Sr. Payroll Specialist

West Fraser•Cordova, TN

About The Position

The Senior Payroll Specialist is responsible for end-to-end payroll processing for a large, multi-state manufacturing workforce of approximately 5,000 employees. This role ensures accurate and timely payroll execution while maintaining strict compliance with federal, state, and local wage and tax regulations. The Senior Payroll Specialist serves as a subject matter expert in payroll operations, resolves complex payroll issues, and drives process improvements to enhance efficiency and internal customer satisfaction.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred
5–8+ years of progressive payroll experience, including high-volume, multi-state payroll processing
Experience supporting a large workforce (5,000+ employees preferred)
Manufacturing or union payroll experience highly preferred
Advanced knowledge of U.S. federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations
Experience with enterprise-level payroll systems (e.g., UKG, Workday, ADP, SAP)
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data reconciliation)
Experience with payroll reporting and reconciliations
CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation preferred

Nice To Haves

Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to manage confidential information with discretion
Strong organizational skills and ability to meet strict deadlines
Effective communication skills with ability to support employees at all levels

Responsibilities

Process end-to-end, multi-state payroll for approximately 5,000 employees on a weekly/biweekly basis
Review and validate payroll data including hours worked, overtime, shift differentials, bonuses, commissions, and special pay adjustments
Reconcile payroll prior to transmission and validate payroll reports for accuracy
Manage off-cycle payrolls, final pay calculations, and retroactive adjustments
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, including FLSA requirements
Maintain accurate tax setup and withholding compliance across multiple states
Support payroll-related audits (internal, external, and SOX if applicable)
Monitor regulatory changes and implement required payroll updates
Maintain accurate payroll records in accordance with company policy and legal requirements
Serve as subject matter expert for payroll system functionality
Partner with HR and Finance to ensure accurate employee data integration
Generate payroll reports, tax filings, and reconciliations
Support year-end processing including W-2 preparation and reconciliation
Research and resolve complex payroll discrepancies
Respond to escalated employee payroll inquiries
Partner with HR, Benefits, and Finance to resolve cross-functional issues
Identify opportunities to improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, and controls
Document and maintain payroll procedures
Provide guidance and training to payroll team members
Support payroll system upgrades, testing, and implementations
Special projects and other duties as assigned.