Payroll Specialist Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• Detail-oriented and consistently review work for accuracy before sharing.
• Accountable and follow through on tasks without gaps.
• A clear communicator who provides accurate, thoughtful responses.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Proactive in identifying issues and driving practical solutions.
• 5+ years of payroll experience, including multi-state payroll processing.
• Experience supporting payroll in a high-growth, fast-paced environment.
• Proven experience with benefit audits, payroll deductions, and 401(k) administration.
• Experience managing or supporting payroll tax registrations, filings, and compliance.
• Strong Excel skills, including the ability to perform audits, reconciliations, and data validation.
• Experience working in a modern HRIS/payroll system (e.g., Rippling) with a focus on accuracy and data integrity.

Responsibilities

• Process payroll for exempt, non-exempt, and shift-based employees with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Perform employee-level validation of timecards, earnings, deductions, and taxes before finalizing payroll.
• Ensure all payroll components (including off-cycle and bonus payrolls) are complete and correctly configured.
• Use payroll checklists and controls to ensure consistent, complete, and repeatable processes.
• Identify and resolve discrepancies before payroll is processed.
• Apply federal, state, and local payroll requirements accurately and consistently (FLSA, ESST, MN PFML, multi-state taxation).
• Maintain and manage multi-state tax registrations, accounts, and rate updates.
• Partner with Finance to review payroll tax filings and resolve notices or variances quickly and accurately.
• Identify compliance risks and take proactive action to resolve and prevent issues.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation and support internal and external audits.
• Administer employee benefits (medical, dental, vision, HSA/FSA, voluntary) ensuring accurate enrollments, changes, and system alignment.
• Provide clear, timely support to employees for benefits questions and life events.
• Reconcile benefits data across systems and carriers, ensuring accuracy with payroll deductions.
• Coordinate leaves of absence (FMLA, state programs like MN PFML, disability) in partnership with external vendors.
• Track leave status and return-to-work timing, ensuring accurate payroll, benefits, and compliance handling.
• Ensure leave-related pay, deductions, and benefits are applied correctly and consistently.
• Support open enrollment, including system updates, employee communications, and data validation.
• Assist with benefits audits and reporting, maintaining accurate, audit-ready records.
• Identify and resolve discrepancies, ensuring a smooth and accurate employee experience.
• Deliver payroll reports that are accurate, complete, and aligned with stakeholder needs.
• Distribute reports on time and in a consistent format.
• Clearly communicate whether information is for awareness or requires action.
• Maintain organized, accessible payroll records for Finance and Accounting.
• Own payroll processes end-to-end with a high standard for accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.
• Review all work before sharing to ensure accuracy, clarity, and completeness.
• Follow established processes while identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Take ownership of issues through resolution and root cause correction.
• Maintain organized, audit-ready documentation at all times.
• Use payroll and HR systems effectively to ensure accurate data and processing.
• Maintain clean and reliable payroll data, including earnings and deduction configurations.
• Identify inefficiencies and recommend practical, execution-level improvements.
• Support updates and enhancements to payroll processes and systems.
• Manage time and attendance processes, ensuring accurate and timely submission and approval of employee timecards.
• Review time data for completeness and accuracy, including hours worked, overtime, and shift differentials.
• Identify and resolve timecard discrepancies prior to payroll processing.
• Partner with managers and employees to ensure compliance with timekeeping policies and deadlines.
• Ensure accurate application of overtime rules, pay policies, and state-specific requirements.
• Maintain and support timekeeping system configurations, including pay codes, schedules, and shift setups.
• Monitor timekeeping trends and proactively address missing, incomplete, or inconsistent data.
• Support audits and reporting related to time and attendance, ensuring data accuracy and alignment with payroll.
• Provide clear guidance to employees and managers on timekeeping processes and expectations.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Mental healthcare benefits
• 401k plan with 6% company match
• Paid time off to take time for what you need in life