Description
Process and reconcile payroll to ensure accurate, timely pay and tax compliance. Maintain payroll systems, records, and reporting; apply wage and hour rules, benefit deductions, and union provisions; and partner with HR, Finance, vendors, and agencies to resolve issues and improve processes.
- • Set up and maintain employee payroll records, classifications, FLSA status, and pay rates.
- • Process end-to-end payroll cycles accurately and on time for all pay groups.
- • Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and tax laws and required reporting.
- • Advise managers and employees on payroll policies, timekeeping, overtime, taxation, and garnishments.
- • Improve payroll calendars, workflows, and time capture/approval methods; train stakeholders.
- • Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, pay complaints, and off-cycle corrections.
- • Configure and maintain earnings, deductions, taxes, and pay codes in the payroll system.
- • Maintain direct deposit, tax withholding, and other payroll documentation securely.
- • Prepare payroll, labor distribution, and audit reports; generate and reconcile GL interface files.
- • Process benefit and retirement deductions and contributions; reconcile to carrier invoices.
- • Apply union contract provisions to payroll, including rates, differentials, dues, and premiums.
- • Develop and administer payroll policies and procedures, including timekeeping and overtime rules.
- • Perform payroll cost analyses, accruals, and reconciliations to support finance and budgeting.
- • Calculate, withhold, deposit, and reconcile payroll taxes and garnishments; file 941/940, W-2/W-3, and state returns.
- • Monitor regulatory and system changes; recommend payroll process and system improvements.
- • Advise HR and managers on pay impacts of hires, transfers, leaves, and terminations, including prorations and retros.
- • Develop and maintain payroll audit tools, checklists, and controls to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- • Research multi-state and local payroll tax rules and wage-hour requirements for diverse worker types.
- • Develop and deliver training and job aids for timekeepers and employees on payroll self-service and pay statements.
- • Coordinate with departments to collect and validate time, approvals, and pay changes; perform pre- and post-payroll audits.
- • Serve as liaison among HR, Finance, IT, vendors, tax agencies, and unions on payroll and tax matters.
- • Document and maintain payroll SOPs, calendars, and control narratives; support internal and external audits.
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Financial Services
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
