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The Senior Payroll Specialist is responsible for administering payroll operations and delivering exceptional payroll support services to employees and management. This role ensures accurate and timely payroll processing while maintaining compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, company policies, and collective bargaining agreements. The Senior Payroll Specialist serves as a subject matter expert for payroll administration, timekeeping, payroll accounting, compliance, and employee support.
Responsibilities- Process and balance bi-weekly payroll for both salaried and hourly employees, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with established procedures.
- Reconcile payroll records, perform payroll cost analyses, and balance payroll funding transactions for reporting to Finance.
- Analyze payroll-related bank accounts and general ledger accounts, investigate discrepancies, and resolve variances.
- Coordinate and calculate third-party payments and payroll adjustments related to employee leaves of absence, including FMLA and other approved leave programs.
- Maintain payroll system data, including earnings codes, tax tables, deduction tables, and other payroll-related configurations in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements.
- Administer payroll compliance activities and support internal and external audits by providing documentation, reports, and process controls.
- Respond to employee and management inquiries regarding payroll, timekeeping, deductions, taxes, and pay-related issues.
- Manage payroll and timekeeping system administration, including employee setup, status changes, and terminations.
- Process wage garnishments, levies, and other court-ordered deductions, ensuring timely payments and compliance with applicable regulations.
- Prepare and reconcile union dues reporting and payments, and support payroll-related collective bargaining agreement requirements.
- Support union payroll activities, including eligibility tracking, payroll deductions, and monthly reconciliation of dues and fees.
- Assist with year-end payroll activities, including W-2 processing, reporting, and payroll reconciliations.
- Serve as a backup for payroll team functions as needed and contribute to ongoing process improvements.
Required
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Minimum of 3 years of experience performing payroll, HR, finance, accounting, or other administrative/transactional processing functions.
- Ability to report to the local office approximately 2-4 times per month. This equates to about once a week or every other week, depending on team needs.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in payroll processing and data management.
- Ability to manage recurring deadlines and prioritize multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong customer service and communication skills with the ability to effectively support employees and leaders.
- Knowledge of payroll practices, federal and state wage and hour laws, payroll taxes, and regulatory requirements, or the ability to quickly learn and apply such knowledge.
- Understanding of accounting principles, payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and time management skills.
- Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment.
Preferred
- Experience processing in-house payroll.
- Experience with payroll and HRIS systems such as Oracle HRMS, Kronos, PeopleSoft, or similar platforms.
- Experience with payroll accounting, general ledger reconciliations, and audit support.
- Knowledge of union payroll administration and collective bargaining agreements.
- Experience with year-end payroll processing, including W-2 preparation and reporting.
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation or related payroll certification.
Base Pay Information
The national base pay range at the end is a good-faith estimate of what Delta Dental may pay for new hires. Actual pay may vary based on Delta Dental’s assessment of the candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs), related experience, education, certifications, and ability to meet required minimum job qualifications. Other factors impacting pay include prevailing wages in the work location and internal equity.
Pay Grade 17. $51,360- $107,500
- Competitive base and incentive pay
- 401(k) with robust matching and non-matching contributions
- Rich medical & pharmacy benefits
- 100% employer-paid dental and vision benefits
- Holistic wellbeing program with deep financial incentives
- Generous paid time off plus 12 paid holidays and your birthday off
- Culture of growth and learning: career development; tuition reimbursement; recognition program
- Family support: adoption assistance, fertility treatment, child, elder & pet care assistance
- Social responsibility and volunteer opportunities
- Employee discount program
Skills Required
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in payroll, HR, finance, accounting, or administrative functions
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in payroll processing and data management
- Ability to manage recurring deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Strong customer service and communication skills
- Knowledge of payroll practices and federal/state wage laws
- Experience with payroll and HRIS systems
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation
Delta Dental Insurance Company Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Delta Dental Insurance Company and has not been reviewed or approved by Delta Dental Insurance Company.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as a standout element, including a sizable automatic 401(k) contribution plus additional matching. This boosts overall total-rewards value even when base pay is viewed as only mid-market in some areas.
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Affordable Benefits — Core coverage is framed as unusually low-cost to employees, including fully employer-paid dental and vision and low employee contribution medical options. This creates meaningful take-home value beyond cash compensation.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off offerings are described as generous, including broad PTO/holidays and additional paid leave features such as parental leave. These policies increase perceived rewards and help balance workload demands.
Delta Dental Insurance Company Insights
What We Do
At Delta Dental, we’re behind millions of smiles and counting. For over 68 years, we’ve served our communities by increasing access to affordable, quality care – but that commitment to care extends beyond the people we serve, to the dedicated employees who make those smiles genuine. We've come this far by building programs that offer opportunities for advancement, create meaningful connections, and improve the lives of our employees and their families. Because we know that when we take exceptional care of each other, we can make a positive impact for all. We champion an inspirational workplace through our commitment to trust, service, excellence and innovation. Joining us means working for a company that offers stability and balance, opportunities for leadership at all levels, and a work environment. Delta Dental of California, Delta Dental of New York, Inc., Delta Dental of Pennsylvania, and Delta Dental Insurance Company are members, or affiliates of members, of the Delta Dental Plans Association, a network of 39 Delta Dental companies throughout the country. Together with our affiliate companies, form one of the nation’s largest dental benefits delivery systems, covering over 31 million enrollees. Headquartered in San Francisco, we are members of the Delta Dental Plans Association, a network of companies that provides dental coverage to 80 million people. Delta Dental provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Delta Dental complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
