Payroll Administrator

We are looking for an experienced Payroll Administrator to support a large healthcare organization in Knoxville, Tennessee. This contract-to-permanent opportunity is ideal for a detail-oriented payroll specialist who can quickly contribute in a fast-moving environment with a substantial employee population. The role focuses on delivering accurate payroll across multiple pay schedules while partnering with internal teams to maintain compliance, resolve issues, and support efficient payroll operations.

Responsibilities:

• Administer payroll processing for a large multi-state workforce of approximately 5,000 to 6,000 employees with a strong focus on accuracy and timeliness.
• Coordinate weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly payroll cycles, ensuring all payments are completed according to established deadlines.
• Calculate and validate complex pay components such as shift premiums, garnishments, special deductions, and employees working under multiple job codes.
• Audit payroll records before final submission to confirm completeness, proper earnings and deductions, and compliance with applicable regulations.
• Investigate payroll questions and discrepancies, determine root causes, and implement timely corrections.
• Work closely with HR, benefits, finance, and operations teams to address payroll-related needs and maintain reliable employee data flow.
• Prepare payroll reports, support reconciliations, and assist with internal or external audit requests.
• Contribute to process enhancements and help uphold best practices within a collaborative payroll team.
• Utilize payroll systems and workforce management tools, including Lawson and related software, to support full-cycle payroll administration.