HR Operations Specialist II

As the organization accelerates its HR transformation to maintain market leadership, The Sr. HR Associate (Tier 2) enables payroll accuracy and compliance by administering, validating, and preparing HR and payroll-impacting data in advance of payroll execution.

Job Summary

The Tier 2 Senior Associate serves as the subject matter expert for pre-payroll administration and payroll-impacting HR data. This role owns payroll readiness, leads risk identification, and acts as the escalation point for complex data, tax, and compliance issues prior to payroll execution.

II. Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. Other ancillary duties may be assigned.

• Lead pre-payroll validation activities and readiness checks

• Identify payroll and tax risks before payroll execution and coordinate resolution

• Partner with Payroll to ensure clean handoffs and reduce post-payroll corrections

• Administer and validate complex payroll-impacting changes, including retroactive scenarios and multi-state work location changes

• Serve as escalation point for payroll tax data issues prior to payroll run

• Support audit preparation and payroll readiness reviews

• Provide coaching and guidance to Tier 2 Associates and Tier 1 staff

• Support workload prioritization around payroll calendars and cutoff timelines

• Act as point of contact during pre-payroll windows

• Lead or support improvements to pre-payroll workflows, checklists, and controls

• Partner with CI, HRIS, Payroll, and Tax teams to reduce upstream defects

• Maintain and enhance SOPs, knowledge articles, and training materials

III. Supervisory Responsibilities

Will coach and mentor less experienced team members and act as team leader on more complicated systems projects.

IV. Qualifications

A. Education and Experience

Education: Bachelor's Degree (accredited) in Computer Science, MIS, Business Administration, or similar area of study or in lieu of degree, High School Diploma or GED (accredited) and four years of relevant work experience.

Experience: 4–7+ years of HR operations, payroll support, or HRIS administration experience.

Advanced knowledge or skills in one or more of the following required:

• Understanding of how HR transactions impact payroll and payroll tax

• Advanced knowledge of HRIS and payroll systems (Intermediate Excel skills, Oracle HCM, UKG-Timekeeper, ADP)

• Strong understanding of payroll readiness, tax implications, and HR data dependencies

• Experience serving as an escalation point in an HR Service Center or shared services model

May require advanced skills in one or more of the following:

• Written and verbal communication skills as well as listening skills

• Successfully leading a project team reach its business objectives within set timeframes

• Attention to detail

• Analytical and qualitative abilities