Payroll Specialist (Detroit, MI, Houston, TX, New Haven, CT, or Lafayette, LA)

This is a hybrid role with possible work locations that include Detroit, MI, Houston, TX, New Haven, CT, and Lafayette, LA.

About PVS Chemicals, Inc.

PVS enables our world through the safe and reliable delivery of chemistry, either created by us or sourced through trusted partners. The products and services that we provide touch everyone in some unique way. We are passionate about the work we do and abide by our guiding principles, The Nicholson Nine, to be a safe and sustainable chemical provider the world trusts. With a career at PVS, you'll play a vital role in the daily lives of millions of people.

Description: Under the general direction of the Payroll Director, the Payroll Specialist is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of payroll for multiple companies operating across multiple states. This role manages full-cycle payroll processing for union, hourly, and salaried employees, while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations. The Payroll Specialist serves as a key resource for employees, managers, Human Resources, and Finance by providing exceptional customer service and resolving payroll-related inquiries promptly and accurately. This position requires strong analytical skills, exceptional attention to detail, a thorough understanding of payroll laws and regulations, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume, multi-tasking environment with strict deadlines. The ideal candidate possesses advanced payroll knowledge, experience processing complex multi-state payrolls, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy and confidentiality.

Primary Responsibilities (May include but not limited to):

Payroll Processing

• Process weekly and/or bi-weekly payrolls for multiple companies and multiple states.
• Process payroll for union, hourly, salaried, exempt, and non-exempt employees.
• Calculate and process regular wages, overtime, bonuses, commissions, retroactive pay, shift differentials, and special one-time payments.
• Review and audit payroll registers, earnings, deductions, taxes, direct deposits, reports, and general ledger entries prior to payroll approval.
• Ensure payrolls are processed accurately and on schedule, while meeting all payroll deadlines.
• Validate payroll data and identify discrepancies before payroll transmission.
• Process off-cycle payrolls, manual checks, and payroll adjustments as needed.

Multi-State Payroll Compliance

• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local payroll laws and regulations.
• Administer payroll taxation requirements across multiple jurisdictions, including managing federal, state, and local tax withholding, state unemployment insurance (SUI) codes and rates, and multi-state payroll tax and unemployment tax (SUTA) compliance requirements.
• Ensure compliance with varying state wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, meal and break requirements, and final pay regulations.
• Process wage garnishments, child support orders, tax levies, and other involuntary deductions in accordance with state-specific requirements.
• Assist with payroll tax reconciliations, quarterly filings, and year-end reporting.

Employee Lifecycle Administration

• Coordinate and process new hire onboarding within payroll and HCM systems.
• Set up employee records, tax elections, direct deposits, deductions, and earnings codes.
• Process employee status changes, transfers, promotions, compensation changes, leaves of absence, and terminations.
• Ensure final pay complies with applicable state laws and company policies.
• Maintain employee payroll records and supporting documentation.

Leave Administration

• Coordinate employee leave requests including vacation, sick time, personal time, leaves of absence, FMLA, and other applicable leave programs.
• Maintain accurate leave balances and ensure proper payroll coding.
• Partner with Human Resources and/or Benefits to ensure leave administration complies with company policy and legal requirements.
• Monitor and audit leave transactions for accuracy.

Reporting, Auditing and Reconciliation

• Generate payroll reports for management, Finance, Human Resources, and external agencies as needed.
• Reconcile payroll registers, tax reports, benefit deductions, and payroll-related general ledger accounts.
• Assist with month-end, quarter-end, and year-end payroll activities.
• Support internal and external audits, including workers' compensation audits, payroll tax audits, financial audits, and benefit plan audits.
• Compile and analyze payroll data to identify trends, discrepancies, and opportunities for process improvement.

Employee Support and Customer Service

• Provide exceptional "white glove" customer service to employees and managers regarding payroll-related questions and concerns.
• Respond to payroll inquiries accurately, professionally, and within established service-level expectations.
• Research and resolve pa…