Payroll Specialist

The Payroll Specialist supports the accurate and timely processing of payroll for approximately 3,000 multistate employees. This role performs a variety of payroll support functions that may include time & attendance (T&A) review, absence administration, employee inquiry resolution, payroll data updates, and routine payroll corrections.

Key Responsibilities

Employee Support (Primary Focus)

• Serve as first point of contact for payroll inquiries from employees and managers.
• Respond to questions regarding paychecks, taxes, deductions, and earnings statements.
• Manage payroll ticketing system and resolve issues within established SLAs.

Payroll Data Administration

• Process employee updates including direct deposits, W‑4 changes, tax withholding updates, address changes, and basic pay changes.
• Audit employee data for completeness and accuracy.
• Assist with retro pay calculations and payroll corrections.
• Monitor daily timecard activity and follow up to system discrepancies

Payroll Processing Support

• Assist Senior Payroll Specialist with pre‑payroll audits, validations, and reconciliations.
• Support bonus and variable compensation processing by preparing files, validating inputs, and assisting with imports.
• Assist with off-cycle check requests and payment corrections as needed.

Compliance & Recordkeeping

• Maintain accurate documentation of payroll changes and approvals.
• Support payroll audit initiatives by providing requested information and reports.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and federal/state/local regulations.

Project & M&A Support

• Assist with data cleanup and validation during system changes or acquisitions.
• Participate in testing activities for system enhancements and updates.

Qualifications

Required:

• Strong customer service skills
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment

Preferred:

• Experience with basic excel formulas
• Exposure to payroll, timekeeping, or HR operations
• Knowledge of multistate wage and tax rules
• Prior payroll experience
• Prior experience handling payroll tickets or employee inquiries

Core Competencies

• Customer focus
• Detail orientation
• Communication
• Problem solving
• Data accuracy
• Team collaboration

About Us

What we give you in return:

Not many teams can say that they support people’s dreams coming to life… We happen to do that every day. And as important as we know your career is, we recognize that there’s a whole lot more to life. To ensure that our Employees can make the most of their time outside of working hours, we offer a competitive salary and for full-time roles, a benefits package including:

• Inclusive health, dental, vision and life insurance plans built to support diverse lifestyles, offer preventative care, and protect against hardship.
• Easy access to mental health benefits to meet our team members and their families where they are.
• 20 plus days of paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and 2 paid wellness days to give our employees the time they need to stay close with their loved ones, recharge, and give back to their communities.
• 401(k) Savings plan with a generous company contribution (up to 5%), and access to a financial professional to offer our employees the opportunity to plan-ahead for a strong financial future well beyond their working years.
• Paid parental leave to support all team members with birth, adoption, and foster.
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Account options to help you save money on healthcare, daycare, commuting, and more.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP), LifeLock, Pet Insurance and more.

About Cetera Financial Group:

Cetera Financial Group® ("Cetera") is a leading network of independent retail broker-dealers empowering the delivery of objective financial advice to individuals, families and company retirement plans across the country through trusted financial advisors and financial institutions. Cetera is one of the largest independent financial advisor networks in the nation by number of advisors, as well as a leading provider of retail services to the investment programs of banks and credit unions.

Through its multiple distinct firms, Cetera offers independent and institutions-based advisors the benefits of a large, established broker-dealer and registered investment adviser, while serving advisors and institutions in a way that is customized to their needs and aspirations. Advisor support resources offered through Cetera include award-winning wealth management and advisory platforms, comprehensive broker-dealer and registered investment adviser services, practice management support, and innovative technology.

"Cetera Financial Group" refers to the network of independent retail firms encompassing, among others, Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Wealth Services LLC (f/k/a Cetera Advisor Networks), Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions, or Cetera Investors. All firms are members FINRA/SIPC.

Cetera Financial Group is committed to providing an equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. For us, this is the only acceptable way to do business. Accordingly, all employment decisions at Cetera Financial Group, including those relating to hiring, promotion, transfers, benefits, compensation, and placement, will be made without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic characteristics, religion, religious dress and/or grooming, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, U.S. military status, political affiliation, or any other class protected by state and/or federal law.

Agencies please note: this recruitment assignment is being managed directly by Cetera’s Talent Acquisition team. We will reach out to our preferred agency partners in the rare instance we require additional talent options. Your respect for this process is appreciated.

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