Payroll Specialist III

Payroll Specialist III

Job Summary

The Payroll Specialist III is a senior‑level payroll professional responsible for processing complex, high‑volume payrolls with a high degree of accuracy and compliance. This role supports multi‑state payroll operations within a staffing agency environment, ensuring timely and accurate payment for contractors and internal employees. The Payroll Specialist III serves as a subject‑matter expert, resolves escalated payroll issues, supports audits and compliance efforts, and partners closely with Payroll Leadership, HR, Finance, and Client Services.

Primary Responsibilities

• Process weekly, bi‑weekly, and/or special payrolls for a large population of W‑2 and/or 1099 contractors and internal employees across multiple states
• Review and validate time entry, pay rates, commissions, bonuses, adjustments, and retroactive payments
• Manage complex payroll transactions including off‑cycle payments, corrections, stop payments, reversals, and reissues
• Administer wage garnishments, tax levies, child support orders, and other court‑ordered deductions
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, wage and hour laws, and staffing‑specific pay requirements
• Partner with Tax, HR, and Finance teams to research and resolve payroll discrepancies and compliance issues
• Serve as an escalation point for complex payroll inquiries from employees, contractors, internal stakeholders, and clients
• Support payroll audits (internal and external) by preparing documentation and responding to audit requests
• Assist with onboarding and termination payroll activities, including final pay calculations and compliance requirements
• Review payroll reports for accuracy, identify trends or issues, and recommend process improvements
• Maintain confidentiality and data integrity of payroll and employee information
• Provide guidance and informal mentoring to Payroll Specialist I and II team members as needed
• Participate in payroll system enhancements, testing, and implementation of new processes or tools

Qualifications & Experience Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5+ years of progressive payroll experience, preferably within a staffing agency or high‑volume payroll environment
• Demonstrated experience processing multi‑state payroll with a strong understanding of payroll compliance requirements
• Hands‑on experience with payroll systems (e.g., ADP, UKG, Workday, Paychex, or similar platforms)
• Strong working knowledge of wage garnishments, tax withholdings, and payroll regulations
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (including lookups, reconciliations, and data analysis)
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast‑paced environment
• Strong problem‑solving skills and ability to independently resolve complex payroll issues
• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion

Preferred Qualifications:

• Workday experience
• Experience supporting payroll for contractors, consultants, or temporary employees
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC)
• Experience partnering with payroll tax teams or supporting payroll tax filings and reconciliations
• Prior involvement in payroll audits or system implementations

Key Competencies

• Payroll compliance expertise
• Analytical and detail‑oriented mindset
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills
• Clear, professional communication skills
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams
• Customer‑service orientation with confidence handling escalated issues