At Near, we help top talent in Latin America find remote roles with US companies. Our mission is to create better lives by fostering a remote work culture that transcends borders.
About the role
Join our client’s team as a Payroll Specialist and take ownership of payroll operations for a growing, US-based organization with a distributed workforce.
In this role, you’ll oversee end-to-end payroll operations for US W-2 employees across multiple states, as well as US-based and international independent contractors. You’ll play a key role in ensuring payroll is accurate, timely, compliant, and well-coordinated across People, Accounting, employees, vendors, and external agencies.
This is a highly hands-on role for someone with deep US payroll expertise who can operate independently, navigate complex payroll and compliance requirements, and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Responsibilities
Payroll Operations
Prepare and process semi-monthly payroll for exempt and non-exempt US W-2 employees across 30+ states
Administer semi-monthly payments for US-based and global independent contractors
Ensure every payroll cycle is accurate, complete, timely, and compliant
Manage employee payroll changes, deductions, earnings, and other payroll-related updates
Handle employee onboarding and offboarding processes following established procedures
Payroll Compliance
Manage state and local payroll tax registrations and compliance requirements
Coordinate tax filings and payroll-related requirements with local, state, and federal agencies
Stay current on applicable payroll regulations and requirements
Support Workers’ Compensation, 401(k), financial statement, and third-party audits
Oversee payroll-related compliance processes, including I-9 reporting and Open Enrollment activities
Payroll & Benefits Administration
Own monthly payroll and benefits audit processes
Ensure employee, payroll, and benefits data is accurate across relevant systems
Process and reconcile semi-monthly funding of benefit providers
Investigate and resolve payroll and benefits discrepancies
Support employment and income verification requests
Accounting & Reconciliation
Prepare payroll-related journal entries and reconciliations
Partner closely with Accounting to ensure payroll data and financial records are accurate
Identify discrepancies and proactively resolve issues before payroll deadlines
Employee & Vendor Support
Serve as the primary point of contact for employees and vendors regarding payroll, taxes, deductions, earnings, and related questions
Provide clear explanations of payroll policies, processes, and procedures
Work closely with external vendors and cross-functional partners to resolve issues efficiently
Deliver a high level of internal customer service across all payroll-related matters
Systems & Process Improvement
Serve as a subject matter expert on payroll systems, processes, and best practices
Administer and optimize payroll and HRIS workflows
Identify opportunities to improve accuracy, efficiency, and scalability
Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee records and files
Adapt payroll processes and priorities as the organization continues to grow
Requirements
8+ years of experience in payroll and HR, with significant hands-on payroll experience
4+ years of experience with benefits administration
Strong experience processing multi-state US payroll
Experience with global payroll and/or international contractor payments
Strong knowledge of US federal, state, and local payroll tax compliance
Extensive experience with ADP payroll and HRIS platforms
Strong understanding of payroll and HR systems
Experience supporting payroll audits, reconciliations, and compliance processes
Intermediate to advanced Excel skills, including VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, IF functions, and pivot tables
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy
Excellent written and verbal English communication skills
Strong customer service and…