Payroll Specialist

Location: Oak Creek, WI (Hybrid)

Compensation: $75,000–$85,000 base salary

Job Type: Full-time; permanent

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to join the payroll team of an established, multi-state manufacturing organization. This individual will play a key role in ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing for a workforce of more than 1,200 employees. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented payroll professional with hands-on experience managing high-volume payroll, strong knowledge of multi-state payroll regulations, and advanced Excel skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Process weekly payroll accurately and on schedule using established payroll systems
• Review employee timekeeping data, identify discrepancies, and coordinate corrections with supervisors
• Transfer and validate timekeeping information between systems to ensure payroll accuracy
• Maintain payroll reports, spreadsheets, and supporting documentation
• Reconcile payroll registers, tax reports, cash activity, and general ledger transactions
• Prepare payroll-related journal entries and account reconciliations
• Process manual checks, special payrolls, bonuses, new-hire payments, termination pay, and other payroll adjustments
• Respond to employee inquiries regarding paychecks, deductions, tax withholding, and payroll discrepancies
• Calculate and verify payroll deductions, garnishments, overtime, and applicable tax withholdings
• Reconcile payroll reporting with quarterly and annual tax filings, including Forms 941 and W-2
• Support payroll tax compliance across multiple states, including state unemployment insurance and reciprocity requirements
• Assist with internal and external payroll audits and workers' compensation reporting
• Monitor changes in payroll legislation and recommend opportunities to improve payroll accuracy and efficiency

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED
• At least three years of hands-on corporate payroll processing experience supporting a workforce of more than 1,200 employees
• Experience processing multi-state payroll
• Strong working knowledge of ADP or a comparable payroll processing platform
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, pivot tables, and VLOOKUP
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements, wage and hour regulations, state unemployment insurance, and reciprocity agreements
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to research and resolve complex payroll discrepancies
• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to manage recurring payroll deadlines

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree in business or a related field
• Experience working in a manufacturing or similarly complex operational environment
• Experience with integrated timekeeping and payroll systems
• Familiarity with payroll reconciliations, general ledger transactions, and payroll tax reporting

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary of $75,000–$85,000, depending on experience
• Hybrid schedule with onsite work Monday through Wednesday and remote work Thursday and Friday
• Discretionary bonus opportunity anticipated beginning in the next fiscal year
• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• Retirement plan
• Paid time off