Senior Payroll Specialist

Philip Morris•Aurora, CO

17d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Payroll Specialist leads and executes end-to-end payroll operations, with a focus on accuracy, compliance, and process excellence. The role serves as a payroll subject matter expert, supports payroll team operations, and helps ensure timely and accurate processing in accordance with company policy and applicable federal, state, and local regulations. It works cross-functionally with HR, Finance, Benefits, and other stakeholders and requires hands-on ADP expertise. Experience with SuccessFactors is strongly preferred. The position is based in Aurora, Colorado, under the company's hybrid Smart Work model. The annual base salary range is $88,000–$110,000.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least 5 years of payroll experience, including multi-state payroll processing.
Hands-on experience with ADP is required.
Strong understanding of payroll principles, wage and hour regulations, and payroll compliance requirements.
Experience reviewing payroll data, reconciling payroll results, and resolving complex payroll discrepancies.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and payroll reporting.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience with SAP SuccessFactors or other HRIS platforms.
Experience with payroll tax processing, tax reconciliation, tax notices, and multi-state tax compliance.
Prior experience in a lead, senior, or informal supervisory payroll role.
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.
Experience supporting audits, process improvement initiatives, or payroll system projects.

Responsibilities

Lead regular and off-cycle payroll processing, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with established procedures.
Serve as a payroll subject matter expert and provide day-to-day guidance to payroll team members.
Review payroll data for completeness and accuracy, including earnings, deductions, taxes, garnishments, time data, and employee changes.
Manage payroll transactions in ADP, including employee updates, payroll balancing, audit reporting, and issue resolution.
Support payroll activities related to hires, terminations, transfers, leaves of absence, bonuses, and other employee lifecycle events.
Research and resolve payroll discrepancies, employee inquiries, and complex payroll issues.
Help ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, wage and hour laws, and company policies.
Partner with internal and external stakeholders on payroll tax filings, reconciliations, year-end activities, and audits.
Prepare and review payroll reports, reconciliations, and analyses to identify trends, variances, and processing issues.
Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end payroll activities, including W-2 processing and payroll account reconciliation.
Collaborate with HRIS, HR, Finance, and Benefits teams to ensure accurate integration of employee and compensation data.
Participate in payroll system testing, upgrades, implementations, and process improvements.
Develop, document, and maintain payroll procedures, internal controls, and standard operating practices.
Support internal and external audits by gathering documentation and responding to payroll-related requests.
Identify opportunities to improve payroll efficiency, accuracy, and compliance through automation and process standardization.