Payroll Specialist

CSM Companies, Inc., located in Madison, WI, is seeking a talented individual to take on the Payroll Specialist position! This position is ideal for those who enjoy working in a busy, professional environment. Excellent benefits offered. Responsibilities include managing and processing the accurate bi-weekly and monthly payrolls for all employees. CSM values their employees and strives to offer opportunities for professional growth.

Summary The Payroll Specialist is responsible for processing accurate and timely payroll for approximately 1,000+ employees across multiple states. This role supports weekly payroll processing for bi-weekly North and South pay cycles, ensuring compliance with wage and hour laws, benefits deductions, and internal controls. The Payroll Specialist serves as the primary point of contact for payroll-related inquiries and partners closely with Operations, Accounting, and Human Resources.

Responsibilities

• Manage and process bi-weekly payrolls for hourly, salaried and commissioned employees.
• Review and validate timecards, overtime, commission and pay differentials.
• Process off-cycle payrolls, bonuses, commissions, and final pay.
• Ensure payroll deadlines and cutoff schedules are met.
• Ensure proper audit systems are in place to account for accurate pay and benefit changes.

Duties

• Process payroll changes including, but not limited to, new hires, terminations, internal transfers, garnishments, manual checks, leave request, various payroll deductions, etc.
• Process garnishments, tax levies, and child support orders
• Ensure compliance with and follow controls to achieve an error free payroll and detect any discrepancies before they appear on an employee’s check or impact payroll
• Generate a variety of routine reports relating to payroll, time, paid leave, etc.
• Manage and maintain payments for employee cash reimbursements and expense reports for credit card reconciliation
• Evaluate process and reporting improvements as needed
• Problem solve and respond to employee’s payroll questions
• Assist with W-2 questions and corrections
• Prepare payroll, headcount, overtime, and turnover reports
• Partner with Operations on timekeeping accuracy
• Escalate payroll issues and risks to leadership
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism at all times
• Other duties as required

Qualifications Education, Skills, Experience:

• Associate’s degree in Business or related field; Bachelor’s degree is preferred
• Five years of applicable experience managing the payroll process, multi-state experience is preferred
• Experience processing payroll for 500+ employees preferred
• Strong knowledge of wage & hour laws
• Experience with complex pay cycles and variable compensation
• Proficiency with HRIS/payroll systems (ADP, UKG, Paycom, Paylocity, etc.)
• High attention to detail and confidentiality
• Excellent proficiency in MS office (Solid Excel skills is a must)
• Ability to organize and prioritize tasks to meet strict deadlines
• Must have strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks while paying close attention to detail
• Strong personal integrity, confidentiality, and discretion

Work Environment, Physical Demands

• Ability to sit, stand, bend, kneel, stoop and lift/move up to 50lbs. on a regular basis
• Ability to work in an environment to include 8–12-hour days, and flexibility to extend working hours when necessary

CSM Job Standards Accountabilities Customer Focus: Actively looking for ways to identify customer needs. Then efficiently and effectively addressing those needs.

Communication - Visual and Verbal: Listening, speaking, and signaling so others can understand. Communicate in spoken English well enough to be understood by others.

Teamwork: Working cooperatively in a professional demeanor to complete work assignments.

Health, Safety, and Security: Recognize and mitigate safety hazards including hazardous materials, environmental hazards, and accident conditions on a construction site. Follow appropriate security procedures.

Scheduling and Coordinating: Making arrangements that fulfill all requirements as efficiently and economically as possible.

Problem Solving/Decision-making: Being open to change and to considerable variety in the workplace. Understanding the importance of learning new information for future problem solving and decision making.

Adaptability and Lifelong Learning: Being open to change and to considerable variety in the workplace. Understanding the importance of learning new information for future problem solving and decision making.

Note: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.