Senior Payroll Administrator

Position Summary: The Senior Payroll Administrator serves as a subject matter expert and strategic partner working alongside the accounting department and reporting to the Payroll Manager. This role is responsible for accurate, timely, and compliant processing of full-cycle payroll for domestic, multi-state, and international employees. This position requires independent judgement and decision making, managing complex payroll transactions, maintaining payroll data integrity, and ensuring all processes meet legal and company standards. The Senior Payroll Administrator also supports payroll system improvements, audits, and special projects, and provides guidance and direction to other payroll team members. International communication may occasionally require availability during off-hours. This position is fully on site at our Lake Oswego, OR main office.

Salary Range: $90,000 - $105,000 DOE

Essential Responsibilities:

• Oversee and manage end-to-end payroll process for salaried and hourly employees, ensuring accuracy in hours, rates, deductions, and benefits.
• Interpret and apply wage and hour laws and internal policies to resolve complex payroll issues and discrepancies.
• Advise management on payroll tax implications, compliance changes, and internal control improvements.
• Validate compensation and benefit data, calculate payroll adjustments, and reconcile discrepancies prior to final submission.
• Maintain and review payroll systems for both domestic and international employees to ensure compliance and accuracy.
• Assist and back up the payroll tax withholdings set up and process, unemployment, workers’ compensation, and other statutory payments.
• Ensure payroll practices comply with federal, state, local, and international wage and hour laws.
• Assist with the coordination of quarterly and annual tax filings and assist with statutory reporting requirements.
• Partner with external tax vendors and internal departments (Finance, HR, and IT) to ensure consistent data and efficient processing.
• Prepare detailed ad-hoc payroll reports including summaries of earnings, deductions, taxes, and leave balances.
• Maintain complete and accurate payroll records in accordance with company policy and legal requirements.
• Support internal and external audits by providing documentation and responding to auditor inquiries.
• Identify and recommend process improvements to enhance payroll accuracy, compliance, and efficiency.
• Document and maintain payroll procedures, ensuring policies are clearly communicated and consistently applied across the team.
• Provide functional guidance to payroll team members to ensure a high standard of accuracy and service.
• Manage confidential information with the highest level of discretion and professionalism.

QUALIFICATIONS

Professional Experience and Education:

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associate’s degree in Accounting, HR, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 5–7 years of full-cycle payroll experience including multi-state payrolls required.
• Experience with international payroll preferred.
• Experience with JD Edwards or similar ERP platform preferred.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification preferred.

Position Related Skills:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams).
• Working knowledge of payroll systems such as JD Edwards, Oracle, or ADP.
• Strong understanding of payroll tax compliance and regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions.
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively across departments.
• Dependable, organized, and able to maintain confidentiality in handling sensitive data.

Physical and Mental Requirements:

• Combination of sitting, standing, and walking throughout the day.
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for computer work; occasional lifting up to 20 lbs.
• Requires strong focus, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Must be able to work independently, prioritize effectively, and meet strict deadlines.