Senior US Payroll Specialist

General Job Description

IQ BackOffice's US Payroll Specialist is responsible for overseeing payroll staff. Their duties include hiring and training Payroll Specialists, coordinating certain departments such as HR, Accounts Payable, General Accounting, etc. to process payroll for new employees or monitor payroll schedules and managing employee benefits and insurance plans. And is also responsible for the Payroll Team's overall performance.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Ensures all client deliverables are met on time with excellent quality.
• Oversees team members and executes administrative responsibilities.
• Communicates with clients on status of all deliverables and all issues related to their accounts. Manages the team's client communications.
• Monitors operational statistics which may include productivity, quality trackers, reports, mailbox status, checklist and others that may be needed.
• Provide management with project status updates, feedback, and appropriate reporting on key process-focused objectives.
• Determines work volume and assigns appropriate team members to ensure that account priorities and SLAs are met satisfactorily.
• Manages team performance ensuring production metrics are met and company policies complied with. Provides coaching to team members whose performance requires improvement.
• Ensures that client SOPs and rules are documented, up to date in terms of new instructions and are readily available for the team members to refer to. Provide guidance to the team in resolving procedural and instructional issues. Escalates to client support/client instances where the rules failed to cover, ambiguity in the application of the rule and rules requiring further clarification.
• Communicates and provides timely feedback to the team members on soft skills, system knowledge and issue handling. Conducts regular team meetings to discuss priorities, expectations, issues and resolutions.
• Manages the team's production capacity by monitoring leave availment and other attendance related factors, schedule, early recommendation of overtime work, work with other support teams such as HR, IT and Admin on other company activities. Identify the group's staffing needs and make prompt recommendations to his/her direct superior.
• Presents to the team the performance results on a regular basis and shares best practices on the success and learning on the failed targets.
• Participates actively and timely in the Rewards and Recognition program.
• Monitors performance of the individual team members and conducts coaching and periodic dialogues to discuss evaluation which should include KRA's, Individual Development Plan and opportunities for improvement.
• Collaborates with the client services team to be aligned with the business goals.
• Maintains regular communications with the leaders of the production team to maintain or develop better working relationships.
• Works actively with the transition team to ensure smooth knowledge transfer of new accounts. Gives recommendation on the improvement of transition, most especially if this will create an impact to the operations.
• Overseeing and reviewing payroll payments and account reconciliations.
• Ensures appropriate and accurate communications with team, customers and other departments.
• Coordinates with HR on any team's concerns on payroll, benefits, training , engagements, performance management, disciplinary action, etc.
• Develops, recommends and implements plans, procedures, programs to enhance performance, service levels and cost improvements. Identifies opportunities for improvement through process reviews, evaluation, formulation and implementation of procedures and tools aimed to enhance efficiency
• Performs a detailed review of the assignment team's work to ensure quality, thoroughness, and completion of assignment tasks within agreed timeframes.
• Provide leadership and support to IQ's Payroll team
• Identify opportunities for efficiency improvements by utilizing the global teams
• Responsible for recommending and enforcing the internal controls, policies, and procedures, established by/with the client.
• Develop relationships with clients and other stakeholders
• Develop and manage process controls in accordance with the company's procedures
• Understand business needs of clients and manage team accordingly
• Reviews and approves clients' payroll (final check).

Preferred Skills

• People skills
• Performance and People Management
• Average to excellent Microsoft Excel skills
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with leadership, internal partners, and clients.
• Technical skills are essential for this position as it requires specific detailed knowledge and in delegating tasks across team members.

Education and Experience

• 3-4+ years of experience managing high volume and complex Payrolls.
• End to end payroll experience a plus with strong analytical and technical expertise
• A clear understanding of payroll, benefits and taxation and an understanding of applicable legislative requirements
• Meticulously plans, organizes, and resolves payroll operational items at a client level, including positive change management abilities.
• Bachelor's Degree desired or equivalent work experience