Payroll Specialist

DHL Supply Chain•Westerville, OH

About The Position

The Payroll Specialist ensures accurate and timely payroll processing by reviewing, validating, and entering payroll data in accordance with company policies and regulatory requirements. The role supports day-to-day payroll operations, including processing earnings and deductions, handling tax and garnishment tasks, maintaining payroll records, resolving employee inquiries, and supporting reporting, audits, and process improvements. Responsibilities include processing weekly and biweekly payroll; auditing employee changes, timecards, pay codes, earnings, and deductions; preparing off-cycle payments and manual checks; and applying union wage rates and contractual rules where applicable. The specialist also processes garnishments, supports payroll tax compliance and reconciliations, prepares payroll reports, reviews and reconciles payroll files and retirement contributions, and works with HRIS or IT to address system and reporting issues. The role manages a work queue to service-level expectations, handles moderately complex Tier 2 employee escalations, maintains internal controls and confidential records, and recommends process improvements. The posting also describes standard payroll administration duties such as updating employee master files, answering routine payroll questions, preparing reports, tracking information in a case management tool, and auditing submissions from business partners. DHL describes an international and virtual work environment with opportunities to learn and develop. Its organization emphasizes teamwork, associate development, training, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Associate's degree or equivalent.
At least 2 years of payroll experience for a Payroll Specialist; the posting states 3 or more years for a Senior Payroll Specialist.
Three to five or more years of payroll experience is also listed in the role description, with multi-state payroll experience preferred.
Working knowledge of payroll practices and local, state, and federal policies and regulations, including wage and hour laws.
Experience or knowledge of complex HR processes that affect payroll.
Advanced Excel skills.
Knowledge of ADP Vantage and Kronos Timekeeping, or similar payroll and time-and-attendance applications; the posting also references functional knowledge of a large-scale automated payroll application such as ADP ProBusiness.
Analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to investigate complex problems and analyze information.
Ability to gather, analyze, and interpret information for completeness and accuracy.
Oral and written communication skills and ability to interact effectively with people at all levels.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of employee and company data.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual Spanish-speaking ability.
Multi-state payroll processing experience.

Responsibilities

Process weekly and biweekly payroll cycles accurately and on time.
Review and audit employee changes, including hires, terminations, leaves of absence, transfers, and changes to deductions or status, for payroll impact.
Validate tax setups, work locations, state and local tax configurations, and reciprocity rules.
Review timecards, pay codes, adjustments, wage and overtime calculations, shift differentials, incentives, allowances, and other earnings.
Prepare off-cycle payments, corrections, and manual checks, and track paycheck shipments.
Conduct pre- and post-payroll audits and resolve discrepancies.
Apply union wage rates, premiums, dues, assessments, and collective bargaining agreement rules; prepare union reports and support union inquiries, audits, and grievance resolution with payroll data.
Process garnishment orders, apply deduction priorities and withholding limits, maintain logs, correspond with agencies, and reconcile deductions with remittances.
Support tax withholding setup, reconcile payroll tax liabilities and general ledger accounts, review multi-state withholding scenarios, support quarter- and year-end tax reconciliation and W-2 production, and respond to payroll tax notices.
Reconcile payroll summaries against bank funding reports and process current- and prior-quarter amendments.
Prepare routine and ad hoc payroll reports for HR, Finance, and audit purposes; review report data, resolve discrepancies, and provide summaries to stakeholders.
Review, reconcile, and upload payroll files for deductions, benefits, time, and earnings; monitor interfaces and resolve data integrity issues.
Audit and reconcile retirement plan contributions, including 401(k) and pension contributions.
Collaborate with HRIS or IT on system troubleshooting, interface errors, reporting issues, and enhancements.
Maintain documentation for payroll processes, workflows, reports, and automation logic, and securely handle payroll information.
Manage a payroll work queue within service-level expectations and respond to routine inquiries and moderately complex Tier 2 employee escalations.
Perform payroll administration, including answering phones, maintaining records, tracking information in a case management tool, and auditing business partner submissions for accuracy, policy compliance, and completeness.
Maintain internal control policies and procedures and comply with payroll requirements.
Recommend process improvements and help develop solutions to meet business needs.
Create EPIP files for loading to payroll.