Payroll Accountant

We are looking for an experienced Payroll Accountant to join a growing team in New Jersey. This contract opportunity with permanent potential is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can manage complex payroll activities with accuracy and professionalism. The role supports large-scale payroll operations, reporting, reconciliations, and compliance efforts while partnering closely with Finance, Operations, and leadership.

Responsibilities:

• Manage payroll processing support that includes both W-2 employees and 1099 workers across multiple states.

• Examine timekeeping records, pay adjustments, deductions, and related payroll inputs to confirm complete and accurate pay calculations.

• Research and resolve payroll issues such as incorrect payments, unreported hours, direct deposit problems, tax-related questions, and employee inquiries.

• Analyze payroll registers, funding summaries, tax documentation, exception reporting, and audit outputs to identify discrepancies and maintain accuracy.

• Produce recurring and ad hoc payroll reports, overtime reviews, workforce metrics, and analytical summaries to support operational and financial decision-making.

• Perform reconciliations for payroll balances, liabilities, and general ledger activity, and assist with accruals and month-end close support.

• Work with internal teams and external vendors to address payroll tax matters, investigate notices, and resolve outstanding tax discrepancies.

• Coordinate vendor cases, monitor issue resolution, escalate urgent concerns, and contribute to payroll-related projects and process improvements.

• Participate in payroll system reviews, implementation efforts, conversion activities, migration support, parallel testing, validation, and user acceptance testing.

• Build broad knowledge of payroll operations and provide dependable backup coverage for payroll leadership to help maintain business continuity.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of hands-on payroll experience in a high-volume environment.
• Proven background supporting multi-state payroll processing.
• Experience working with W-2 and/or 1099 worker populations.
• Advanced Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, data validation, reconciliations, reporting, and analysis of large data sets.
• Strong knowledge of payroll taxes, deductions, wage and hour rules, garnishments, and compliance standards.
• Ability to investigate discrepancies, interpret payroll data, and resolve issues with a high degree of accuracy.
• Experience preparing payroll-related reporting and supporting reconciliations tied to finance or accounting processes.

Compensation

$28.00-$33.00 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.

Robert Half works to put you in the best position to succeed. We provide access to top jobs, competitive compensation and benefits, and free online training. Stay on top of every opportunity - whenever you choose - even on the go. Download the Robert Half app and get 1-tap apply, notifications of AI-matched jobs, and much more.

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.

© 2025 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer. M/F/Disability/Veterans. By clicking “Apply Now,” you’re agreeing to Robert Half’s Terms of Use and Privacy Notice.