Payroll Specialist at AW Health Care – Saint Louis, Missouri

AW Health Care is a growing organization dedicated to providing compassionate, one-on-one support that allows seniors and homebound clients to live safely and comfortably in their own homes.

About AW Health Care:

We are a women-owned organization proudly serving the St. Louis community, and we believe our staff are the heart of everything we do. If you are dependable, compassionate, and enjoy building meaningful relationships, we would love to meet you.

Why Join AW Health Care?

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with 4% Company Match
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Supplemental benefits (Short Disability, Life Insurance)

Job Summary:

We are currently seeking a full-time, detail-oriented, dependable Payroll Specialist to support the payroll processing of our 500-employee home care organization. This in-office role is responsible for maintaining accurate payroll records, supporting daily payroll functions, and ensuring compliance with internal and external reporting requirements. The ideal candidate is hands-on, organized, and thrives in a fast-paced environment where teamwork, flexibility, and confidentiality are essential.

The Payroll Specialist, supervised by the Payroll and Benefits Manager, coordinates and leads the organization’s payroll function to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. This role provides critical support for the preparation and submission of payroll for the organization’s main payroll, as well as payrolls for all Consumer Direct Service (CDS) companies. The Payroll Specialist serves as a backup for payroll processes, maintains comprehensive documentation, and acts as a resource for employees and managers regarding payroll-related questions and policies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in accurately processing payroll through an external payroll service within prescribed time frames.
• Compile payroll data for each pay period, reviewing reports and documentation from departmental payroll contacts. Resolve discrepancies by communicating with department managers to ensure timely payroll submission.
• Ensure all payroll transactions have proper approvals; follow up and document additional approvals when changes occur after initial submission.
• Maintain accurate employee information in payroll service databases and the EMR system, including updates to pay rates, tax status, classification, and department/job assignments. Ensure all changes are properly approved and documented.
• Develop an in-depth understanding of payroll systems to produce both standard and customized payroll reports as needed.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations; stay informed of regulatory changes and implement process updates to maintain compliance.
• Provide timely and professional support to employees, addressing payroll questions and assisting with forms and documentation as needed.
• Maintain workforce and management confidence by safeguarding sensitive payroll information with the highest level of confidentiality.
• Analyze payroll data and issues; provide reports and recommendations to management.
• Educate managers and payroll contacts on payroll policies and procedures.
• Coordinate new hire setups in payroll and company systems with Human Resources to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Process garnishments, levies, and support orders in accordance with court requirements.
• Administer Paid Time Off (PTO) requests in alignment with company policy.
• Maintain and close CDS client payroll records in coordination with the Department Manger
• Assist the Payroll & Benefits Manger with special projects as assigned.
• Support the payroll team by proactively completing tasks and contributing to team objectives.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 2-3 years experience in payroll and/or human resources, preferred
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Working knowledge of payroll processes, laws, and regulations.
• Maintains the highest standards of confidentiality.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent documentation and organizational abilities; able to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Sound decision-making skills with a bias for action and a keen sense of urgency.
• Self-confident, professionally tactful, and customer service-oriented.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrates leadership qualities and the ability to collaborate effectively.
• Committed to continuous learning and professional development.