Lead Payroll Specialist

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Lead Payroll Specialist to serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for our Payroll team. This role is ideal for a payroll professional with extensive experience in payroll processing, time and attendance systems, and payroll compliance. The Senior Payroll Specialist will play a critical role in ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing while providing guidance, training, and support to team members across the organization.

The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in UKG Payroll and UTA (UKG Time & Attendance), exceptional communication skills, and a passion for developing others. While this position does not have direct reports, it serves as a key resource and mentor for payroll team members and business partners.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Processing & Compliance

• Accurately process and manage payrolls for employees across assigned pay groups, ensuring timely and error-free payroll execution.
• Verify and reconcile time and attendance records using UTA (UKG Time & Attendance) to ensure accurate calculation of regular, overtime, and premium pay.
• Process additional payroll earnings, including bonuses, commissions, reimbursements, and special payments.
• Ensure accurate administration of garnishments, child support orders, tax levies, and other court-ordered deductions.
• Stay current on federal, state, local, and provincial payroll regulations to ensure compliance across U.S. and Canadian payroll operations.
• Prepare and submit payroll reports, tax filings, and year-end documentation.

Payroll SME & Training

• Serve as the Payroll Subject Matter Expert (SME) for payroll processes, systems, and compliance requirements.
• Provide payroll training and support to payroll team members, HR partners, and managers.
• Develop and document payroll procedures, best practices, and process improvements.
• Assist payroll leadership with payroll validation activities to ensure payroll accuracy and compliance.
• Support payroll system enhancements, testing, implementations, and special projects.
• Act as a resource for resolving complex payroll issues and escalations.

Systems & Employee Support

• Collaborate with HR to maintain accurate employee records, tax elections, direct deposit information, earnings, and deductions.
• Ensure employee lifecycle transactions, including new hires, transfers, status changes, and terminations, are processed accurately.
• Manage and monitor payroll ticket queues, ensuring timely resolution of employee inquiries while meeting established Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Respond to payroll-related questions professionally and efficiently.
• Partner with Finance and Accounting teams to reconcile payroll accounts and support financial reporting.

Additional Responsibilities

• Maintain strict confidentiality of employee and payroll information.
• Support payroll audits and compliance reviews.
• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Eligible to work in the United States.
• Ability to work onsite Monday–Friday.
• Valid state-issued driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
• Strong English communication skills (reading, writing, and speaking).
• Minimum 5 years of payroll processing experience.
• Hands-on experience with UKG Payroll and UTA (UKG Time & Attendance) required.
• Experience processing payroll for California employees and union populations.
• In-depth knowledge of payroll laws, wage and hour regulations, payroll taxes, and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to train, mentor, and support others in payroll processes and systems.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to pass a background check and drug screen.
• Flexibility to work extended hours when needed to support payroll operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience processing payroll in both the United States and Canada.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.
• Bilingual English/Spanish.
• Experience supporting payroll system implementations, upgrades, or integrations.
• Advanced reporting and analytics experience within UKG.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to be a key contributor and trusted expert within a growing payroll organization. You'll have the chance to influence payroll processes, support team development, and help ensure employees are paid accurately and on time while driving continuous improvement across payroll operations.