Payroll Specialist - Freelance, Remote

About the Client A fast-growing, U.S.-based hospitality staffing platform connects restaurants, hotels, catering/event teams, and other operators with vetted professionals to fill shifts quickly and reliably. Operating nationwide in dozens of cities, the company supports high-volume, shift-based work with a streamlined, tech-enabled experience. The team values accuracy, speed, and exceptional service for both businesses and professionals. Why does this role exist? This role ensures accurate, timely, and compliant payroll for a high-volume, shift-based workforce, including complex adjustments, tips, and reimbursements. As the company scales, the Payroll Specialist will streamline investigations (such as W-2 suspensions) and handle employment verification requests with precision and confidentiality. The objective is to protect data integrity, minimize payroll errors, and deliver an excellent experience to internal stakeholders and the workforce. The Impact you’ll make Payroll Processing & Adjustments Process on-cycle and off-cycle payroll adjustments with a high degree of accuracy Calculate gross-to-net impacts for adjustments, ensuring correct taxes and deductions Enter, validate, and reconcile changes within the payroll platform before payroll close Tips, Reimbursements & Compliance Record and reconcile tips, service charges, and reimbursements within payroll Apply correct taxable vs. non-taxable treatment per federal and state rules Partner with Finance/Customer Success to resolve discrepancies quickly Investigations & Issue Resolution Investigate and resolve W-2 suspensions and related data mismatches Review exception reports, research root causes, and implement corrective actions Document findings and maintain clear audit trails for all resolutions Employment Verification & Documentation Process employment verification requests submitted electronically or from scanned physical mail Maintain organized records, ensuring confidentiality and data protection Adhere to company SOPs and compliance requirements for PII handling Collaboration & Tools Communicate status, blockers, and updates via Slack with speed and clarity Follow and improve payroll SOPs; suggest process and tooling enhancements Coordinate cross-functionally to support smooth payroll cycles Skills, Knowledge and Expertise Required: Hands-on experience utilizing the company’s payroll platform (hard requirement) 2+ years of U.S. payroll processing experience in an hourly/high-volume or similar environment Proven ability to calculate payroll adjustments, including tips and reimbursements Working knowledge of W-2s, withholding, and taxable vs. non-taxable reimbursements Demonstrated integrity and attention to detail when handling confidential information WFH Set-Up: Computer with at least 8GB RAM, an Intel i5 core processor/AMD Ryzen 5 Processor and up. Internet speed of at least 40MBPS Headset with an extended mic that has noise cancellation and a webcam Back-up computer and internet connection Quiet, dedicated workspace at home Your Superpowers: Technical: Proficiency with payroll systems and spreadsheets (e.g., data validation, lookups, reconciliations); familiarity with U.S. payroll rules and forms; strong documentation habits; comfort working in Slack Analytical: Sharp problem-solving skills, root-cause analysis, and error detection Operational: Organized, deadline-driven, and reliable in high-volume environments Communication: Clear, professional written and verbal communication with cross-functional partners Personal: High integrity, discretion with PII, and a continuous-improvement mindset You should apply if… You take pride in getting payroll right the first time and enjoy investigative work when issues arise You thrive in a process-driven, fast-moving environment supporting a large hourly workforce You value confidentiality, accuracy, and accountability, and you’re proactive about solving problems You communicate clearly in a remote setting and collaborate well over Slack and documented workflows You’re eager to learn the company’s specific platform and contribute to better, scalable processes What to expect... Work Setup: Remote position Must have a reliable internet connection and a quiet workspace Required to provide own computer with Intel Core i5 or something similar or higher operating system Working Hours: 40 hours per week 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday Compensation: $7 per hour No benefits package included Benefits