Human Resources - Payroll Specialist

Human Resources - USA Payroll Specialist

Houston, TX, USA •

Posted Friday, February 27, 2026 at 7:00 AM

Senior USA Payroll Specialist

Location:

Calgary, AB or Houston, TX

We are seeking an experienced Senior USA Payroll Specialist to lead and manage our end-to-end payroll operations for a multi-state workforce. This role is ideal for a payroll professional who is detail-oriented, highly knowledgeable in U.S. payroll regulations, and capable of driving process improvements while ensuring exceptional accuracy and compliance.

The Senior Payroll Specialist will serve as the subject matter expert for payroll, audits, reporting, and system administration partnering closely with HR, Finance, and external vendors to ensure seamless payroll cycles, proper taxation, auditing and high service quality for all employees.

• Manage end-to-end bi‑weekly/semi‑monthly payroll processing for U.S. employees across multiple states and entities.
• Validate time and attendance data, deductions, earnings, bonuses, and commissions with a high degree of accuracy.
• Reconcile payroll reports and general ledger interfaces; research and resolve discrepancies proactively.
• Maintain payroll records and ensure compliance with all applicable payroll laws and internal controls
• Administer off‑cycle payrolls, manual payments, and year-end adjustments as needed.
• Provides reporting and manages monthly audits across all entities.
• Support Canada payroll when required.

• Maintain full compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, including FLSA, multistate taxation, garnishments, and wage attachments.
• Oversee federal and state tax registrations, unemployment accounts, and periodic audits (internal/external).
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of W‑2s, W‑4 updates, and year‑end filings.
• Support regulatory and financial audits, including workers' compensation, 401(k), and external payroll audits

• Serve as a system administrator for payroll and timekeeping platforms such as Dayforce.
• Partner with HR and Finance teams to implement system enhancements, optimize workflows, and improve data integrity.
• Develop and maintain documentation for payroll processes, procedures, and compliance requirements.
• Maintain payroll system configuration, including earnings and deduction codes, tax setups, and pay group structures

• Provide expert‑level guidance and support to employees and managers on payroll matters.
• Collaborate with HR on benefits‑related deductions, LOAs, and retirement plan contributions.
• Work with Finance to support auditing, budgeting, and month‑end close processes.

• 5–7+ years of hands‑on experience managing U.S. payroll for a multi‑state workforce.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state payroll laws, tax regulations, and best practices.
• High proficiency with Dayforce for a payroll and HRIS system.
• Exceptional attention to detail, organizational skills, and data accuracy.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
• Proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, data reconciliation).

• Experience supporting a company with 250+ employees.
• Prior involvement in system implementations or major process overhauls.
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or FPC (Fundamental Payroll Certification).
• Experience with multi‑entity payroll.
• Experience with 401(k) contributions, garnishments, and benefit deductions
• Strong communication & cross‑functional collaboration skills