Payroll Analyst

Accountabilities:

The Payroll Analyst will help maintain accurate and efficient payroll operations by overseeing payroll validations, investigating exceptions, supporting system administration, and coordinating with internal stakeholders. Key responsibilities include:

• Process and audit bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and special payroll runs, including data validation, balancing, reconciliations, exception reviews, and discrepancy resolution before payroll finalization.

• Administer timekeeping activities through UKG/Kronos, reviewing employee schedules, hours worked, overtime, shift differentials, premium pay, missing punches, and timecard exceptions.

• Partner with managers and employees to resolve timekeeping, attendance, and leave-related issues.

• Respond to employee payroll inquiries and investigate discrepancies involving paychecks, taxes, deductions, direct deposits, leave balances, and payroll adjustments.

• Perform payroll reconciliations, review payroll reports and related accounts, and support internal audits, compliance reviews, and month-end and year-end activities.

• Support payroll tax and garnishment administration, including wage garnishments, levies, tax exceptions, and coordination with ADP for payroll filings and compliance documentation.

• Maintain accurate employee payroll records and validate employee data changes in Workday.

• Support payroll system updates, enhancements, and process improvement initiatives.

• Participate in the testing and implementation of payroll system changes, including union work rules, payroll codes, schedules, and configurations.

• Perform validation activities in Workday Sandbox and UKG/Kronos, document test results, and support production sign-off.

• Ensure payroll activities comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, internal controls, and confidentiality requirements.

• Cross-train with other team members and contribute to additional payroll projects as needed.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate has at least five years of experience working with automated payroll systems, preferably in a high-volume U.S. payroll environment. They bring a strong understanding of payroll regulations, union payroll practices, reconciliations, and integrated HRIS and timekeeping systems. Accuracy, discretion, and the ability to manage competing deadlines are essential. Additional qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience with automated payroll systems, preferably supporting high-volume U.S. payroll operations.

• Strong knowledge of end-to-end U.S. payroll processing, including gross-to-net calculations, taxes, deductions, supplemental earnings, benefits, and federal and state payroll requirements.

• Experience with payroll balancing, reconciliations, employee payroll inquiries, and discrepancy resolution.

• Experience supporting unionized payroll environments, including union contracts, work rules, employee schedules, overtime, shift differentials, and premium pay.

• Required experience with UKG/Kronos timekeeping systems.

• Workday Payroll experience preferred.

• Familiarity with ServiceNow preferred.

• ADP experience is an advantage, particularly in payroll tax administration, garnishments, tax disbursements, quarterly filings, and W-2 support.

• Experience working with integrated HRIS, payroll, and timekeeping systems.

• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills, including VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, sorting, filtering, data validation, and reconciliation. Macros and VBA are not required.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Word, and SharePoint, as well as payroll reporting tools, employee master data records, and internal process documentation.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to interpret payroll regulations and organizational policies.

• Excellent organizational, prioritization, and time management skills.

• Strong customer service, written communication, and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy.

• Sound professional judgment and a strong commitment to confidentiality.

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification or equivalent is an asset.

• Healthcare payroll experience, particularly in a unionized environment, is preferred.

• Experience supporting large employee populations, multiple pay groups, high-volume transactions, and complex payroll structures is an advantage.

Benefits:

• Target annual base salary of $75,000–$100,000, depending on relevant experience, knowledge, skills, qualifications, and geographic location.

• Benefits eligibility during the fixed-term assignment.

• Full-time employment.

• Initial contract duration of 6–12 months, with the possibility of extension.