Senior Payroll Specialist

Rehlko•Glendale, WI

About The Position

Reporting to the Global Payroll Manager, the Senior Payroll Specialist supports union and non-union payrolls, multi-state taxation, general ledger mapping, payroll balancing, and reporting. The Senior Payroll Specialist plays a key role in payroll controls, analytics, KPIs, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or related field (or equivalent experience).
3–6+ years of payroll experience in a manufacturing or high-volume environment.
Strong knowledge of multi-state payroll taxation and withholding rules.
Hands-on experience with payroll balancing, tax reconciliation, and general ledger integration.
Proficiency with payroll systems, timekeeping systems, and Excel (pivot tables, lookups).
Strong analytical and reconciliation skills
High attention to detail and accuracy
Ability to manage deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
Effective communication with HR, Finance, union representatives, and vendors
Continuous improvement mindset

Nice To Haves

Experience with union payroll and collective bargaining agreements strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Support payroll for employees working in multiple states, ensuring proper state withholding and reciprocity rules.
Manage and maintain multiple state and local tax registrations as the workforce expands or work locations change.
Perform detailed payroll balancing, including: Gross-to-net reconciliation Earnings, deductions, and tax balancing Quarter-end and year-end reconciliations (W-2, W-3, state filings)
Balance payroll taxes and coordinate with third-party tax vendors to resolve discrepancies.
Investigate and resolve payroll variances, errors, and audit findings.
Maintain and validate payroll general ledger coding, mappings, and cost allocations.
Reconcile payroll registers to the general ledger and resolve posting differences.
Partner with Finance/Accounting to support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities.
Gather data and assist manager with payroll KPIs and dashboards (e.g., payroll accuracy, off-cycle payments, error rates, timeliness).
Provide payroll data, metrics, and insights to HR, Finance, and leadership.
Support internal and external audits by preparing payroll documentation and reports.
Participate in payroll-related projects, including system upgrades, implementations, process improvements, and acquisitions.
Identify opportunities to streamline payroll processes, strengthen controls, and improve data accuracy.
Document payroll procedures and support standardization across locations.