Payroll Specialist

About us:

Gosh Enterprises is a dynamic, rapidly growing company that oversees a family of brands:

• Charleys: A 850 unit restaurant brand known worldwide for serving the #1 Philly Cheesesteak in the World
• BIBIBOP Asian Grill: An award winning, 80 unit Korean-inspired fast casual restaurant concept
• Lenny's Grill and Subs: A Memphis-based 60 unit chain serving high quality deli subs and hot subs
• Charleys Kids: A non-profit, partnering with like-minded organizations around the world to provide food, education, and mentorship to at-risk children.
• Solar Planet: A company that provides solar field advisory and installation services
  
  

About the Job

Payroll Specialist

Department: People Services (Shared Services)

Reports to: Senior Payroll Manager

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Location: On-Site | Columbus, Ohio

Company: GOSH Enterprises

Position Summary

The Payroll Specialist is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of biweekly payroll across multiple GOSH entities, as well as supporting workers' compensation coordination, unemployment claims, employment verifications, benefits administration, and HR operational functions. This role requires strong attention to detail, the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, and a service-oriented mindset when responding to employee and manager inquiries.

Operating within a shared services model, this role supports the broader People Services team and may take on additional responsibilities across payroll, HR, and benefits as business needs evolve. This role is well-suited for a payroll professional with 3 years of experience who is comfortable operating independently and partnering cross-functionally with HR, Finance, and Operations.

What You'll Own (Core Responsibilities)

Payroll Processing & Execution

• Process biweekly payroll across multiple GOSH entities, ensuring accuracy and compliance in every cycle
• Import and validate employee hours; identify and resolve payroll errors and discrepancies
• Process tips, adjustments, and off-cycle payments as needed
• Calculate and reconcile tip distributions based on reporting
• Manually correct missing or inaccurate employee data to ensure payroll integrity
• Review and submit payroll for each company, applying required compliance checks prior to submission
• Distribute payroll previews to managers and accounting; implement revisions as directed
• Respond daily to payroll-related inquiries from employees, HR, and leadership
  
  

Reporting & Compliance

• Run weekly WOTC (Work Opportunity Tax Credit) reports and submit required documentation to third-party vendors
• Maintain payroll records in compliance with company policies and applicable federal, state, and local regulations
• Support multi-state wage and hour compliance across all GOSH brands and entities
• Assist with year-end payroll activities including W-2 preparation, reconciliation, and distribution
  
  

Unemployment Claims

• Serve as the primary point of contact for unemployment claims across all GOSH entities
• Review, respond to, and track unemployment claims in a timely and accurate manner
• Gather and submit supporting documentation to state agencies and third-party administrators
• Coordinate with HR and Operations to obtain information needed to respond to or contest claims
• Maintain records of claim outcomes and identify trends that may inform HR or operational practices
  
  

Employment Verifications

• Process employment and income verification requests from employees, lenders, background screening vendors, and government agencies
• Respond accurately and promptly to verification inquiries, ensuring compliance with applicable privacy and data standards
• Maintain documentation related to verification requests and responses
• Coordinate with HR and payroll systems to ensure employment data used in verifications is current and accurate
  
  

Workers' Compensation Management

• Respond to workers' compensation inquiries from employees, managers, and claims representatives
• Manage incident reports in Risk Manager Pro, including data entry, updates, and claim conversions
• Track claim status and update records with claim numbers as received
• Complete and submit required documentation to carriers and claims representatives
• Coordinate follow-up communication and request additional information as needed
  
  

HR Operations Support

• Request and maintain supporting documentation in employee personnel files
• Respond to general HR and payroll-related inquiries, escalating complex matters to the Senior Payroll Manager
• Assist with administrative processes and HR special projects as needed
  
  

HRIS Data Integrity

• Maintain accurate employee payroll data within the HRIS (UKG), including pay rates, deductions, and job information
• Conduct routine data audits to identify and resolve discrepancies
• Process employee changes, transfers, pay adjustments, and status changes
  
  

Shared Services Support

• Operate as a collaborative member of the People Services shared services team, supporting colleagues and cross-functional partners as needed
• Take on additional payroll, HR, benefits, or compliance tasks as business priorities and team needs evolve
• Support organizational changes, new entity setup, or system implementations as directed
• Contribute to process improvement efforts that increase efficiency, accuracy, and service quality across the team
  
  

What Good Looks Like

You will be successful in this role if you:

• Take pride in getting payroll right, quickly, every cycle and treat accuracy as non-negotiable
• Stay calm and focused under the pressure of hard payroll deadlines
• Communicate clearly and professionally with employees, managers, and external vendors
• Manage multiple competing priorities without letting things fall through the cracks
• Bring a strong customer service mindset to every employee interaction
• Escalate issues early and ask questions before problems grow
• Take ownership of your work and follow through without needing constant direction
  
  

Required

What You Bring (Qualifications)

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 3 years of payroll experience
• Strong knowledge of payroll processes, multi-state compliance, and benefits administration
• Experience with payroll systems and HRIS platforms (UKG preferred)
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to handle confidential information with discretion
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Office applications
  
  

Preferred

• Experience in a multi-entity, multi-location, franchise, or restaurant environment
• Familiarity with WOTC reporting, unemployment claims administration, and employment verification processes
• Experience with workers' compensation administration and Risk Manager Pro
  
  

Benefits Offered

• Generous paid time off
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Healthcare spending account (HAS)
• Retirement benefits or accounts
• Gym memberships or discounts
• Employee discounts
  
  

GOSH is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the application process and throughout employment, as required by applicable law. If you require assistance or accommodation, please inform us so we can ensure your needs are met. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.