Payroll Specialist

Company Description

Job Description

Scope of Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for a multi-state workforce, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time.
• Review and validate payroll inputs, including new hires, terminations, compensation changes, bonuses, commissions, time and attendance, benefit deductions, garnishments, leaves, retroactive adjustments, and off-cycle payments.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements, wage and hour regulations, and company policies.
• Manage and reconcile payroll tax activity, including quarterly and annual filings, W-2s, payroll tax notices, and state and local registrations in coordination with payroll providers.
• Prepare and post payroll journal entries, accruals, and other payroll-related accounting entries, and reconcile payroll-related general ledger and balance sheet accounts.
• Perform payroll audits and reconciliations each pay cycle to identify and resolve discrepancies before payroll is finalized.
• Partner closely with People Operations, Benefits, Finance, and Accounting to ensure employee data, deductions, compensation changes, and payroll accounting are complete and accurate.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and audit-ready payroll records and supporting documentation in accordance with company policies, SOX requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Support internal and external audits by preparing payroll documentation, reconciliations, control evidence, and responses to auditor inquiries.
• Develop, document, and execute payroll policies, procedures, and SOX-compliant internal controls that strengthen accuracy, compliance, and segregation of duties.
• Support payroll system implementations, integrations, testing, and process enhancements, and identify opportunities to automate and improve payroll operations.
• Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities and provide payroll reporting and analysis as needed.
• Be an active participant in establishing systems and processes that position Air for continued growth and public-company readiness.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.

• Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license/certification is strongly preferred.
• 4+ years of relevant payroll experience, including hands-on ownership of U.S. multi-state payroll processing.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements, wage and hour rules, payroll deductions, and payroll compliance.
• Strong understanding of payroll accounting, including journal entries, accruals, general ledger reconciliations, and month-end close.
• Advanced Excel skills and the ability to analyze and reconcile large data sets with a high degree of accuracy.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to manage recurring deadlines in a fast-moving environment.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, protect confidential employee information, and drive departmental improvements.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to explain payroll matters clearly to employees and business partners.
• Passion for mission-driven work and a belief that accurate, compliant payroll operations underpin trust and accountability.

• Experience working within a SOX-compliant control environment or supporting a company preparing for public-company requirements.
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now, BambooHR, and Employee Navigator.
• NetSuite experience is a plus.
• Experience with payroll tax registrations, state unemployment insurance accounts, and multi-state employee mobility.
• Experience supporting payroll system implementations, integrations, automation, or process improvement initiatives.
• Experience with equity compensation, bonus, commission, or other complex payroll transactions is a plus.