Contract (6 months) with potential to convert to Permanent

Reports To-Associate Director, Global Payroll

Location-New York City (Hybrid – 50% in office, minimum 2 days per week)

Pay- $75-$84 an hour

Our client is looking for a Payroll Officer. The Payroll Officer is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of U.S. payroll, with additional oversight of a small Amsterdam payroll. This role ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local payroll regulations while maintaining high standards of data integrity, confidentiality, and customer service. The position works closely with internal teams and external payroll providers to deliver reliable payroll operations.

Required:

The required minimum payroll experience is 6 years.

Bachelor’s degree
Proven experience processing full-cycle U.S. payroll using Workday Payroll (not HRIS only)

Preferred:

CPP (Certified Payroll Professional)

Experience & Skills

Strong experience managing payroll in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
Solid understanding of U.S. payroll principles and basic accounting concepts (GL, debits/credits, journal entries)
Experience working with internal and external stakeholders and vendors
Ability to conduct internal audits and implement corrective actions
Experience with continuous process improvement
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret large data sets

Core Competencies

High attention to detail and strong organizational skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to manage confidential information with discretion
Solution-oriented mindset with strong follow-through
Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and respectful workplace practices

Language Requirements

Fluent in English
Additional languages are a plus

Travel & Commute

Hybrid schedule requiring at least two days per week in the NYC office
Must reside within a reasonable commuting distance
Occasional travel for team meetings may be required

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Processing & Quality Assurance

Process U.S. payroll accurately and on time using Workday.
Coordinate payroll processing with external providers
Oversee payroll consultants by assigning work, reviewing outputs, and ensuring accuracy and compliance.
Review and validate payroll changes, audits, and supporting documentation prior to submission.
Maintain payroll calendars and communicate deadlines to all stakeholders.

Compliance, Reporting & Controls

Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local payroll and tax regulations.
Manage incoming payroll-related mail and take appropriate follow-up actions.
Prepare monthly payroll summaries, reconciliations, and variance explanations for leadership review.
Maintain exception logs for retro pay, off-cycle payments, and special payroll cases.
Prepare year-end payroll documentation, including W-2 support and audit materials.

Vendor & Cross-Functional Coordination

Serve as the primary point of contact between internal teams and external payroll vendors.
Ensure payroll inputs are complete and submitted before cut-off deadlines.
Partner with Finance, HR/P&C, IT, Legal, and other stakeholders on payroll-related matters.
Support internal and external audits by providing documentation, reconciliations, and remediation support.

Employee Support & Knowledge Management

Respond to employee payroll inquiries through Workday Help or other channels within SLAs.
Resolve complex payroll issues and guide consultants on routine inquiries.
Develop and maintain payroll knowledge articles and FAQs to support employee self-service.
Provide informal coaching and subject-matter guidance to payroll consultants.

People Management

No direct reports

Key Performance Metrics

Payroll accuracy
Timeliness and compliance
Process efficiency and continuous improvement
Effective management and oversight of consultants

Key Relationships

Internal:

Employee Support Center
Total Rewards
Finance
Legal / OGC

External:

Payroll providers
Benefits providers
Tax professionals

LevelUP HCS

Latest Jobs

Payroll- Analyst, Administrator, Processor