Sr Payroll Specialist

Essex offers a comprehensive benefits package that reflects how much we value our associates and their families:

For regular full-time associates regularly scheduled to work at least thirty (30) hours per week:
• Medical, Dental, Pre-tax flex plan, Basic life insurance, Supplemental life, Short- and long-term disability, Accidental death insurance plans.

For part-time and full-time associates:
• Employer-matching 401(k) plan that offers financial planning and independent brokerage services.
• Wellness Program, 24-hour Employee Assistance, Service awards and Paid time-off.

We are seeking a bright, creative, goal-oriented, high energy and hardworking individual to fill our Payroll Specialist position. Candidates should be self-starters with a strong work ethic and the ability to prioritize their workload to ensure timely issue resolution. While reporting to the Payroll Manager, the person in this position will be responsible for leading the daily, bi-weekly, quarterly, and year-end payroll process while ensuring adherence to all applicable federal and state regulations and to deadlines and utilize resources to meet those deadlines.

Reports to: Payroll Manager

Essential Job Functions:
Responsible for the accurate and timely completion of full cycle payrolls for 2,000+ associates which includes the processing of: leave of absence payments, retroactive payments, commissions, bonuses, garnishments, adjustments and terminations
Manage payroll imports EIBs into Workday
Update, audit and maintain payroll records to ensure accuracy of data.
Communicate to managers, employees and co-workers on payroll-related issues, company policies and procedures.
Review and discuss issues with the Payroll Manager; recognizing when an issue must be escalated to another area for resolution.
Monitor payroll inbox and provide employee assistance in a timely manner to ensure quality customer service.
Generate reports for finance, human resources and third-party vendors
Perform daily/bi-weekly/monthly payroll reconciliations including earnings, on-demand checks, ADP tax & garnishment reversed-wires, and Chase bank accounts reconciliations.
Perform bi-weekly wage upload to Global Share.
Assist payroll director with ADP outstanding tax filing items.
Other tasks as assigned

Skills and Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or Business or 5 years of progressive experience in automated payroll processing
Fundamental Payroll Certification or Certified Payroll Professional preferred but not required
Strong Knowledge of state and federal wage and state tax laws and overtime requirements
Working knowledge of general payroll protocols and accounting principles
Advanced skill utilizing payroll, timekeeping, and ADP tax systems to include Microsoft Office products (Excel, Word, and Outlook)
Highly analytical with a working knowledge of general payroll protocols and accounting principles
Ability to take initiative and ownership of multiple projects to timely completion and work will under time pressure
Strong interpersonal, written and oral communications skills
Self-starter and ability to think outside the box
Workday experience strongly preferred.