Job description · Finance and accounting · Full-time
Payroll Specialist job description
A payroll specialist runs accurate, on-time payroll and keeps records compliant. They process hours, changes, and deductions, reconcile payroll to the books, and answer employee pay questions.
Responsibilities
- Process payroll on schedule for all pay groups
- Enter new hires, terminations, and pay changes
- Review timesheets and calculate overtime
- Manage deductions, benefits, and garnishments
- Reconcile payroll registers to the general ledger
- Answer employee pay questions confidentially
Requirements
- Two or more years processing U.S. payroll
- Experience with Gusto, ADP, or Paychex
- Understands U.S. payroll taxes and wage basics
- Highly accurate and deadline-driven
- Strict confidentiality
Tools
- Gusto, ADP, or Paychex
- QuickBooks or Xero
- Deputy or a time-tracking tool
- Google Sheets or Excel
What success looks like after 90 days
- Every payroll on time with zero missed changes
- Payroll reconciled to the books each period
- A documented payroll calendar and checklist
Screening questions
Ask these before you book an interview.
- Which payroll systems have you run?
- How many employees and states did you process?
- Have you reconciled payroll to the general ledger?
- This is a full-time role working set hours each business day. Can you commit to that schedule?
Interview questions
- An employee says their paycheck is short. What do you do?
- Walk me through processing a mid-period termination.
- How do you prevent missed changes before a payroll run?
- How do you handle overtime calculations?
Hiring tip
Ask for the candidate's pre-run checklist. Payroll accuracy comes from checklists, not memory.
Payroll Specialist hiring FAQ
What does a Payroll Specialist do?
A payroll specialist runs accurate, on-time payroll and keeps records compliant. They process hours, changes, and deductions, reconcile payroll to the books, and answer employee pay questions. Day to day, the role covers work such as: process payroll on schedule for all pay groups, enter new hires, terminations, and pay changes, and review timesheets and calculate overtime.
How much does it cost to hire a full-time Payroll Specialist from the Philippines?
We place a full-time Payroll Specialist from the Philippines for $1,800 a month. Every candidate passes our top 2% vetting, starts within 14 days, and comes with a 1-week trial backed by a replacement or refund. The price is a flat monthly rate for a dedicated full-time hire.
What skills should a Payroll Specialist have?
Look for: two or more years processing U.S. payroll, experience with Gusto, ADP, or Paychex, understands U.S. payroll taxes and wage basics, and highly accurate and deadline-driven. Common tools include Gusto, ADP, or Paychex, QuickBooks or Xero, Deputy or a time-tracking tool, and Google Sheets or Excel.
What should a Payroll Specialist achieve in the first 90 days?
Every payroll on time with zero missed changes, payroll reconciled to the books each period, and A documented payroll calendar and checklist.
Can I copy and edit this Payroll Specialist job description?
Yes. Copy it with one click, edit it for your business, and post it anywhere. For a version built from your own task list, open it in our free job description generator, or book a strategy call and we will find the hire for you.
Want us to find your Payroll Specialist?
We place a full-time Payroll Specialist from the Philippines for $1,800 a month. Every candidate passes our top 2% vetting, starts within 14 days, and comes with a 1-week trial backed by a replacement or refund.