Sr. Payroll Specialist

LANXESS Corporation•Shelton, CT

55d•$74,500 - $99,300•Onsite

About The Position

Serve as primary owner for payroll accounting and reconciliation activities, including payroll liability reconciliations, union dues, initiation fees, union arrears, gross-to-net review, journal entry support, general ledger file review, payroll funding support, cash activity review, check request/wire transfer support, month-end/quarter-end/year-end close support, and investigation/resolution of reconciliation differences. Serve as primary owner for Vanguard/401k and retirement plan payroll activity, including processing, funding, reconciliation, issue resolution, employee deductions, employer contributions, loan repayments, corrections, limits, reporting, vendor coordination, Benefits/Finance coordination, annual retirement plan support, audit requests, and process documentation. Support payroll tax and statutory compliance activities for U.S. and/or Canada payroll operations, including tax code setup, tax IDs, SUI/SDI rates, provincial/local requirements, payroll tax configurations, quarter-end and year-end payroll tax review, W-2, W-2PR, 1099, 941, 940, state unemployment, T4 preparation/review, taxable benefit review, statutory deduction review, and related reporting/reconciliation as assigned. Support and/or coordinate assigned year-end, quarter-end, annual reporting, and audit activities. Review and validate employee tax form data, QTD analysis, Q4/year-end packages, vendor reports, audit requests, documentation, and correction processes. Help ensure U.S. and/or Canada year-end deadlines are met. Maintain payroll processing knowledge and provide backup payroll processing support as needed. Remain cross-trained on payroll procedures, pay groups, payroll calendars, payroll audits, exception resolution, off-cycle processing, and corrections. Support payroll processing during absences, leaves, turnover, peak periods, urgent deadlines, or business continuity events, and as needed. Support systems, controls, documentation, cross-training, and process improvement. Validate data interfaces, troubleshoot system issues, identify control gaps, recommend improvements, maintain documentation/checklists, cross-train payroll team members, and serve as a technical resource for payroll accounting, Vanguard/401k, tax, year-end, audit, compliance, U.S. payroll, and/or Canada payroll processes.

Requirements

5-10 years of advanced payroll experience required, preferably in a large, multi-state, multi-entity, union, and/or North America payroll environment.
Strong knowledge of payroll accounting, payroll liabilities, gross-to-net reconciliation, journal entries, and general ledger support. Ability to provide backup payroll processing support when needed.
Experience with U.S. and/or Canada year-end payroll processing and statutory reporting, including W-2, 941, 940, state unemployment, T4, and related reconciliations as applicable.
Ability to troubleshoot complex payroll, tax, accounting, system, or vendor issues and to identify control gaps and recommend process improvements.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or related field preferred; equivalent payroll experience may be considered.
CPP, FPC, PCP, or equivalent payroll certification preferred; advanced certification strongly preferred for technical scope.
Experience with payroll accounting, payroll tax, retirement plan/401k reconciliation, year-end processing, audit support, and payroll reporting strongly preferred.
Experience with union payroll accounting, collective bargaining agreement requirements, union deductions, union arrears, retroactive adjustments, and related payroll liability reconciliations preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as primary owner for payroll accounting and reconciliation activities, including payroll liability reconciliations, union dues, initiation fees, union arrears, gross-to-net review, journal entry support, general ledger file review, payroll funding support, cash activity review, check request/wire transfer support, month-end/quarter-end/year-end close support, and investigation/resolution of reconciliation differences.
Serve as primary owner for Vanguard/401k and retirement plan payroll activity, including processing, funding, reconciliation, issue resolution, employee deductions, employer contributions, loan repayments, corrections, limits, reporting, vendor coordination, Benefits/Finance coordination, annual retirement plan support, audit requests, and process documentation.
Support payroll tax and statutory compliance activities for U.S. and/or Canada payroll operations, including tax code setup, tax IDs, SUI/SDI rates, provincial/local requirements, payroll tax configurations, quarter-end and year-end payroll tax review, W-2, W-2PR, 1099, 941, 940, state unemployment, T4 preparation/review, taxable benefit review, statutory deduction review, and related reporting/reconciliation as assigned.
Support and/or coordinate assigned year-end, quarter-end, annual reporting, and audit activities. Review and validate employee tax form data, QTD analysis, Q4/year-end packages, vendor reports, audit requests, documentation, and correction processes. Help ensure U.S. and/or Canada year-end deadlines are met.
Maintain payroll processing knowledge and provide backup payroll processing support as needed. Remain cross-trained on payroll procedures, pay groups, payroll calendars, payroll audits, exception resolution, off-cycle processing, and corrections. Support payroll processing during absences, leaves, turnover, peak periods, urgent deadlines, or business continuity events, and as needed.
Support systems, controls, documentation, cross-training, and process improvement. Validate data interfaces, troubleshoot system issues, identify control gaps, recommend improvements, maintain documentation/checklists, cross-train payroll team members, and serve as a technical resource for payroll accounting, Vanguard/401k, tax, year-end, audit, compliance, U.S. payroll, and/or Canada payroll processes.