Payroll Specialist - Contractor

Alkegen•Dallas, TX

18h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Payroll Specialist - Contractor is responsible for accurate and timely processing of multi-state payroll, payroll tax compliance, reporting, and resolving complex payroll tax issues. The role serves as a subject matter expert on payroll tax regulations, agency notices, tax audits, reconciliations, and payroll reporting, ensuring operations comply with federal, state, and local requirements. It works with a large, multi-state organization and involves managing payroll tax cases, communicating with tax authorities, resolving payroll discrepancies, and supporting compliance. The position is a 3–6 month contract with potential extension. The work arrangement is hybrid, with work in the office Monday through Thursday. The role reports to the US Payroll Lead.

Requirements

At least 5 years of payroll administration experience.
At least 3 years of direct payroll tax compliance and payroll tax case management experience.
Demonstrated experience resolving federal, state, and local payroll tax notices and audits.
Strong knowledge of multi-state payroll administration.
Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations.
Strong knowledge of wage and hour laws.
Strong knowledge of garnishments and deductions.
Strong knowledge of quarterly and annual payroll tax filings.
Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and data analysis.
Experience with large payroll systems such as Workday, Dayforce, ADP, UKG, SAP, Oracle, or similar platforms.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and exceptional attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting payrolls of 1,000 or more employees.
Experience in a manufacturing or multi-location environment.
Experience managing payroll tax vendors and third-party payroll providers.
Knowledge of international payroll practices and expatriate taxation.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll tax matters and agency correspondence.
Research, analyze, and resolve federal, state, and local payroll tax notices.
Manage payroll tax registrations, account maintenance, and jurisdictional updates.
Coordinate responses to tax agency inquiries and audits.
Ensure accurate withholding, reporting, and remittance of payroll taxes.
Identify and resolve payroll tax filing discrepancies and reconciliation issues.
Monitor regulatory changes and recommend payroll process updates.
Prepare and analyze payroll reports for Finance, HR, and internal stakeholders.
Perform payroll account reconciliations and identify variances.
Support quarterly and annual tax filings.
Assist with SOX controls, internal audits, and compliance documentation.
Maintain payroll records in accordance with company policy and legal requirements.
Develop and document payroll procedures and process improvements.
Process weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and off-cycle payrolls accurately and on schedule.
Review payroll transactions, including new hires, terminations, pay adjustments, bonus payments, commissions, and garnishments.
Validate payroll inputs and outputs for compliance with company policies and applicable regulations.
Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, overpayments, and employee payroll inquiries.
Support end-of-year payroll activities, including W-2 processing and payroll audits.
Partner with HR, Finance, and external payroll vendors to resolve payroll-related issues.
Identify process inefficiencies and recommend solutions to improve accuracy and compliance.
Support payroll system testing, upgrades, and implementation activities as needed.
Participate in payroll-related projects, mergers, acquisitions, or organizational changes.