Human Resources Payroll Assistant

Job Title: Payroll Assistant

Location: New York, NY 10004

Duration: 3 months (Possible extensions or FT Conversions)

Pay Range: $32 to $34/hr. on W2

Schedule:

• Shift: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Hours: 40 Hours/Week
• Work Setting: Onsite

Required Skills & Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of payroll and timekeeping experience, including garnishments, taxes, and year-end activities.
• Experience processing payroll for hourly and salaried employees.
• Experience reviewing and auditing employee timesheets for accuracy and policy compliance.
• Experience monitoring daily time entries, missed punches, and scheduling exceptions.
• Experience auditing overtime, shift differentials, holiday pay, and premium pay eligibility.
• Experience preparing and submitting payroll adjustments and approved time records.
• Experience investigating and resolving payroll and timekeeping discrepancies.
• Experience reconciling payroll adjustments related to timekeeping errors or late submissions.
• Experience tracking employee leave including annual, sick, comp, FMLA, and approved absences.
• Ability to verify leave balances and apply appropriate leave codes.
• Analytical skills related to retro pay and time calculations.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent organizational, customer service, and time management skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work across multiple systems simultaneously.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience with Oracle, PeopleSoft, or other enterprise HR/Payroll systems.
• Knowledge of union contracts and public-sector payroll practices.
• Experience supporting large employee populations.

Education:

Required:

• High School Diploma or GED

Preferred:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Accounting, or related field.

Job Summary:

The Payroll Assistant supports payroll operations by maintaining accurate employee time and attendance records and ensuring timely payroll processing. This role reviews, audits, and processes employee timesheets, resolves discrepancies, tracks leave usage, and supports payroll adjustments while ensuring compliance with organizational policies, labor agreements, and regulatory requirements.

Job Responsibilities:

• Process payroll for hourly and salaried employees
• Assist with wage garnishments and payroll deductions
• Process payroll transfer reports
• Ensure benefit deductions are accurate
• Conduct payroll audits and maintain data integrity
• Support accounting and payroll-related projects
• Review and process employee time sheets for accuracy and compliance
• Monitor missed punches, scheduling exceptions, and daily time entries
• Audit overtime, shift differential, holiday, and premium pay eligibility
• Ensure supervisor approvals are completed before payroll deadlines
• Prepare and submit payroll adjustments and approved time records
• Investigate and resolve payroll and timekeeping discrepancies
• Maintain payroll documentation and records
• Track employee leave balances and usage
• Coordinate leave-of-absence updates with relevant departments
• Update timekeeping systems based on employee status changes