Senior Payroll Specialist

Senior Payroll Specialist Payroll Grand Prairie, Texas

Dallas:

Fin/Acct/HR:

Direct Hire Apr 10, 2026 #10687 Job Description Our client in the wholesale and distribution industry is seeking a Senior Payroll Specialist to join their team. This is a full-time, hybrid position based in Grand Prairie. The Senior Payroll Specialist will report to the Manager of HRIS & Payroll, and is responsible for processing company payrolls, providing HR reporting, and processing, updating and maintaining payroll and HR records.

Position Purpose:

The Senior Payroll Specialist is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of multi-state payrolls and the maintenance of payroll and HR data. This role ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations while supporting reporting requirements and internal service needs.

Leadership Summary:

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities but may provide guidance and support to other team members.

Essential Job Results:

Own the end-to-end processing of multiple payrolls (bi-weekly, weekly, and off-cycle), ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with company policies and all federal, state, and local regulations. Perform advanced payroll audits, including trend analysis and variance reviews, to proactively identify discrepancies and ensure payroll accuracy prior to finalization. Oversee and validate payroll data integrations between HRIS, timekeeping, and payroll systems, ensuring data integrity across platforms. Ensure accurate multi-state and local tax setup and maintenance, including oversight of complex tax scenarios related to employee mobility, jurisdiction changes, and regulatory updates. Review and validate payroll tax filings and third-party vendor activity to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance; escalate and resolve discrepancies as needed. Maintain advanced knowledge of payroll legislation and regulatory changes; assess impact and support implementation of required updates to processes and systems. Serve as a subject matter expert for payroll processes, providing guidance to HR, Finance, and management on payroll-related matters. Maintain ownership of payroll and HR data integrity by reviewing and approving complex employee transactions, including hires, transfers, compensation changes, and terminations. Evaluate and resolve escalated payroll issues by conducting detailed research, identifying root causes, and implementing corrective actions. Provide support and oversight for payroll inquiries, ensuring timely, accurate, and consistent responses, particularly for complex or sensitive issues. Develop, maintain, and enhance standard and custom payroll reporting, ensuring accuracy and usability for Finance, HR, Benefits, and leadership teams. Analyze payroll data to support audits, financial reporting, and business decision-making, including 401(k), accruals, compliance reporting, and workforce analytics. Partner with Finance to support general ledger reconciliation, payroll funding, and audit requirements. Oversee payroll deductions and garnishments, including review of complex cases to ensure compliance with applicable laws and internal controls. Ensure accurate execution of benefit deductions, eligibility timelines, and compensation-related changes in coordination with HR and Benefits Lead the development, documentation, and continuous improvement of payroll processes, procedures, and internal controls. Identify inefficiencies and implement process enhancements to improve accuracy, compliance, and operational effectiveness. Support cross-training efforts and provide functional guidance to payroll team members. Serve as payroll lead on system implementations, upgrades, and process changes, including testing, validation, and post-implementation support. Participate in and, when applicable, lead payroll-related projects, including system enhancements, acquisitions, or organizational changes. Manage and prioritize work within a high-volume payroll environment, balancing competing deadlines and ensuring service level expectations are met. Johnstone Supply believes that each employee's contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. Therefore, it is our expectation that each employee will offer his/her services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our endeavors.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Education and/or

Experience:

Bachelor's degree (B.A./B.S.) from four-year college or university; at least ten years of related experience; previous processing multi-state payrolls is preferred; In-depth knowledge of ADP Workforce Now is required; experience with other payroll systems (ADP Run, Paycor, Paylocity) preferred. Certificates, licenses, and

Registrations:

A Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) is preferred, but not required for this role.

Technical Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of multi-state payroll processing and applicable tax regulations Understanding of federal, state, and local payroll laws and compliance requirements Proficient Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, data analysis) and ability to work with large datasets Ability to generate and analyze payroll and HR reports Understanding of payroll system integrations, including HRIS and timekeeping systems Knowledge of wage and hour laws, including regular rate of pay calculations

Process Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of payroll accounting principles, including payroll funding and General Ledger interface and reconciliation. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify root causes and resolve complex payroll issues. Ability to interpret and apply federal, state, and local laws related to payroll, taxation, and employee pay practices. Ability to manage and organize large volumes of data while maintaining accuracy and data integrity. Ability to develop, follow, and improve standardized procedures and internal controls. Strong attention to detail, with the ability to identify inconsistencies and ensure accuracy in a high-volume environment. Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks while meeting strict deadlines. Ability to exercise independent judgment and make informed decisions within established guidelines. Ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment and across departments. Ability to provide consistent, professional internal customer service. Ability to work effectively under pressure in a deadline-driven environment.

Communication Skills:

Ability to communicate complex payroll concepts clearly to non-technical audiences Ability to maintain professionalism and responsiveness in high-volume communication channels Ability to exercise discretion and confidentiality with sensitive employee data Ability to provide training and guidance on payroll processes and best practices Ability to demonstrate tact and diplomacy in resolving payroll issues

Leadership Skills:

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities but may provide guidance and support to other team members.

Live Our Company Values:

Safety:

Always prioritize safety, both at work and at home, while ensuring those who work for you work safely

Customer Focused:

Take the perspective of those we serve, anticipate their needs, and respond quickly.

One Team:

We win together by collaborating with each other, focusing on the common goal, and leveraging the strengths of the team.

Own It:

Take the initiative, act with a sense of urgency and pride, do things right the first time, and always act with integrity.

Innovate:

Embrace and create change that drives continuous improvement and customer-valued solutions #IND