Payroll Lead

The Payroll Lead will be responsible for ensuring accurate and timely processing of payroll for all employees in the United States and Canda which includes meeting processing deadlines, verifying accurate calculations of wages, tax withholding, company deductions, Time and Attendance record management, integration of the payroll general ledger with accounting. Acts as resource for the team to troubleshoot and resolve colleague requests. Oversees legal requests in relation to employee records/personnel files. This position requires a detail-oriented individual with strong data/analytical skills, ability to guide and coach, extensive knowledge of payroll processes and a commitment to delivering exceptional services.

Job Responsibilities:
Payroll Processing

• Works directly with internal colleagues and third-party vendors to the accurate and timely processing of all US and Canada payrolls for all employees, including compliance with company policies, legal requirements, and tax regulations.
• Oversees day-to-day operations support and provides mentorship to a team of payroll specialist with the focus on managing the delivery of outsourced services and ensuring excellent levels of customer service.
• Provides functional and technical expertise regarding the HR/Payroll system within Payroll Shared Service Center.
• Manages the preparation of payroll by overseeing the completion of pre-payroll audits, verify payroll data, including timesheets, deductions, bonuses, and other relevant information, to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Identifies process improvement items and implements changes where necessary.
• Stays current on changes in payroll laws, regulations, and best practices, and propose necessary changes to ensure continued compliance.
• Resolves payroll-related issues and inquiries from employees, managers, and external stakeholders in a timely and professional manner.
• Assists in developing fiscal and calendar year end processing of payroll, prepare weekly, monthly, quarterly year end reports for management including analysis of company payroll statistics.
• Develops payroll specific reports and dashboards to support research and assist with recurring and ad-hoc data requests.

Accounting

• Collaborates with HR and Accounting to ensure seamless integration of payroll processes with other business functions including the ongoing programming and maintenance of the General Ledger system for US.
• Identifies and implements controls ensuring timely and accurate execution of accounting payroll output.
• Manages accounting and tax functions for compliance and timely reporting.
• Oversees Canadian Payroll wires with US and Canadian Accounting teams.

Supervisory

• Assesses training needs of staff and makes appropriate recommendations to management.
• Provides training to Payroll and HR team members on new or enhanced procedures and policies.
• Acts as first point of resolution for team regarding payroll activities.

Compliance, Audit and Employee Records

• Ensures payroll policies and standard operating procedures are up to date and appropriate.
• Supports internal and external audits as required to ensure proper controls are in place.
• Ensures Employee Records and legal requests are processed in a timely manager.
• Maintains electronic Employee Records system in accordance with Information Lifecycle policies.

Project Management

• Supervises and coordinates Year-End Plan, including processing of final payroll, off cycle processes, US W2/1099 and Canada T4 processing, coordination of annual deduction resets, and annual merit and bonus events.
• Partners with other HR departments on all payroll related initiatives as assigned.
• Identifies and implements changes to payroll methods and/or systems to streamline and improve processes, special projects.

Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university or 4 years of relevant experience. Minimum High School/GED
• 6 years of experience in payroll, audit, reconciliation, and payroll tax payment/reporting in a multi company/multi state environment with 5,000 employees
• 5 years of experience balancing and analyzing data to identify, investigate and propose solutions to problems
• 5 years of experience as an expert user of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• 3 years of experience in customer service