Senior Payroll Specialist (NAMER)

Job Title: Senior Payroll Specialist (NAMER)

Duration: 8+ Months.

Location: Remote

• Senior Payroll Specialist will independently execute semi-monthly, high-volume North American payroll (US / Canada / Mexico) in a fast-paced environment, ensuring payroll is accurate, audit-ready, and approved on time.
• This role owns payroll readiness end-to-end in tandem with our Payroll Specialist - preparing inputs, validating results, and proactively resolving issues before approval - with the Payroll Manager reviewing final outputs.
• In addition, this role will prepare monthly journal entries and accruals and partner with the Accounting team to support reconciliations and other analyses as needed.

Responsibilities:

• Execute semi-monthly, high-volume NAMER payroll (U.S., Canada, and Mexico) in a fast-paced environment, delivering accurate and on-time payroll results.
• Own payroll readiness by preparing payroll templates/loads and validating upstream inputs (e.g., Workday changes, benefits/tax updates, and one-time payments).
• Perform pre-approval audits and exception/variance checks; ensure issues are identified, resolved, and documented before approval.
• Proactively troubleshoot payroll errors, drive root-cause resolution, and reduce repeat issues through improved checks and documentation.
• Manage out-of-cycle payments as needed (manual checks/electronic transfers) with appropriate approvals and an audit trail.
• Manage employee payroll inquiries and intake via ServiceNow, meeting SLAs and escalating appropriately.
• Partner with ADP and Cloudpay on case resolution, compliance reporting, and tax/benefits coordination.
• Prepare monthly payroll journal entries and payroll accruals with supporting schedules; support GL upload processes (Oracle, SAP, or equivalent).
• Support Accounting close by providing tie-outs, audit support, and responses for reconciliations and flux/variance explanations.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent practical experience) and 8+ years of progressive payroll experience, including end-to-end responsibility for high-volume, semi-monthly multi-state U.S. payroll; experience supporting Canada and Mexico payroll a plus (NAMER scope)
• Strong knowledge of payroll impacts from benefits administration and taxation for federal, state, and local entities, including compliance requirements and reporting
• Demonstrated ability to operate independently in a fast-paced environment, proactively identifying and resolving payroll issues before approval and consistently meeting deadlines
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate clearly, manage escalations appropriately, and partner cross-functionally
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and related business tools (e.g., large data validation, pivots/lookups, audit checks, and reconciliations)
• Experience with relevant systems including ADP Workforce Now and a ticketing system such as ServiceNow; Workday experience is a strong plus
• Experience preparing payroll journal entries and payroll accruals, including supporting schedules and working with Accounting on close timelines