Payroll Specialist

Job Description Position Overview We are seeking a detail-oriented and dependable Payroll Specialist to join our team in Fairfax County, Virginia. This contract-to-hire opportunity is ideal for a payroll professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about ensuring accurate and timely payroll administration. The Payroll Specialist will be responsible for processing multi-state payroll, maintaining payroll records, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations, and providing exceptional support to employees regarding payroll-related inquiries. Key Responsibilities Process weekly, biweekly, or semi-monthly payroll for employees accurately and on schedule. Review and audit payroll data, including timesheets, earnings, deductions, taxes, and benefit withholdings. Maintain payroll records and ensure data integrity within payroll and HRIS systems. Assist with onboarding and offboarding activities related to payroll setup and final pay calculations. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations. Reconcile payroll reports, deductions, garnishments, benefits, and tax filings. Respond to employee payroll inquiries and resolve payroll discrepancies in a timely manner. Support payroll audits and assist with year-end processing, including W-2 preparation and reconciliation. Partner with Human Resources, Accounting, and Benefits teams to ensure accurate employee data and payroll reporting. Maintain confidentiality of employee and payroll information. Assist with payroll process improvements and system updates as needed. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field. 2-5 years of payroll processing experience. Experience processing payroll for medium to large employee populations. Knowledge of federal and state payroll regulations, wage and hour laws, and payroll tax requirements. Proficiency with payroll systems such as ADP, UKG, Paycom, Workday, Ceridian Dayforce, or similar platforms. Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, lookups, and data analysis. High attention to detail and accuracy. Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict deadlines.