Payroll Specialist (Operations Liaison)

Payroll Specialist – Operations Liaison

Position Summary

We are seeking a Payroll Specialist – Operations Liaison to serve as the primary link between Operations, Payroll, and employees. This role is responsible for resolving payroll and timekeeping issues, ensuring payroll accuracy, supporting compliance efforts, and delivering excellent employee support. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, analytical, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, multi-shift environment. *This is a 6 month contract role

Key Responsibilities

Employee & Operations Support

• Serve as the first point of contact for payroll-related questions, discrepancies, and timekeeping concerns.
• Investigate and resolve pay issues by reviewing timecards, payroll records, and employee data.
• Educate employees and managers on payroll policies, deductions, direct deposits, tax withholdings, and pay practices.
• Provide guidance on timekeeping best practices and payroll correction procedures.

Payroll Administration

• Review, validate, and reconcile time and attendance data prior to payroll processing.
• Process payroll adjustments, retroactive payments, special earnings, and other payroll transactions.
• Support new hires, employee status changes, and terminations as they relate to payroll.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage-and-hour laws.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with HR, Operations, Finance, and IT teams to resolve payroll issues and improve processes.
• Communicate payroll policies, system updates, and pay rule interpretations to managers and employees.
• Assist with troubleshooting payroll and timekeeping system issues.

Reporting & Compliance

• Prepare payroll reports, audits, and reconciliations to ensure data accuracy.
• Maintain payroll records in accordance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Identify process improvement opportunities and recommend solutions to increase efficiency and accuracy.

Qualifications

Required

• 2–4 years of payroll, HR, or timekeeping experience, preferably in a multi-location or operations-driven environment.
• Strong knowledge of payroll processes, wage-and-hour regulations, and payroll best practices.
• Experience with payroll and timekeeping systems such as ADP, UKG, Paycom, or Workday.
• Intermediate Excel skills.
• Strong communication, customer service, and problem-solving abilities.
• High attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.

Preferred

• Experience serving as a liaison between Payroll, HR, and Operations teams.
• Knowledge of union payroll practices.
• Familiarity with multi-state payroll requirements.

Schedule

This position supports an operations team that works across multiple shifts. Flexibility is required to provide support during early morning and occasional evening hours.

Typical Schedule:

• Monday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Tuesday: 5:00 AM – 2:00 PM or 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM
• Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Thursday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Friday: 5:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Core Competencies

• Payroll & Timekeeping Administration
• Employee Support & Customer Service
• Compliance & Confidentiality
• Problem Solving & Analytical Thinking
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Process Improvement
• Organization & Attention to Detail