Senior Payroll Specialist in Albany, New York at FIRSTLIGHT

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Senior Payroll Specialist to lead and oversee all aspects of payroll administration for a multi-state workforce. This invididual contributor role is responsible for ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing, payroll accounting and reconciliation activities, and oversight of payroll tax compliance. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills, deep payroll expertise, and a commitment to maintaining compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

Payroll Administration

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for all employees, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with company policies and applicable laws.
• Review and validate payroll data, including earnings, deductions, commissions, bonuses, garnishments, and benefit withholdings.
• Serve as the primary payroll subject matter expert and escalation point for payroll-related inquiries.
• Maintain payroll records and ensure employee data is accurate and up to date within payroll and HRIS systems.

Payroll Reconciliation & General Ledger Support

• Perform payroll reconciliations to ensure payroll records, payroll reports, and financial statements are accurate and aligned.
• Reconcile payroll-related general ledger accounts, including wages, taxes, benefits, and payroll liabilities.
• Review payroll audit reports and support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities.
• Investigate and resolve payroll variances, discrepancies, and balancing issues in a timely manner.
• Partner with Finance and Accounting teams to ensure payroll expenses and liabilities are accurately reflected in the general ledger.

Payroll Tax Compliance

• Oversee payroll tax compliance and reporting requirements across all applicable jurisdictions.
• Collaborate with ADP to ensure the timely and accurate filing of federal, state, and local payroll tax returns, including quarterly and annual filings such as Forms 941 and W-2 reporting.
• Review payroll tax filings for accuracy and address tax notices, discrepancies, and agency inquiries.
• Partner with ADP and internal stakeholders to resolve payroll tax issues and maintain compliance with changing regulations.

Process Improvement & Compliance

• Maintain payroll controls, procedures, and documentation to ensure data integrity and compliance.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, reporting capabilities, and operational efficiencies.
• Partner with Human Resources, Finance, and Accounting to ensure accurate employee and organizational data management.
• Support internal and external audit requests related to payroll records and controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience, including payroll management responsibilities.
• Strong knowledge of multi-state payroll processing, payroll tax compliance, and wage and hour regulations.
• Experience performing payroll reconciliations and supporting general ledger accounting processes.
• Experience working with ADP Workforce Now strongly preferred.
• Experience with other HRIS, timekeeping, and payroll systems required.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and strong analytical abilities.
• Exceptional attention to detail, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation preferred.

Success Measures

• Accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Timely completion of payroll reconciliations and general ledger balancing.
• Strong payroll compliance and audit outcomes.
• Effective partnership with ADP to ensure accurate payroll tax filings and reporting.
• Continuous improvement in payroll efficiency, accuracy, and employee service.

About FirstLight:

FirstLight, headquartered in Albany, New York, provides fiber-optic data, Internet, data center, cloud and voice services to enterprise and carrier customers throughout the Northeast connecting more than 13,000 locations in service with more than 125,000 locations serviceable by our more than 25,000-route mile network. FirstLight offers a robust suite of advanced telecommunications products featuring a comprehensive portfolio of high bandwidth connectivity solutions including Ethernet, wavelength, and dark fiber services as well as dedicated Internet access solutions, data center, cloud and voice services. FirstLight’s clientele includes national cellular providers and wireline carriers and many leading enterprises, spanning high tech manufacturing and research, hospitals and healthcare, banking and financial, secondary education, colleges and universities, and local and state governments.

FirstLight Fiber is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with state and federal laws, FirstLight’s equal opportunity policy is that all applicants and employees are treated equally by the company with respect to employment opportunities, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status or veteran disability..