Specialist, Time & Attendance Analyst (Hybrid - Rahway, NJ)

MSD•Rahway, NJ

2d•$79,200 - $124,700•Hybrid

About The Position

The Time & Attendance (T&A) Analyst is a hands-on role responsible for accurate, timely payroll processing and compliance for the U.S. and Puerto Rico non-exempt employee population. The role partners with HR business partners, IT, Legal, Total Rewards, vendor teams, and other business stakeholders. It reports to the HR Operations Associate Director- US/ PR Payroll Support and Global Supplier Manager. The analyst supports the biweekly T&A and payroll cycle, validates and reconciles data, investigates and resolves discrepancies, and improves process quality and reliability. The role also manages T&A projects and vendor performance, produces reporting and analytics, develops procedures and training materials, and maintains audit-ready controls and documentation. It uses AI-driven analytics and automation to detect anomalies and improve payroll accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency. The position serves as a subject-matter expert and primary contact for T&A processes, supports system implementations and enhancements, and helps stakeholders address policy, union/CBA, and regulatory changes. It is based in Rahway, New Jersey, with a hybrid work arrangement. The role is regular, with no relocation and no travel required.

Requirements

At least 3 years of payroll, time and attendance, or HRIS support experience; hands-on payroll and T&A experience is preferred.
Experience supporting payroll audits, SOX controls, or internal control frameworks.
Experience with payroll and HRIS systems such as ADP/EV6, E-Time, Workday, UKG, or ServiceNow.
Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and basic formulas.
Working knowledge of payroll and T&A concepts, including wage calculations, overtime rules, and deductions.
Demonstrated understanding of federal, state, or provincial labor laws and best practices for enabling T&A processes.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain T&A and payroll calculations.
High accuracy in data entry, reconciliation, and reporting.
Ability to identify, investigate, and resolve payroll and T&A exceptions and discrepancies.
Ability to meet strict payroll deadlines and prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
Bachelor’s degree, current pursuit of degree completion, or equivalent relevant work experience.

Nice To Haves

Advanced Excel skills, including macros and Power Query, and experience with SQL or data analysis tools.
Familiarity with HRIS/payroll integrations and E-Time.
Direct experience implementing or supporting major payroll or T&A system upgrades, integrations, or migrations.
Ability to produce and interpret payroll analytics and ad hoc reports to inform process improvements.
Demonstrated experience collaborating across HR, Finance, IT, and external vendors.
Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and confidentiality.
Effective problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.

Responsibilities

Execute end-to-end T&A and payroll validation activities on a biweekly payroll cycle, including data gathering, pre-run validation, verification of payroll calculations, coordination of timesheet approvals, and post-run reconciliations.
Validate and reconcile time, payroll, and HRIS data; investigate discrepancies; and work with HR, managers, employees, and ADP to resolve issues.
Lead root-cause analysis of recurring T&A-related payroll issues and drive remediation to improve data quality and process reliability.
Lead and manage T&A projects with ADP and business stakeholders, ensuring accurate configurations, rules, and workflows.
Produce standard and ad hoc T&A data reports and analytics for HR, Finance, and business stakeholders.
Develop standardized Payroll Guiding Principles into SOPs, training materials, and resources for cross-functional stakeholders.
Maintain controls, documentation, reconciliations, and audit readiness for SOX and internal audit and compliance requirements.
Use AI-driven analytics and automation tools to monitor T&A transactions, identify data anomalies, support root-cause analysis, and improve payroll accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency.
Serve as the primary contact and subject-matter expert for T&A processes, integrating with broader payroll functions and finance and business stakeholders.
Monitor vendor performance for T&A systems and services, and escalate T&A data integration and SLA compliance issues.
Support HRBP stakeholders in improving T&A process governance and cross-functional collaboration.
Align stakeholders on T&A-related policy, union/CBA, and regulatory changes to support system enhancements and process improvements.
Participate in T&A system implementations, upgrades, and enhancements, including requirements gathering, testing and user acceptance testing, and post-deployment support.
Manage expectations, provide timely updates, and escalate risks or unresolved issues as needed.
Translate complex T&A-related payroll issues into clear business language for operational and technical teams.
Apply knowledge of T&A regulatory requirements and compliance initiatives to help ensure processes align with policy and requirements.