Payroll Specialist

At Early Warning, we’ve powered and protected the U.S. financial system for over thirty years with cutting-edge solutions like Zelle®, Paze℠, and so much more. As a trusted name in payments, we partner with thousands of institutions to increase access to financial services and protect transactions for hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses.

Positions located in Scottsdale, San Francisco, Chicago, or New York follow a hybrid work model to allow for a more collaborative working environment.

Candidates responding to this posting must independently possess the eligibility to work in the United States, for any employer, at the date of hire. This position is ineligible for employment Visa sponsorship.

Overall Purpose

The Payroll Specialist will play a crucial role in ensuring accurate and timely processing of bi-weekly payroll while maintaining compliance with Company policies and regulatory requirements. This position will require close collaboration with internal team members, employees, and external vendors. The ideal candidate will understand the payroll processes, knowledge of payroll related requirements, possess exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.

Essential Functions:

• Processes bi-weekly multistate payroll, ensuring it is processed accurately and timely; generates related reports for stakeholder approval.
• Conducts reviews to ensure accurate computation of pay and interprets company policies and government regulations affecting payroll and timekeeping processes, including, but not limited to time sheets, PTO, Holiday, Overtime, etc. Adheres to established timekeeping and accounting principles.
• Reviews and finalizes time sheets for payroll; ensures they are complete and reaches out to leaders to address any issues. Acts as primary customer service contact to employees regarding payroll and timesheet best practice.
• Identifies and resolves issues; provides recommendations to improve processes, efficiency, and accuracy.
• Troubleshoots, retrieves, and assesses information to resolve moderately complex questions, inquiries, and issues, including payroll discrepancies. Effectively communicates and answers payroll related questions and concerns. Also responds to internal/external audit inquiries.
• Reviews employee changes affecting payroll such as location, tax withholding, direct deposit, and deduction elections.
• Opens and maintains state withholding and unemployment tax accounts as needed to support business needs. Researches, responds, and supports HR in unemployment claims inquiries.
• Prepares off cycle checks as necessary.
• Collaborates and supports HR Benefits and Total Rewards teams with annual cycle processes such as open enrollment, annual merit, and bonus cycle, etc.
• Support year-end processes including W-2 preparation and distribution.
• Supporting system regression testing, enhancements, and general configuration setup.
• Certify company compliance, as requires, with federal and state regulations and guidelines. Stay updated on payroll regulations and best practices.
• Support the Company’s commitment to protect the integrity and confidentiality of systems and data.
• The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow instructions and perform other related duties as assigned by their supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education or experience equivalent to a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of two years professional payroll processing experience and/or related experience in accounting.
• Strong data entry experience, including auditing and validating timekeeping to ensure payroll is accurate is necessary. Strong attention to detail is required.
• Ability to apply general mathematical concepts and calculate figures such as earnings, overtime, and percentages.
• Ability to identify moderately complex problems, review information to develop and evaluate options then implement solutions is essential.
• The ability to work efficiently and accurately under pressure, meet deadlines, present a professional demeanor, and work well independently is essential.
• Must possess strong organization skills, including the ability to multi-task and manage multiple tasks to meet various deadlines simultaneously. The ability to adjust to changing priorities is essential.
• This position requires excellent communication, interpersonal and customer service skills, including the ability to write in a clear and concise manner.
• Proficiency with MS Office Applications, especially Excel with the ability to run pivot tables, vlookups, and/or similar analytical functionality.
• Demonstrate professionalism and sensitivity and the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Background and drug screen.

Preferred Qualifications

• Additional related education and/ or work experience preferred.
• Workday Payroll, Timesheets or HCM knowledge a plus.
• Experience running regression testing on system enhancements and routine processes.

Physical Requirements

Early Warning works together in a highly collaborative office environment. Working conditions consist of a normal office environment. Work is primarily sedentary and requires extensive use of a computer and involves sitting for periods of approximately four hours. Work may require occasional standing, walking, kneeling, and reaching. Must be able to lift 10 pounds occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently. Requires visual acuity and dexterity to view, prepare, and manipulate documents and office equipment including personal computers. Requires the ability to communicate with internal and/or external customers.

Employee must be able to perform essential functions and physical requirements of position with or without reasonable accommodation.

The pay scale for this position in:

Phoenix, AZ in USD per year is: $24 - $27/ hr.

This pay scale is subject to change and is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific candidate, which is always dependent on legitimate factors considered at the time of job offer. Early Warning Services takes into consideration a variety of factors when determining a competitive salary offer, including, but not limited to, the job scope, market rates and geographic location of a position, candidate’s education, experience, training, and specialized skills or certification(s) in relation to the job requirements and compared with internal equity (peers). The business actively supports and reviews wage equity to ensure that pay decisions are not based on gender, race, national origin, or any other protected classes.

Additionally, candidates are eligible for a discretionary bonus, and benefits.

Some of the Ways We Prioritize Your Health and Happiness 

•  Healthcare Coverage – Competitive medical (PPO/HDHP), dental, and vision plans as well as company contributions to your Health Savings Account (HSA) or pre-tax savings through flexible spending accounts (FSA) for commuting, health & dependent care expenses.

• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Featuring a 100% Company Safe Harbor Match on your first 6% deferral immediately upon eligibility.

• Paid Time Off – Unlimited Time Off for Exempt (salaried) employees, as well as generous PTO for Non-Exempt (hourly) employees, plus 11 paid company holidays and a paid volunteer day.

• 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave

• Maven Family Planning – provides support through your Parenting journey including egg freezing, fertility, adoption, surrogacy, pregnancy, postpartum, early pediatrics, and returning to work.

And SO much more! We continue to enhance our program, so be sure to check our Benefits page here for the latest. Our team can share more during the interview process!

Early Warning Services, LLC (“Early Warning”) considers for employment, hires, retains and promotes qualified candidates on the basis of ability, potential, and valid qualifications without regard to race, religious creed, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, protected veteran or disability status or any factor prohibited by law, and as such affirms in policy and practice to support and promote equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and municipal laws. The company also prohibits discrimination on other bases such as medical condition, marital status or any other factor that is irrelevant to the performance of our employees.