payroll, HRIS, and/or time and attendance systems.
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage payroll deadlines in a high-volume environment.
Ability to maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive employee, payroll, compensation, and financial information.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Advanced understanding of end-to-end payroll processes and payroll controls.
Working knowledge of federal and state wage and hour and payroll tax requirements.
Ability to identify payroll compliance risks and independently research discrepancies.
Strong reconciliation and financial analytical skills.
Ability to interpret payroll reports, tax records, employee records, invoices, and accounting transactions.
Ability to prioritize multiple deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Strong customer-service orientation when supporting employees and business leaders.
Ability to work independently while partnering effectively with HR, Finance, Accounting, Benefits, Recruiting, and operational teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting payroll for 1,000 or more employees.
Payroll experience in a manufacturing, production, distribution, or other 24/7 operating environment.
Experience supporting hourly and salaried employee populations with multiple shifts, overtime, premiums, and differential pay structures.
Experience with ADP, Workday, UKG, SAP, Oracle, or comparable payroll and HR systems.
Experience with payroll tax amendments, W-2 corrections, multi-state payroll, and year-end payroll activities.
Experience with payroll accounting, general ledger reconciliation, vendor invoice reconciliation, or employee benefit accounting.
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC).

Responsibilities

Provide end-to-end payroll processing and administration for a workforce of 1,500 or more employees.
Review and validate time and attendance records, including regular hours, overtime, shift differentials, premiums, paid time off, leaves, and other payroll transactions.
Validate payroll changes, including hires, terminations, compensation changes, bonuses, deductions, garnishments, retroactive adjustments, and other employee data changes.
Conduct pre-payroll audits and review post-payroll results, registers, exception reports, and supporting documentation to identify and resolve discrepancies.
Research and process payroll corrections, off-cycle payments, overpayment or underpayment adjustments, retroactive payments, and other payroll amendments.
Monitor payroll practices for compliance with applicable federal, state, and local wage and hour, payroll tax, and withholding requirements.
Coordinate payroll tax corrections and amendments, including adjustments to taxable wages, tax withholding, and payroll reporting records.
Support year-end payroll activities, including W-2 reconciliation, tax reporting validation, and correction processes.
Maintain accurate payroll records and documentation in accordance with retention requirements, internal controls, and applicable legal requirements.
Reconcile payroll-related general ledger accounts and investigate differences among payroll records, financial systems, invoices, and accounting records.
Prepare, review, and reconcile accounting transactions for payroll expenses, liabilities, employer taxes, and employee deductions.
Support accounting and invoice reconciliation for benefits, staffing agency fees, recruiting expenses, payroll service fees, HR system fees, and other workforce-related costs.
Review vendor invoices and supporting documentation to validate charges, headcount, service periods, rates, and contractual requirements before payment processing.
Partner with Accounting, Finance, HR, Benefits, Recruiting, and external vendors to resolve payroll and employment-related financial discrepancies.
Prepare recurring and ad hoc payroll reports, reconciliations, audit documentation, and management reports.
Support internal and external payroll, financial, tax, and compliance audits by providing records and explanations.
Identify payroll process gaps, recurring errors, and control weaknesses, and recommend corrective or preventive actions.
Assist with payroll system testing, implementation, upgrades, configuration changes, and process improvements.
Respond to employee and management inquiries about pay, deductions, taxes, timekeeping, and payroll adjustments.
Protect confidential payroll, compensation, tax, and employee information in accordance with company policies and applicable privacy requirements.
Develop and maintain payroll procedures, work instructions, audit controls, and process documentation.
Provide guidance and technical support to Payroll Specialist I, HR coordinators, managers, and other users involved in payroll and timekeeping.
Perform other payroll, accounting, HR operations, and compliance-related responsibilities as assigned.