Junior Payroll Assistant – Entry-Level HR Payroll Specialist

You join a collaborative payroll group that partners with HR, Finance, and Operations. The environment is fast but friendly; curiosity is prized. Remote work within the U.S. is available, so geographic limits will not stall your growth.

Key Responsibilities

- Process weekly and bi-weekly payroll runs for exempt and non-exempt employees under senior guidance.  

- Maintain and audit employee data in HRIS, ADP Workforce Now, or comparable systems.  

- Validate hours, overtime, and special earnings from digital time-tracking tools.  

- Reconcile payroll reports, identify variances, and correct discrepancies before submission.  

- Respond to employee payroll inquiries with clear, timely explanations.  

- Document new procedures, tax updates, and policy changes in an internal knowledge base.  

- Collaborate with benefits and accounting teams on deductions, garnishments, and journal entries.  

- Generate ad-hoc wage, tax, and headcount reports for auditors and leadership.  

- Stay current on federal, state, and local wage laws; flag compliance risks early.  

- Drive process improvements by testing new payroll software features and integrations.  

What You’ll Bring

- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, HR Management, or a related field.  

- Internship or coursework exposure to payroll fundamentals and labor regulations.  

- Solid Excel skills—pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and basic macros.  

- Familiarity with cloud-based payroll platforms (ADP, Paychex, Gusto, or similar).  

- Keen attention to detail; you spot a one-cent variance instantly.  

- Clear written and verbal communication; you translate tax jargon into plain English.  

- Problem-solving mindset and the resilience to meet rigid deadlines.  

- Discreet handling of confidential salary and tax information.  

- Adaptability to remote collaboration using Slack, Zoom, and Jira.  

- Eligibility to work in the United States without sponsorship.  

Growth & Learning

- Hands-on mentorship from Certified Payroll Professionals (CPP).  

- Cross-training in HR analytics, benefits administration, and labor law.  

- Access to SHRM and APA webinars, certification roadmaps, and study materials.  

- Exposure to automation tools—think Python scripts, Power Query, and AI-driven anomaly detection.  

Why This Opportunity Matters

Payroll sits at the heart of employee trust. By guaranteeing on-time, correct pay you become a linchpin for organizational morale. You also gain rare visibility into finance, compliance, and data governance—skills that compound in value year after year.