Payroll Analyst

Accountabilities:: The Payroll Analyst will help maintain accurate and efficient payroll operations by overseeing payroll validations, investigating exceptions, supporting system administration, and coordinating with internal stakeholders. Key responsibilities include: Process and audit bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and special payroll runs, including data validation, balancing, reconciliations, exception reviews, and discrepancy resolution before payroll finalization. Administer timekeeping activities through UKG/Kronos, reviewing employee schedules, hours worked, overtime, shift differentials, premium pay, missing punches, and timecard exceptions. Partner with managers and employees to resolve timekeeping, attendance, and leave-related issues. Respond to employee payroll inquiries and investigate discrepancies involving paychecks, taxes, deductions, direct deposits, leave balances, and payroll adjustments. Perform payroll reconciliations, review payroll reports and related accounts, and support internal audits, compliance reviews, and month-end and year-end activities. Support payroll tax and garnishment administration, including wage garnishments, levies, tax exceptions, and coordination with ADP for payroll filings and compliance documentation. Maintain accurate employee payroll records and validate employee data changes in Workday. Support payroll system updates, enhancements, and process improvement initiatives. Participate in the testing and implementation of payroll system changes, including union work rules, payroll codes, schedules, and configurations. Perform validation activities in Workday Sandbox and UKG/Kronos, document test results, and support production sign-off. Ensure payroll activities comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, internal controls, and confidentiality requirements. Cross-train with other team members and contribute to additional payroll projects as needed. Requirements: The ideal candidate has at least five years of experience working with automated payroll systems, preferably in a high-volume U.S. payroll environment. They bring a strong understanding of payroll regulations, union payroll practices, reconciliations, and integrated HRIS and timekeeping systems. Accuracy, discretion, and the ability to manage competing deadlines are essential. Additional qualifications include: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. Minimum of 5 years of experience with automated payroll systems, preferably supporting high-volume U.S. payroll operations. Strong knowledge of end-to-end U.S. payroll processing, including gross-to-net calculations, taxes, deductions, supplemental earnings, benefits, and federal and state payroll requirements. Experience with payroll balancing, reconciliations, employee payroll inquiries, and discrepancy resolution. Experience supporting unionized payroll environments, including union contracts, work rules, employee schedules, overtime, shift differentials, and premium pay. Required experience with UKG/Kronos timekeeping systems. Workday Payroll experience preferred. Familiarity with ServiceNow preferred. ADP experience is an advantage, particularly in payroll tax administration, garnishments, tax disbursements, quarterly filings, and W-2 support. Experience working with integrated HRIS, payroll, and timekeeping systems. Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills, including VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, sorting, filtering, data validation, and reconciliation. Macros and VBA are not required. Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Word, and SharePoint, as well as payroll reporting tools, employee master data records, and internal process documentation. Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to interpret payroll regulations and organizational policies. Excellent organizational, prioritization, and time management skills. Strong customer service, written communication, and verbal communication skills. Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy. Sound professional judgment and a strong commitment to confidentiality. Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification or equivalent is an asset. Healthcare payroll experience, particularly in a unionized environment, is preferred. Experience supporting large employee populations, multiple pay groups, high-volume transactions, and complex payroll structures is an advantage. Benefits: Target annual base salary of $75,000–$100,000, depending on relevant experience, knowledge, skills, qualifications, and geographic location. Benefits eligibility during the fixed-term assignment. Full-time employment. Initial contract duration of 6–12 months, with the possibility of extension.