Payroll & Operation Specialist

Payroll Operations Specialist Department: Finance Reports To: Controller (Finance) Dotted Line: Vice President, Human Resources FLSA Status: Exempt or Non-Exempt (based on role scope) Key Partnerships: Human Resources, Accounting, External Payroll Vendors Location: Blythewood, South Carolina (Columbia South Carolina area) Position Summary The Payroll Operations Specialist is a Finance-based role responsible for the accurate execution of payroll, financial reconciliation, and compliance with regulatory and accounting requirements. This role maintains a strong dotted-line relationship to Human Resources to ensure alignment of employee data, payroll-impacting transactions, and employee experience, while upholding financial controls and reporting integrity. Payroll Administration Financial Management

• End-to-end ownership of payroll processing, including all earnings types (standard, variable)
• Validate all payroll-impacting transactions in partnership with HR
• Maintain compliance with wage and hour laws, payroll regulations, and internal policies
• Perform tasks related to funding, accruals, and reconciliations
• Prepare payroll journal entries and support close activities
• Reconcile payroll accounts and resolve discrepancies
• Oversee payroll taxes, garnishments, and deductions
• Coordinate 401(k) funding and reconciliation Financial Reporting Controls
• Prepare payroll accruals and support financial close timelines
• Ensure strong internal controls aligned with compliance requirements
• Support internal and external audits
• Maintain data integrity across systems
• Provide reporting for forecasting and workforce planning HR Systems Operational Alignment
• Maintain accurate employee data across HRIS and payroll systems
• Partner with HR to align data and transactions
• Support lifecycle transactions (hire, change, LOA, termination)
• Support onboarding and offboarding from payroll perspective
• Manage system access provisioning and removal
• Maintain SOP documentation Stakeholder Support Continuous Improvement
• Serve as primary contact for payroll inquiries
• Act as liaison between Finance, HR, and vendors
• Identify process improvements
• Support cross-functional initiatives Qualifications - Required
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Finance, Accounting, or related field
• 3-5 years payroll experience
• Experience with ADP
• Knowledge of multi-state payroll and compliance
• Experience with reconciliations and audits
• Proficiency in payroll systems and Excel
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail Qualifications - Preferred
• Experience in SOX environment
• Advanced Excel skills
• Fidelity PSW experience
• Experience in multi-entity organizations Core Competencies
• Financial accuracy and controls mindset
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Analytical and problem-solving ability
• Clear communication
• Continuous improvement