Payroll Specialist (Workday Required)

Job Description:

The Payroll Specialist (Workday) is responsible for the end to end processing cycle of a national, multi-state payroll operation with bi-weekly execution and pay delivery to staff. This role will be heavily focused on payroll tax processing, auditing, and compliance in partnership with our vendor. Will partner with various taxing agencies (state unemployment, IRS, state / local tax, etc.) to prevent and respond to agency inquires / notices. Resolves tax issues through agency, vendor, and internal team collaboration. Works with internal and external resources to ensure payroll tax configurations are current in the HRIS system, Workday, such as auditing tax tables, state funded benefit program tax rates and earning / deduction codes. This role is part of a Shared Services team and will respond to and resolve user tickets from the field, as well as address themes with training and user education.

End to end processing cycle of national, multi-state payroll operation bi-weekly in HRIS (Workday). Ensure on-time and compliant delivery of pay to employees. 30%

Triage incoming tickets in our Shared Services platform, tackling Level 1 issues independently. This includes processing wage verification requests, garnishments, off cycle check requests, lock in letters, arrears management, and responding to other timekeeping and payroll inquiries. Escalates advanced issues to the HRIS Analyst team or the Senior Payroll Administrator. 30%

Regularly audit Payroll Tax reconciliation provided by vendor and resolve discrepancies, ensuring tax liability balancing. Process state registrations and set up new jurisdictions in HRIS. Manage issues with taxing authorities to resolve agency notices / letters / inquiries. Proactively review payroll taxation through audits and reporting, and tools provided by the vendor to ensure taxing compliance. Monitor payroll tax status to ensure self-insured / reimbursable status for unemployment is maintained. Process state required security bonds to maintain reimbursable status timely, in partnership with Finance. Research tax regulations and withholdings. Audit and maintain accuracy of tax rates in HRIS. 25%

Review taxability of pay components (earnings/deductions), including identification of tax authority exceptions by state or local jurisdictions, and partner with HRIS Analyst to implement. Review and maintain codes annually as well as setting up new codes. 5%

Make continuous improvement suggestions related to user experience and process opportunities. Partner with the community locations and internal partners to improve payroll delivery and services. Identify themes and develop incident reduction strategies, to include training and user education.5%

Partner on special employee or company programs that touch payroll services, such as bonus, merit, commissions, benefits, acquisitions, org restructurings, special government reporting (BLS), etc. 5%