Senior Specialist, Payroll - Hybrid

XPO•Portland, OR

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Specialist, Payroll at XPO will be responsible for investigating and resolving employee payroll inquiries, calculating and processing payroll payments, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, provincial, and local wage and hour regulations, as well as company policies. This role involves monitoring payroll accuracy, processing special payroll requests, managing employee records, and administering garnishments and other court-ordered deductions. The position also requires collaborating with team members, providing cross-functional support, and managing payroll-related mail and check distribution.

Requirements

2 years of experience processing high-volume, multi-state payrolls across multiple legal entities
Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, wage and hour laws, tax withholding requirements, and payroll best practices.

Nice To Haves

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation preferred.
Experience working with payroll, timekeeping, and HRIS platforms such as Oracle, Kronos/UKG, SAP, or comparable enterprise systems
Intermediate experience in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, with the ability to analyze data
Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to prioritize competing demands, manage multiple deadlines, and maintain a high degree of accuracy.
Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills with a track record of building positive working relationships across departments and contributing to a team-oriented environment
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally and effectively with employees, leadership, and external agencies
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and committed to delivering exceptional customer service while maintaining confidentiality and compliance standards

Responsibilities

Investigate and resolve employee payroll inquiries in accordance with federal, state, provincial, and local wage and hour regulations, as well as company policies and procedures
Calculate, process, and distribute final paychecks, off-cycle payments, and other special payroll payment requests in compliance with applicable regulations
Monitor, review, and resolve weekly Payroll Control Center alerts to ensure payroll accuracy and compliance
Process Canadian Record of Employment updates for employees on leave or who terminate
Maintain employee payroll records by updating ACH direct deposit returns and processing Notifications of Change (NOCs) received from financial institutions
Review, validate, and respond to positive pay bank exceptions for U.S. and Canadian payroll checks
Process stop payments and coordinate the reissuance of lost, stolen, or outdated payroll checks
Administer employee garnishments, tax levies, child support orders, and other court-ordered deductions, including payment remittance and required agency documentation
Manage incoming payroll-related mail and provide check distribution and mailing support
Collaborate with team members and provide cross-functional support to meet departmental goals, operational requirements, and evolving business needs