Payroll Specialist

Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to support payroll operations for a large, multi-state workforce in our Phoenix, AZ office. This role is ideal for a payroll professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys working with complex employee transactions, and brings strong payroll tax knowledge and compliance experience.

The Payroll Specialist plays a critical role in ensuring timely and accurate payroll processing, employee data integrity, payroll tax compliance, auditing, and reconciliation activities. This position partners closely with Payroll, HRIS, Benefits, Talent Management, and Finance to support employee lifecycle events and maintain accurate payroll and tax records across multiple systems.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Payroll Administration

• Process employee payroll transactions, including:
• New hires
• Transfers
• Promotions
• Compensation changes
• Direct deposit updates
• Deduction changes
• Leaves of absence
• Terminations
• Perform high-volume payroll and employee data entry across multiple systems.
• Review and audit payroll-related transactions for accuracy and compliance.
• Assist with payroll processing, balancing, and reconciliation activities.
• Research and resolve payroll discrepancies and employee inquiries.
• Maintain payroll records in accordance with firm policies and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure employee data is accurate and processed timely.

Payroll Tax Administration

• Establish and maintain employee federal, state, and local tax records.
• Review employee tax elections and withholding information for accuracy.
• Support payroll tax account registrations and maintenance activities.
• Research and assist with the resolution of payroll tax notices.
• Monitor payroll tax data integrity and investigate discrepancies.
• Assist with year-end payroll tax reporting and compliance activities.
• Maintain knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements.

Compliance, Auditing & Data Integrity

• Audit payroll and employee records to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Conduct routine reconciliations across payroll and HR systems.
• Support compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws.
• Assist with payroll-related audits and document requests.
• Participate in system testing, process improvements, and payroll-related projects.
• Support the development and maintenance of payroll procedures and documentation.

Reporting & Analysis

• Generate and validate payroll reports and supporting documentation.
• Assist with payroll analysis and reconciliations.
• Support internal and external audit requests.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and reporting documentation.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 5-10 years of payroll administration experience.
• Experience supporting multi-state payroll operations.
• Experience with payroll tax administration, employee tax setup, and tax-related issue resolution.
• Demonstrated experience processing high volumes of payroll and employee transactions.
• Strong understanding of payroll practices and compliance requirements.
• Advanced attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet strict deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent customer service, verbal, and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience supporting payroll operations for organizations with 2,000+ employees.
• Experience with UKG Pro or similar Human Capital Management systems.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification or progress toward certification.
• Experience in a professional services environment.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• Knowledge of employee tax withholding requirements and payroll tax administration.
• Strong auditing and reconciliation skills.
• Ability to identify, research, and resolve payroll discrepancies.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across departments.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a team-oriented environment.

Why This Role Matters

The Payroll Specialist supports the payroll operations that keep our organization running smoothly. This position offers the opportunity to apply payroll expertise across multi-state payroll processing, compliance, auditing, employee data management, and process improvement initiatives while partnering with stakeholders throughout the firm.

If you are an experienced payroll professional who enjoys solving problems, ensuring accuracy, and navigating the complexities of payroll tax compliance, we encourage you to apply.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.