Payroll Specialist | Onsite | Chesapeake, VA

Sutherland•Chesapeake, VA

59d•Onsite

About The Position

Sutherland is seeking a Payroll Specialist based on-site at our client location in Chesapeake, Virginia, serving as the primary interface between HR Shared Services, client leadership, and operational teams. This role demands deep expertise in US payroll operations, strong problem-solving capability, and an exceptional ability to manage on-site discussions, drive operational alignment, and ensure seamless coordination across multiple stakeholder groups. You will act as the payroll SME and governance lead, overseeing end-to-end payroll accuracy, compliance, and risk mitigation while providing strategic input on process improvements and executive-level escalations. This is a work-from-office, on-site role with high visibility across HR, Finance, Tax, and Executive teams.

Requirements

3–6 years of progressive US payroll experience, including exposure to complex and executive-level payroll scenarios.
Expertise in Workday, ADP, Kronos, including reporting and system configuration.
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, or related discipline
Strong understanding of US tax laws, payroll regulations, audits, and compliance frameworks.
Demonstrated experience in vendor coordination and cross-functional stakeholder management.
Exceptional executive communication, stakeholder alignment, and on-site client engagement.
Deep knowledge of US payroll tax governance, compliance, and risk mitigation.
Strong decision-making with a commitment to accuracy, timeliness, and data integrity.
Advanced analytical skills; proficiency in Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or other reporting tools.
Proven ability to lead process improvements, automation initiatives, and transformation activities.
High level of discretion in managing confidential and sensitive payroll data.
Ability to operate within a global, matrixed environment with shifting priorities.

Nice To Haves

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) strongly preferred; APA or other relevant certifications are a plus.
Master’s preferred.

Responsibilities

Represent HRSS at the client location and lead in-person discussions with HR, Finance, and business leaders.
Ensure continuous coordination across all stakeholders, enabling smooth day-to-day payroll operations and issue resolution.
Act as a trusted advisor to client leadership during reviews, audits, and sensitive payroll conversations.
Own Build-to-Gross input reconciliation and Gross-to-Net validation for all payroll cycles.
Manage complex payroll scenarios including executive compensation, stock payouts, garnishments, severance, multi-state taxation, and retro adjustments.
Ensure adherence to SOX, IRS, federal, and state payroll regulations, maintaining audit readiness at all times.
Review and validate benefit-related and retirement-related payroll inputs.
Handle high-priority payroll escalations, discrepancies, data issues, and executive queries with urgency and accuracy.
Support response management for Tier-0 and Tier-1 payroll queries.
Drive continuous improvement, automation, and workflow optimization within payroll operations.
Perform payroll tax data validation and partner with tax teams for accurate and timely filings.
Ensure optimal usage and configuration of Workday, ADP, and Kronos systems.
Support system testing, enhancements, and compliance updates aligned with regulatory changes.
Partner with cross-functional teams to streamline payroll tools, reporting, and quality checks.