Senior Payroll Specialist

Leeds West Groups•Greenwood Village, CO

14h•$75,000 - $95,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Payroll Specialist is responsible for managing payroll activities, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant multi-state payroll operations. This role exercises independent judgment in interpreting and applying payroll regulations, administering complex payroll transactions, and advising leadership on payroll practices that support compliance, financial accuracy, and operational effectiveness. This role ensures employees are paid accurately and on time, payroll practices are compliant with federal, state, and local laws, and consistent processes are applied across Operating Companies (OpCos). The Senior Payroll Specialist must be well-versed in Ceridian Dayforce, serving as the area’s subject matter expert and super-user to maximize system functionality. In addition, coordinates payroll tax cleanup and corrections, performs targeted payroll audits, documents SOPs, and trains OpCo contacts on processes and procedures. The Senior Payroll Specialist is responsible for processing regular, off-cycle, and bonus payrolls; administering garnishments and support orders; managing payroll tax accounts; monitoring wage and hour compliance across operating states; and identifying opportunities to enhance processes, controls, and system capabilities. This position partners closely with Accounting, Operations leadership, and HR to mitigate risk, support data integrity, and ensure scalable payroll practices aligned with organizational growth.

Requirements

Strong sense of integrity, accountability, and professional judgment.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex data and regulatory requirements.
Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
Advanced technical proficiency in payroll systems, timekeeping platforms, and reporting tools.
Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, data analysis, reconciliations, and reporting.
Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines independently.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to exercise discretion when handling sensitive and confidential information.
Proactive mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence.
Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field required, or an equivalent combination of education and progressive payroll experience.
3-6 years of payroll experience required preferably in a multi-entity, multi-state environment.
Experience administering garnishments, levies, tax notices, and other involuntary deductions required.
Strong knowledge of wage and hour laws, payroll tax regulations, and compliance requirements (including quarter/year-end and W-2/W-2c).
Strong attention to detail and ability to meet strict deadlines.
Demonstrated ability to create SOPs and train others on processes and procedures.
Must be legally authorized to work within the United States while employed by Leeds West Groups.
Successful completion of a background check.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Ceridian Dayforce or comparable enterprise payroll platforms highly preferred.
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) preferred.
Demonstrated experience independently processing payroll and managing complex payroll transactions for a large employee population is strongly preferred.
Experience with payroll systems, HRIS platforms, and complex compensation structures, including commissions and bonuses, preferred.

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end execution of payroll operations for a multi-state workforce, ensuring all payroll runs are completed accurately, on time, and in accordance with company policies and legal requirements.
Review payroll submissions for accuracy in hours worked, earnings, deductions, taxes, and benefit contributions.
Manage off-cycle payroll runs (bonuses, corrections, retroactive adjustments).
Coordinate Dayforce file feeds/GL exports with Finance to ensure correct labor distribution and cost center mapping.
Interpret and apply federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, exercising independent judgment to ensure compliance and escalating complex or ambiguous regulatory matters as appropriate.
Serve as the organization’s payroll subject matter expert, providing guidance and advisory support to Accounting, HR, and Operations leadership on payroll regulations, risks, and best practices.
Maintain and govern payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls that safeguard organizational assets, support compliance, and promote consistency across payroll operations.
Oversee wage garnishments, child support orders, tax levies, and other court-ordered deductions, ensuring accurate withholding, timely processing, proper documentation, and ongoing compliance with applicable limits and regulations.
Manage payroll tax accounts across all jurisdictions, including registrations, filings, reconciliations, agency correspondence, and resolution of tax notices to ensure accurate and timely compliance.
Ensure compliance with salary-basis requirements and permissible deduction rules for exempt employees, mitigating organizational wage and hour risk.
Maintain payroll reporting, dashboards, metrics, and key performance indicators (KPIs), delivering clear insights that support operational, financial, and compliance decision-making.
Evaluate payroll workflows, systems, and internal controls, implementing improvements that enhance efficiency, accuracy, scalability, and compliance.
Partner with Operations leadership, HR, IT/HRIS, and Accounting to ensure payroll inputs, integrations, compensation changes, and system updates are accurate, approved, and implemented within established timelines.
Exercise discretion in resolving complex payroll matters, including multi-state wage issues, tax questions, pay corrections, retroactive adjustments, and compliance-related concerns.
Maintain complete and accurate payroll records, documentation, and audit trails to support financial reporting, internal controls, and regulatory requirements.
Support internal and external audits by preparing documentation, responding to inquiries, and ensuring payroll practices align with established controls and standards.
Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting payroll and proactively recommend updates to practices, controls, or documentation to maintain compliance.
Partner with HR, Finance, and Operations to resolve payroll discrepancies.
Train OpCo timekeepers/approvers and payroll contacts on timelines, approvals, SOPs, and Dayforce best practices; provide refresher training after system/process changes.
Perform periodic payroll audits (timekeeping exceptions, pay code usage, garnishment setup, tax configuration, and GL mapping) and remediate findings.
Create, publish, and maintain SOPs and desk guides; ensure version control and accessibility for OpCos.
Perform other duties as assigned.