Senior Payroll Specialist

Gartner • Fort Myers, FL

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Payroll Specialist manages complex global payroll operations and serves as a subject matter expert within the payroll organization. The role partners with payroll service providers, Human Resources, Finance, and other stakeholders to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing across multiple countries and legal entities. It supports operational excellence through payroll controls, process improvement, issue resolution, and knowledge sharing.

Responsibilities include preparing, reviewing, and approving payrolls; handling special and off-cycle payments; conducting audits, reconciliations, variance analysis, and control reviews; resolving complex discrepancies; maintaining knowledge of applicable payroll legislation and tax requirements; and preparing payroll reports. The role also partners with HR to maintain accurate employee and organizational data in Workday and payroll systems, supports audits, and leads or contributes to payroll projects, implementations, testing, acquisitions, and process enhancements. It maintains payroll procedures and documentation and mentors and trains team members.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of payroll experience with progressive responsibility.
• Experience supporting multi-country or global payroll operations.
• Experience working with outsourced payroll providers and payroll audits.
• Demonstrated expertise managing complex payroll calculations, compliance requirements, and issue resolution.
• Experience with ADP, Workday, or comparable payroll and HRIS platforms.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including payroll analysis and reconciliations.
• Strong understanding of payroll controls, reporting, and compliance requirements.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced global environment.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field.
• CPP, FPC, or equivalent payroll certification.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, review, and approve complex payrolls across multiple countries and legal entities, ensuring compliance with statutory and company requirements.
• Coordinate payroll activities with managed service providers to ensure timely and accurate payroll delivery.
• Process and review bonuses, commissions, severance, retroactive adjustments, overtime, and other off-cycle payments.
• Serve as the payroll subject matter expert for assigned countries and payroll processes.
• Perform payroll audits, reconciliations, variance analysis, and control reviews.
• Investigate and resolve complex payroll discrepancies, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain working knowledge of payroll legislation, tax regulations, and statutory requirements in assigned countries.
• Prepare, review, and analyze payroll reports, metrics, and supporting documentation.
• Partner with Human Resources to ensure employee data, benefits, and organizational changes are accurately reflected in Workday and payroll systems.
• Collaborate with payroll service providers, Finance, Benefits, and other stakeholders to resolve payroll issues and improve service delivery.
• Support internal and external audits and compliance reviews.
• Lead or support payroll projects, implementations, testing efforts, acquisitions, and process enhancement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, strengthen controls, reduce risk, and increase operational efficiency.
• Maintain payroll documentation, process maps, standard operating procedures, and training materials.
• Mentor and train payroll team members, supporting cross-training and knowledge sharing.
• Provide guidance on complex payroll matters and assist with escalation management.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off.
• 401(k) match up to $7,200 per year.
• Opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount.
• Market-leading benefit programs.
• Annual bonus plan based on company and individual performance, or a role-based uncapped sales incentive plan, as applicable.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior