Payroll Specialist

Payroll Specialist

Location: Farmingdale, NY

Schedule: Full-Time, Onsite

Employment Type: Direct Hire

Salary: $70,000 - $75,000 annually, based on experience

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Payroll Specialist to manage payroll processing and ensure accurate and timely compensation for employees across multiple departments and states. The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of payroll regulations, timekeeping systems, payroll reporting, and compliance requirements, with experience using ADP Workforce Now.

This role requires exceptional attention to detail, analytical skills, and the ability to handle confidential employee and payroll information with the highest level of professionalism.

Key Responsibilities:

Payroll Administration

• Process weekly and/or biweekly payroll accurately and on schedule using ADP Workforce Now.
• Review, audit, and reconcile employee timecards, attendance records, and payroll data prior to payroll submission.
• Ensure proper calculation of regular wages, overtime, bonuses, commissions, deductions, garnishments, and PTO accruals.
• Maintain employee payroll records, including new hires, terminations, job changes, compensation adjustments, and direct deposit updates.
• Research and resolve payroll discrepancies, timekeeping issues, and employee payroll inquiries.
• Process payroll-related transactions and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and labor laws.
• Manage multi-state payroll requirements and maintain accurate tax withholding records.
• Reconcile payroll reports and support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end payroll activities.
• Assist with the preparation and distribution of W-2s and other payroll-related tax documents.
• Support payroll audits and maintain payroll documentation for compliance purposes.

Payroll Reporting & Compliance

• Generate and analyze payroll reports for management, HR, and finance teams.
• Perform payroll account reconciliations and assist with payroll-related journal entries.
• Monitor payroll compliance requirements and stay current with applicable payroll regulations.
• Assist with internal and external payroll audits.
• Maintain accurate PTO, sick leave, and vacation tracking records.

HR & Benefits Support

• Provide payroll support related to employee onboarding and offboarding.
• Assist with benefits deductions, enrollments, and payroll-related benefits administration.
• Partner with HR to ensure employee data is maintained accurately across payroll and HR systems.
• Support special payroll and HR projects as needed.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 3 years of payroll processing experience required.
• Experience processing multi-state payroll preferred.
• Hands-on experience with ADP Workforce Now required.
• Experience processing weekly payroll from 400-600 FTE.
• Strong understanding of payroll laws, tax regulations, wage and hour requirements, and payroll best practices.
• Experience reconciling payroll reports and auditing payroll data.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including reporting and data analysis.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of employee and payroll information.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation package
• Medical and dental insurance
• Paid holidays
• Paid vacation, sick, and personal time
• 401(k) with employer match
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellness and assistance programs
• Professional development and career growth opportunities

Why Join Us?

• Join a stable and growing organization where payroll plays a critical role in supporting employees.
• Opportunity to own the payroll function and contribute to process improvements.
• Collaborative and team-oriented work environment.
• Long-term career growth potential within a well-established company.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic protected by applicable law.

Key change: This version shifts the role from being primarily an HR/Administrative position to approximately 80-90% payroll-focused, which will attract experienced Payroll Specialists rather than HR Coordinators or HR Administrators.