US Payroll Specialist - Freelance, Remote

About the Client Our client is a management support company serving skilled nursing and senior living facilities across the US. They help these facilities operate more efficiently while maintaining high standards of compassionate patient care. With a focus on operational excellence and clinical quality, they support facility teams so those teams can focus on what matters most: their residents. Why does this role exist? Accurate, on-time payroll isn't just an operational task in healthcare settings — it's a matter of trust, compliance, and staff retention in an industry where getting it wrong has real consequences. This role exists because our client needs a highly accurate and discreet payroll specialist who can own the full US payroll and HR support process in Paylocity, with minimal oversight. They're looking for someone who treats payroll data with the same care and confidentiality the facilities they support treat their patients — someone who can be trusted to run payroll independently while keeping every detail airtight. The Impact you’ll make Payroll Processing Auditing - Process and audit US payroll in Paylocity, including wages, deductions, taxes, overtime, PTO, and payroll adjustments - Review employee timekeeping, attendance, new-hire data, tax withholdings, and payroll changes before each payroll run - Reconcile payroll reports and investigate discrepancies before they become bigger problems Compliance Audit Support - Support payroll audits and compliance reporting - Ensure wage-and-hour requirements and tax compliance are consistently met - Flag and resolve discrepancies in line with documented procedures HRIS Records Management - Maintain accurate employee payroll and HRIS records - Prepare payroll-related documentation to support internal and audit needs - Keep records organized and audit-ready at all times Employee Manager Support - Respond to employee and manager questions regarding pay, deductions, tax withholdings, timekeeping, and payroll status - Communicate payroll matters clearly, professionally, and with appropriate discretion - Handle sensitive employee information confidentially, following documented procedures and approval workflows Skills, Knowledge and Expertise Required: - At least 6 months of hands-on US payroll processing experience - Knowledge of US HR practices and wage-and-hour requirements - Demonstrated experience with payroll tax compliance and payroll documentation - Experience reconciling payroll reports and investigating discrepancies - Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets for payroll-related reporting Your superpowers are... - Technical Skills - Solid grasp of US payroll processing, tax withholdings, and compliance requirements - Comfort navigating HRIS and timekeeping systems (Paylocity experience is a strong plus) - Sharp with spreadsheets — comfortable building and auditing reports in Excel/Google Sheets - Familiarity with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace for day-to-day documentation - Soft Skills - Exceptional attention to detail — the kind of person who catches the discrepancy everyone else missed - Unshakeable discretion and confidentiality when handling sensitive employee data - Strong sense of ownership — able to work independently without needing constant check-ins - Clear, professional communicator, especially when explaining payroll matters to non-payroll people - Reliable and deadline-driven — payroll doesn't wait, and neither do they 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 You should apply if... - You're the type of person who finds satisfaction in getting the details exactly right — not because someone's checking your work, but becaus