Payroll Specialist

Summary:
We are a newly formed, large PE backed recurring revenue business with ~5,000 employees that is highly acquisitive.

We are seeking a detail-oriented Payroll Specialist to ensure timely, accurate payroll processing and to help professionalize payroll operations as the company continues to grow and acquire new entities.

The ideal candidate has hands-on U.S. payroll processing experience, strong knowledge of federal and state wage and hour requirements, exceptional accuracy, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced environment. This role is essential in delivering a reliable employee experience while maintaining payroll compliance across jurisdictions.

Key Responsibilities:

Payroll Processing

• Process bi-weekly or semi-monthly payroll cycles for employees across multiple U.S. states.
• Validate and reconcile hours, earnings, deductions, garnishments, benefits, and taxes.
• Ensure accurate tracking of PTO, overtime, differentials, bonuses, and commissions.
• Review and audit payroll reports prior to submission to ensure 100% accuracy.

Compliance & Controls

• Ensure payroll compliance with all U.S. federal, state, and local regulations (FLSA, minimum wage, overtime, tax laws, etc.).
• Maintain employee payroll records in accordance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Support quarterly and annual filings (W-2, 941, state unemployment, etc.).

Employee Support & Service

• Act as the first-line resource for employee payroll inquiries.
• Resolve discrepancies related to pay, taxes, direct deposit, and withholdings.
• Work cross-functionally with HR and Accounting to maintain accurate employee data.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Assist with payroll system upgrades, integrations, and automations (e.g., ADP, UKG, Paylocity, Workday, etc.).
• Implement process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce error rates.
• Support integration of newly acquired companies into the payroll system and processes.

Special Projects

• Participate in audits, system migrations, M&A onboarding, and payroll data cleanup.
• Support cross-functional initiatives related to compensation, benefits, and HR operations.

Qualifications:
Must-Have

• 2–5+ years of hands-on U.S. payroll processing experience (multi-state payroll strongly preferred).
• Strong knowledge of federal and state wage & hour rules (FLSA, overtime, worker classifications).
• Experience working in a high-volume or multi-entity environment.
• High proficiency with payroll systems (ADP, UKG, Paychex, Paylocity, Workday, or similar).
• Strong Excel skills and comfort working with large datasets.
• Exceptional accuracy, attention to detail, and confidentiality.

Preferred

• Experience in a PE-backed or high-growth environment.
• Experience with onboarding newly acquired entities into payroll.
• Understanding of benefit deductions, retirement plan contributions, and year-end processes.
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or FPC certification is a plus.

Competencies

• Accuracy & attention to detail: Zero-error mindset for payroll data.
• Customer service orientation: Clear, empathetic communication with employees.
• Process mindset: Ability to streamline workflows and improve payroll efficiency.
• Confidentiality: Handles sensitive employee information with discretion.
• Problem-solving: Quickly identifies and resolves discrepancies.

What Success Looks Like

• Payroll is processed 100% accurately and delivered on time—every cycle.
• Employees trust payroll data and experience minimal issues.
• Strong compliance posture with clean internal and external audits.
• Efficient, scalable payroll processes and systems across all entities.
• Seamless onboarding of newly acquired companies into payroll operations.