Payroll Specialist

We are looking for an experienced Payroll Specialist to support accurate and timely payroll operations for a dynamic organization in Austin, Texas. This contract-to-permanent opportunity is ideal for someone who can manage payroll activities with precision, maintain compliance across multiple jurisdictions, and provide responsive support to employees and internal stakeholders. The role requires strong attention to detail, confidence working with payroll systems and audits, and the ability to handle sensitive payroll matters with professionalism.

Responsibilities:
• Review timesheet, attendance, and HR change data to ensure payroll inputs are complete and correct before each processing cycle.
• Maintain employee payroll records by validating new employee details, separations, compensation updates, benefit deductions, garnishments, and direct deposit changes.
• Enter and update payroll information in the system with a high degree of accuracy and perform pre-payroll audits to identify and resolve discrepancies.
• Process recurring payroll on the established semi-monthly schedule, verifying earnings, deductions, taxes, and net pay amounts prior to final submission.
• Compare payroll results against approved records and investigate unusual variances affecting hourly and non-exempt employee pay.
• Reconcile payroll registers, coordinate funding activities, and ensure electronic payments and live checks are issued correctly and on time.
• Prepare and submit payroll tax deposits and required filings, including quarterly and year-end reporting, while supporting compliance with multi-state payroll regulations.
• Partner with Finance and Accounting to reconcile payroll-related accounts, prepare payroll reporting, and support general ledger entry activities.
• Respond promptly to employee questions related to pay, tax withholding, deductions, garnishments, and direct deposit matters with accuracy and care.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience managing full-cycle payroll in a high-volume environment.
• Hands-on experience processing payroll for more than 500 employees.
• Strong knowledge of multi-state payroll practices, tax requirements, and wage and hour compliance.
• Proficiency with ADP Workforce Now and experience using BambooHR or similar HRIS platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to perform payroll audits, reconciliations, and exception review with strong attention to detail.
• Experience handling payroll changes such as new hires, terminations, deductions, garnishments, and direct deposit updates.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to resolve employee payroll inquiries accurately and in a timely manner.

Compensation

$40.00-$45.00 Hourly

About Us

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.

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All applicants applying for U.S. job openings must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Benefits are available to contract/temporary professionals, including medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance. Hired contract/temporary professionals are also eligible to enroll in our company 401(k) plan. Visit roberthalf.gobenefits.net for more information.

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