Payroll Specialist - Union Facility

Position Summary

We are seeking a detail-oriented Payroll Specialist to support accurate and timely payroll processing within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This position is responsible for payroll administration for both union and non-union employees, including reviewing time and attendance records, processing payroll changes, auditing payroll data, resolving discrepancies, and responding to employee inquiries.

The Payroll Specialist will work closely with Human Resources, Finance, and Operations to ensure payroll accuracy and compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, company policies, and collective bargaining agreements (CBAs).

The ideal candidate brings hands-on payroll experience, strong Excel skills, experience with payroll/HRIS and timekeeping systems, and an understanding of the complexities associated with hourly manufacturing payroll.

Key Responsibilities

• Process accurate and timely payroll for hourly and salaried, union and non-union employees.
• Review and audit timekeeping and attendance records, including regular hours, overtime, shift differentials, premiums, and other pay elements.
• Process payroll changes including new hires, terminations, pay-rate changes, deductions, garnishments, and other employee updates.
• Interpret and administer applicable collective bargaining agreement provisions related to wages, overtime, premiums, and other payroll requirements.
• Identify and resolve payroll discrepancies, calculation errors, and employee pay issues.
• Respond to payroll-related questions from employees, supervisors, HR, Operations, and other internal stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and employee data while protecting confidentiality and data integrity.
• Support payroll reconciliations, reporting, audits, and year-end payroll activities.
• Maintain and troubleshoot payroll system configurations, including earnings codes, deduction codes, calculation rules, and system accuracy.
• Partner cross-functionally with Human Resources, Finance, and Operations to maintain accurate employee and payroll information.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage-and-hour requirements and internal payroll policies.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, system functionality, and overall efficiency.
• Perform additional payroll and administrative responsibilities as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field preferred; equivalent payroll experience will also be considered.
• Previous experience in payroll processing, payroll administration, accounting, or a related function required.
• Experience processing payroll in a manufacturing, industrial, or high-volume hourly workforce environment strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting union payroll and collective bargaining agreements preferred.
• Working knowledge of overtime calculations, shift differentials, premiums, deductions, garnishments, and other payroll components.
• Experience with payroll, HRIS, workforce management, and timekeeping platforms such as ADP, UKG, Kronos, Workforce Management, or comparable systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, formulas, filters, data reconciliation, and reporting.
• Ability to audit large amounts of payroll and timekeeping data and quickly identify discrepancies.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage confidential employee and compensation information appropriately.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a customer-service-oriented approach.
• Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to recommend payroll process and system enhancements.