Payroll Specialist

Payroll Specialist

We are looking for a Payroll Specialist to join an organization in Saint Paul, Minnesota for a 2–3 month Contract assignment. This position will play a key role in keeping payroll operations accurate, timely, and well organized for a large employee population. The role combines hands-on payroll processing with process review and practical recommendations to strengthen day-to-day workflows, while working in a hybrid schedule with three days onsite and two days remote.

Responsibilities

• Process biweekly payroll for approximately 650 employees, ensuring wages, deductions, and tax withholdings are completed accurately and on schedule.

• Administer payroll activities across multiple states while maintaining compliance with applicable wage, tax, and reporting requirements.

• Support payroll-related modules and systems by resolving issues, validating data, and helping maintain smooth operational performance.

• Examine existing payroll procedures, identify inefficiencies, and recommend improvements that enhance accuracy, consistency, and turnaround time.

• Provide informed guidance on responsibilities and best practices that could help shape the position toward a more senior payroll leadership scope.

• Reconcile payroll information, review exceptions, and investigate discrepancies to ensure complete and reliable records.

• Partner with internal stakeholders to answer payroll questions and support timely resolution of employee and administrative concerns.

• Please note that all candidates are required to provide 2 recent supervisor or manager references in order to be considered for employment.

• Demonstrated experience managing full-cycle payroll from input validation through final processing and reconciliation.

• Background handling payroll for a workforce of more than 500 employees in a high-volume environment.

• Working knowledge of multi-state payroll practices, including tax and compliance considerations.

• Hands-on experience using ADP Workforce Now for payroll processing and related administration.

• Strong attention to detail with the ability to maintain accuracy while meeting recurring deadlines.

• Solid problem-solving skills and the ability to review processes critically to identify practical improvements.

• Effective communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a hybrid team setting.

• Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects highly qualified job seekers to opportunities at great companies. We offer contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions for finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support roles.

• Robert Half works to put you in the best position to succeed. We provide access to top jobs, competitive compensation and benefits, and free online training. Stay on top of every opportunity - whenever you choose - even on the go. Download the Robert Half app and get 1-tap apply, notifications of AI-matched jobs, and much more.

• All applicants applying for U.S. job openings must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Benefits are available including medical, vision, dental, life and disability insurance. Employees hired for our FTEP Program are also eligible to enroll in our company’s 401(k) or deferred compensation plan (if eligible). FTEP employees also earn paid time off for vacation, personal needs, and sick time and paid holidays. The amount of Choice Time Off (CTO) received varies based on years of service and is pro-rated based on the hours worked per week. A new FTEP employee earns up to 13 days of CTO and up to 10 paid holidays per calendar year. Learn more at roberthalfbenefits.com/Resources.