Payroll Specialist

Based on general knowledge.

Payroll Specialist – Contract Leave of Absence Coverage

Location: Westport, CT

Job Type: Contract

Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

Job Description:

Our client in Westport, Connecticut is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist for a contract leave of absence coverage assignment. This fully onsite role is ideal for a payroll professional with deep end-to-end payroll experience in a fast-paced environment and a strong understanding of multi-state payroll processing, including California payroll requirements. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, highly organized, and comfortable managing large data sets while ensuring payroll is processed accurately and on schedule.

This position requires experience supporting both hourly and salaried employees, administering time and attendance, and handling the core components of payroll processing from review through reconciliation. The selected candidate must also be a strong communicator who can work effectively across departments and provide responsive support to employees and internal stakeholders. Flexibility to work late on Tuesdays is required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Process full-cycle payroll for employees across multiple states, including California
• Administer payroll for both hourly and salaried employee populations
• Review, audit, and validate timekeeping and attendance records prior to payroll processing
• Ensure accurate calculation of wages, overtime, bonuses, deductions, garnishments, and other payroll adjustments
• Support payroll compliance with federal, state, and local regulations
• Maintain payroll records and ensure accuracy of employee data in the payroll system
• Reconcile payroll reports and research discrepancies or variances
• Assist with payroll-related reporting, audits, and special projects
• Manage large volumes of payroll data with a high degree of accuracy and confidentiality
• Partner with Human Resources, Finance, and management to resolve payroll questions and issues
• Provide clear and professional communication to employees regarding payroll matters
• Support process documentation and help ensure continuity during leave coverage

Qualifications:

Qualifications:

• Prior payroll experience in a high-volume, multi-state environment required
• Experience processing payroll for employees in California required
• Experience supporting both hourly and salaried employees required
• Strong knowledge of time and attendance systems and payroll inputs required
• Hands-on experience with major payroll functions, including earnings, deductions, taxes, garnishments, reconciliations, and reporting
• Strong Excel skills required, including the ability to work with large data sets
• Excellent attention to detail, accuracy, and organizational skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills required
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines in a fully onsite environment
• Certified payroll experience is a plus
• Must be available to work late on Tuesdays

Compensation

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