Sr. Payroll Specialist

Sr. Payroll Specialist - Lisle, IL

Robert Half is looking for a detail-oriented Sr. Payroll Specialist to support payroll operations for a client in Lisle, Illinois. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, handles sensitive information with discretion, and brings strong experience in multi-state payroll administration. The position also supports corporate card programs and works closely with payroll, human resources, and finance teams to keep processes accurate, compliant, and on schedule.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing for a large employee population, ensuring timely and accurate completion of each pay cycle.
• Prepare payroll-related cash activity and general ledger support, and verify figures before final submission.
• Coordinate payroll activities across multiple employee groups, including salaried, hourly, and union populations.
• Review employee setup details such as tax withholding and direct deposit information to confirm records are complete and correct.
• Examine payroll calculations, accrual balances, and final payments for departing employees to ensure proper payout amounts.
• Process special payroll runs when needed, following established approval procedures and documentation standards.
• Administer multi-state tax withholdings and wage garnishments in compliance with applicable regulations.
• Partner with internal teams and external tax service providers to address tax notices, reporting questions, and year-end form balancing.
• Manage the company travel card and purchasing card programs, including monthly audits, approval review, and employee issue resolution.
• Contribute to reporting, reconciliations, and other special assignments that support payroll and accounts payable functions.
• Associate degree or at least two years of post-secondary education required; Bachelor's degree is preferred.
• Five or more years of hands-on experience managing multi-state payroll, preferably for a workforce of 500 or more employees.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications in a business environment.
• Experience using UKG/UltiPro is required.
• Solid understanding of payroll regulations, standard practices, and federal and state compliance requirements.
• Ability to work with highly confidential information in a careful and detail-oriented manner.
• Bachelor’s degree in a business-related discipline or a payroll certification is preferred.
• Familiarity with Cognos Analytics, Concur, or Bank of America Works is a plus.
• This is a hybrid role working on site 3 days a week (Tuesday-Thursday) and offers a salary range of $75,000-$85,000 + 10% bonus and benefits.