Sr. U.S. Payroll Specialist

IBISWorld•New York, NY

About The Position

IBISWorld is a leading provider of industry intelligence, relied upon by sophisticated institutions for decades. They are advancing beyond traditional research into AI-enabled, actionable intelligence, embedding human-verified insight directly into client workflows. The company is experiencing significant growth and is looking for an experienced payroll professional to own US payroll end to end. This is a hands-on role with autonomy, where the individual will be responsible for running accurate payroll, ensuring compliance, and making sure payroll ties cleanly to the general ledger. The role also involves improving existing processes and systems, and providing backup support for international payrolls.

Requirements

5+ years of US multi-state payroll experience, including full ownership of the payroll cycle.
Expert-level ADP Workforce Now (or comparable enterprise payroll platform).
Deep knowledge of federal and multi-state wage-and-hour and payroll tax rules, including state paid leave programs and local taxes, especially in the New York Tri-State area, California, Massachusetts and Washington.
A proven track record of owning payroll end to end, including diagnosing problems, identifying root causes and recommending solutions.
Highly organized, with critical thinking to see how a process could work better and the initiative to fix it.
Solid accounting foundation: general ledger, journal entries and reconciliations.
Advanced Excel skills and comfort moving large data sets between systems.
Sound judgment and discretion with confidential information.
Clear, confident communication with employees and senior leaders alike.

Nice To Haves

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC).
NetSuite experience.
Experience supporting 401(k) plan audits.
International payroll experience (UK, Germany, Australia).

Responsibilities

Run bi-weekly, multi-state payroll for exempt and non-exempt employees in ADP Workforce Now, from data intake through final approval.
Own pre and post payroll reconciliations and audits, resolving variances before funds are released.
Process all pay components: base pay, overtime, commissions and bonuses, leave, off-cycle and final pay in line with state-specific pay timing rules.
Administer benefit and retirement deductions, enrollments and terminations in partnership with HR, and reconcile 401(k) contributions and remittances.
Own payroll tax compliance: state and local registrations, multi-state withholding including work-location tracking, oversight of ADP tax filings, agency notices and the year-end W-2 process.
Monitor federal, state and local wage-and-hour and payroll tax changes, confirm they're reflected correctly in ADP, and update internal processes accordingly.
File quarterly workers' compensation reports with Washington State Labor & Industries.
Lead the annual 401(k) plan audit, preparing payroll, census and contribution data, partnering with HR and coordinating with auditors and the plan administrator.
Maintain payroll records, controls and documentation, and act as the primary payroll contact for financial and other audits.
Prepare payroll journal entries and accruals for month-end close, and reconcile payroll-related balance sheet accounts in NetSuite.
Deliver payroll reporting and analysis for Finance, HR and leadership.
Provide backup coverage and second-level review for UK, Germany and Australia payrolls, working with the international payroll specialist and in-country providers.
Document and continuously improve payroll procedures, controls and system configuration, including automation opportunities.
Manage ADP relationship and escalations, and own benefit data flows between ADP and benefits providers, ensuring elections and deductions stay consistent and reconciled.
Serve as the trusted point of contact for employees, HR and Finance on payroll questions.

Benefits

401k
Health insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Life insurance
Disability insurance
Paid holidays
Equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetics or any other characteristic protected by law.
Compliance with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.
Policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Consideration for employment in accordance with the New York City Fair Chance Act and applicable state and local laws for qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records.