As a Senior Payroll Accounting Specialist at Nova Sky Stories, you will play a key role in ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll operations across our growing global organization. This role will work closely with Finance, HR, and external partners to manage payroll processes, support employees, and continuously improve payroll systems and procedures.

You’ll partner closely with Finance, HR, and leadership to improve workflows, support international expansion, and create a best-in-class employee experience around payroll and compensation operations. The ideal candidate is highly detail-oriented, thrives in fast-paced environments, and enjoys bringing clarity and consistency to complex, evolving operations.

As a Senior Accounting Payroll Specialist, you’ll be responsible for: 

Payroll Processing & Oversight - 40%

• Partner with Human Resources and Finance teams to maintain accurate employee timekeeping and payroll data.
• Administer and oversee full-cycle payroll operations across multiple countries and entities within Nova Sky Stories.
• Review payroll submissions for accuracy including hours worked, earnings, deductions, taxes, and benefit contributions.
• Manage off-cycle payroll runs including bonuses, corrections, and retroactive adjustments as needed.
• Reconcile payroll registers to funding, tax payments, and general ledger exports; manage reversals, voids, and retroactive pay corrections when necessary.
• Coordinate payroll system integrations, file feeds, and general ledger exports with Accounting to ensure accurate labor distribution and cost center mapping.
• Support payroll processing for both employees and independent contractors across domestic and international jurisdictions.
• Partner closely with Accounting and Finance to support payroll-related audits, reconciliations, and reporting requirements.

Global Entity Setup & Payroll Onboarding - 20%

• Support the setup of new international entities and payroll structures within payroll and HRIS platforms, including company codes, pay groups, earnings and deductions, PTO policies, and direct deposit configurations.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and leadership to collect and validate employee and payroll data when launching operations in new countries.
• Assist with parallel payroll testing and first-live payroll processing for new locations.
• Coordinate payroll tax setup across new jurisdictions, ensuring proper configuration for local tax requirements and compliance.
• Help evaluate and support transfer pricing considerations related to international payroll and labor allocation across entities.

Compliance & Reporting - 20%

• Ensure payroll practices comply with applicable federal, state, local, and international labor regulations.
• Maintain strong knowledge of local payroll requirements and compliance obligations across multiple jurisdictions.
• Monitor tax filings, garnishments, and required withholdings in partnership with Finance and external payroll providers.
• Generate payroll and labor cost reports for leadership using payroll reporting tools.
• Support quarterly and year-end payroll processes, including tax reconciliation and year-end reporting.
• Maintain accurate multi-state and international employee tax profiles, ensuring proper tax treatment across jurisdictions.
• Partner with Accounting and external advisors to support payroll compliance and reporting accuracy globally.

Employee Support - 15%

• Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll-related questions from employees across the organization.
• Partner with HR and Finance to resolve payroll discrepancies and ensure timely resolution of employee concerns.
• Provide guidance to internal teams on payroll timelines, approvals, and best practices.

Process Improvement & Operational Consistency - 5%

• Help standardize payroll processes across multiple countries and operating locations.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll workflows, internal controls, and reporting efficiency.
• Support payroll system upgrades, integrations, and process improvements as the organization scales.
• Conduct periodic payroll audits including timekeeping exceptions, pay code usage, tax configuration, and general ledger mapping.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and internal documentation to ensure consistency across the organization.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field.
• 5+ years of payroll experience, including multi-state payroll processing with strong attention to accuracy and compliance.
• Experience working with major payroll platforms and payroll-related reporting
• International payroll experience is a plus, including familiarity with foreign payroll systems and tax considerations.
• FPC (Fundamental Payroll Certification) or CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Googlesheets, including tools such as PivotTables and VLOOKUP.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams and support employees effectively.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and handle sensitive payroll data with integrity.
• A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to adapt to evolving business needs.

What makes your successful in the role:

• Strong attention to detail paired with a proactive, ownership mindset.
• Strong work ethic and high level of accountability.
• Ability to prioritize and execute in a fast-moving, high-growth environment.
• Comfort working across global teams and time zones.
• Curiosity and initiative to identify process improvements and drive efficiency.
• Clear, professional communication with both finance and non-finance stakeholders.