Payroll Specialist

Payroll Specialist (Consulting to Hire)

Location: Midtown Manhattan NYC (Hybrid – In office 3 Days a Week, Remote 2 Days a Week)

Our client, a fast-paced professional services firm, is seeking a Senior Payroll Specialist to join its Human Resources team. This position plays a key role in overseeing payroll processing and ensuring full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. The position also offers the opportunity to contribute to benefits-related initiatives and process improvement projects.

Overview

This position is ideal for an experienced payroll professional who thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and is passionate about accuracy, compliance, and service excellence. You’ll be working closely with internal stakeholders across HR, accounting, and tax functions to maintain and continuously enhance payroll operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage daily payroll activities including the review and submission of weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly payroll runs across multiple employee groups.
• Respond to payroll-related inquiries, resolving issues quickly and professionally.
• Collaborate with internal departments to support employee needs.
• Conduct root cause analysis for payroll discrepancies and develop documented solutions to prevent recurrence.
• Partner with different departments to research and resolve complex payroll concerns.
• Assist with quarterly payroll tax reconciliations and year-end reporting, including W-2s and other relevant filings.
• Maintain accurate payroll records in accordance with applicable regulatory guidelines.
• Support the implementation of updated processes and tools related to payroll, with a focus on efficiency and scalability.
• Conduct internal payroll audits and assist in preparing documentation for external auditors when needed.
• Contribute to the benefits renewal and open enrollment process by performing data validations and reconciliations.
• Review and reconcile vendor invoices tied to payroll and benefits.
• Handle various reporting needs and participate in special projects as necessary.

Qualifications

• 5-10+ years of hands-on payroll experience across multiple states.
• Proficiency with weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly payroll cycles.
• Familiarity with leading payroll or HRIS platforms (e.g., ADP Workforce Now or comparable systems).
• Prior involvement in payroll or HR system implementations is a plus.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to data integrity.
• Strong understanding of standard operating procedures to ensure consistent and accurate payroll processing.
• Proven ability to manage confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, and data analysis tools.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal with an ability to work independently and in a team setting.
• Effective time management and multitasking skills.
• Solid understanding of Federal, State, and Local payroll tax regulations.
• Flexibility to work additional hours when needed to meet processing deadlines.

Preferred

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation is a plus.
• Background in managing or supporting benefits-related processes in a financial services or family office setting.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.