We are looking for a Payroll Specialist to support a short-term Contract engagement in Santa Barbara, California. This role will focus on reviewing complex payroll issues, validating pay accuracy, and helping ensure year-end payroll records are correct ahead of W-2 processing. The ideal candidate brings strong experience with full-cycle, multi-state payroll and can move quickly through payroll analysis, reconciliations, and corrective calculations in a high-volume environment.

Responsibilities:

• Review payroll records to identify errors affecting overtime, deductions, garnishments, and manual check calculations across prior payroll periods.
• Audit employee pay activity and determine which payroll cycles require correction, including broader reviews for select first-year employees.
• Reconcile payroll balances and prepare accurate adjustment calculations so year-end totals reflect correct earnings and withholdings.
• Analyze payroll impacts for employees working under prevailing wage and public works requirements, ensuring pay is aligned with applicable rules.
• Investigate discrepancies across multi-state payroll processing and resolve issues affecting employee compensation.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to prioritize urgent corrections in advance of year-end reporting and upcoming W-2 deadlines.
• Support payroll validation within ADP Workforce Now and document findings, corrections, and outstanding items clearly.
• Help address complex accrual-related payroll questions, including scenarios involving custom sick leave policies where needed.