Payroll Specialist

Bertelsmann-Jobs•Morrisville, NC

6d•$42,000 - $60,750•Hybrid

About The Position

The Payroll Specialist performs accurate and timely payroll processing and related controls while maintaining approved vendor master data in accordance with established review and approval requirements. The role validates payroll inputs and outputs, resolves routine discrepancies, supports reconciliations and compliance activities, and protects confidential employee and payment information. The position partners with Human Resources, Accounting, Tax, employees, and external providers, escalating non-routine or sensitive matters to the Manager, Payroll & Accounts Payable. The position processes scheduled and off-cycle payrolls, reviews time records and approved payroll inputs, validates payroll registers and payments, prepares funding and supporting records for manager review and final approval, researches payment issues, and responds to routine payroll questions. It also creates and maintains vendor records from approved requests, verifies banking and remittance changes through approved sources, supports payroll reconciliations, audits, compliance and year-end reporting, and maintains process and control documentation. Approved automation, reporting, and AI-enabled productivity tools are used responsibly, with outputs validated and confidential information protected. This is a flexible hybrid position for candidates who live in North Carolina within commuting distance of the office. The employee is expected to work at Relias’s Morrisville, North Carolina headquarters approximately 30 days per quarter.

Requirements

At least 2 years of payroll processing or payroll administration experience, including hands-on responsibility for payroll inputs, calculations, register review, corrections, and records.
Experience with payroll controls, confidential employee data, recurring deadlines, reconciliations, or audit-ready documentation.
Experience researching payroll discrepancies and coordinating resolution with Human Resources, Accounting, employees, or external providers.
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field.
Knowledge of end-to-end payroll processing, including earnings, deductions, taxes, garnishments, timekeeping, off-cycle payments, and year-end activity.
Knowledge of payroll controls, confidentiality requirements, documentation standards, approval routing, and segregation of duties.
Skill in reviewing payroll registers, variances, exceptions, funding reports, reconciliations, and supporting records for accuracy and completeness.
Ability to research discrepancies, identify root causes, document corrections, and communicate resolution clearly to employees and business partners.
Ability to validate vendor master-data requests, tax documentation, sanctions screening, duplicate risks, and banking or remittance changes using approved verification methods.
Proficiency with payroll and timekeeping systems, spreadsheets, and enterprise systems used for payroll, vendor records, reporting, and audit support.
Ability to use approved automation and AI-enabled productivity tools responsibly while validating outputs and protecting confidential information.
Must live in North Carolina within a commutable distance of the office (approximately a one-hour commute).

Nice To Haves

Multi-state payroll and timekeeping experience, including payroll taxes, wage and hour requirements, garnishments, incentive compensation, funding, and year-end activities.
Experience with UKG or a comparable payroll/timekeeping platform and with an ERP or procure-to-pay platform such as Intacct, NetSuite, SAP, or Coupa.
Experience creating and maintaining vendor records and validating tax, sanctions, duplicate, approval, and payment-detail requirements.
Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP).

Responsibilities

Process scheduled and off-cycle payrolls, including earnings, deductions, garnishments, taxes, commissions, bonuses, and approved adjustments.
Review time records, approved payroll inputs, and HR-provided changes for completeness and payroll impact; coordinate corrections with the appropriate owner.
Validate payroll registers, variances, exceptions, tax jurisdictions, and payments; confirm approved changes were processed accurately and document review evidence.
Prepare payroll funding, reports, checklists, and supporting records for manager review and final approval while maintaining segregation of duties.
Research payroll errors and returned or outstanding payments, document approved corrections, and confirm resolution in the appropriate payroll cycle.
Respond to routine payroll questions confidentially and escalate sensitive, complex, or policy-based matters.
Create, update, and inactivate vendor records from approved requests; validate tax documentation, TIN information, sanctions screening, duplicate risks, addresses, payment terms, and required approvals.
Independently verify banking and remittance changes through approved sources and resolve documentation or control gaps before processing.
Support Accounting with payroll funding and payment reconciliations, period-end records, variance explanations, audit evidence, and general-ledger research.
Support payroll compliance and year-end reporting through data reviews, exception research, corrections, and coordination with HR, Accounting, Tax, auditors, UKG, and other providers.
Maintain current process and control documentation and use approved automation, reporting, and AI-enabled productivity tools responsibly while validating outputs and protecting confidential information.

Benefits

Health and wellness benefits package, including health coverage with the employee portion of the monthly healthcare premium paid by Relias.
401(k) match.
Flexible PTO program.
Parental leave policy.
Flexible hybrid work environment with onsite and work-from-home options.
Employee Resource Groups open to all employees.
Comprehensive onboarding program.
Growth and career advancement opportunities, including internal mobility.
Leadership development, professional development curricula, and Nanodegree options in technology and data science.
Professional development opportunities through conference attendance and participation in organizations such as NC Tech.
Onsite coffee shop providing free coffee and pastries.