Payroll Specialist

We are looking for a Payroll Specialist to support accurate and compliant payroll operations for a U.S.-based employee population in Santa Clara, California. This Long-term Contract position is ideal for someone who can confidently manage full-cycle, multi-state payroll while collaborating across payroll, benefits, and accounting functions. The role requires strong attention to detail, sound judgment with tax and commission-related payroll matters, and the ability to keep processes organized and well documented.

Responsibilities:

• Administer complete payroll processing for multi-state U.S. employees, ensuring each cycle is completed accurately and on schedule.

• Review earnings, deductions, tax withholdings, and commission payments to confirm payroll results are correct before finalization.

• Monitor payroll tax obligations across multiple states and help maintain compliance with applicable wage and hour requirements.

• Investigate and correct payroll variances, reconciling records in advance of each pay run to minimize errors and delays.

• Work closely with the benefits team to ensure payroll deductions tied to employee benefit programs are reflected properly in payroll.

• Oversee expense reimbursement activity through Concur, including validation and reconciliation of submitted amounts.

• Partner with accounting leadership on payroll-related journal entries, accruals, reporting, and related financial support tasks.

• Create clear process documentation and identify potential compliance concerns or operational risks to support long-term continuity in the role.

Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience managing full-cycle payroll in a multi-state U.S. environment.
• Strong understanding of state payroll tax requirements and wage and hour compliance considerations.
• Practical experience using ADP Workforce Now for payroll processing is strongly preferred.
• Ability to accurately handle commission payments, tax calculations, and other payroll items with a high degree of precision.
• Experience reconciling payroll data, researching discrepancies, and resolving issues efficiently.
• Familiarity with payroll-related coordination across benefits and accounting teams.
• Experience working with expense reimbursement platforms such as Concur is preferred.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to learn quickly in a fast-paced contract assignment.

Compensation

$39.59-$45.84 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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