Payroll Specialist

ABOUT ORCHESTRA

Orchestra is a strategic communications and marketing company built for today’s complex and fragmented world. From decoding audiences to designing bold strategies, Orchestra integrates people, platforms, and stories that stick to help clients build lasting influence. The company offers programs that span from the highest level strategic business counsel through to tactical execution. Orchestra brings together 700+ people with experience across consumer and lifestyle, technology, nonprofit and philanthropy, real estate, sports, travel, hospitality, and more. Made up of leading firms BerlinRosen, Civitas Public Affairs Group, Derris, Glen Echo Group, Inkhouse, M18, Message Lab, Onward and Small Girls PR. It also launched Brightmode, a talent acquisition firm for communications professionals, and Versus Media Group, a strategy-first political media team. Learn more at www.orchestraco.com.

People of all backgrounds and abilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Orchestra is committed to building and maintaining a diverse staff, and recognizes that its continued success depends on hiring and retaining high-quality creative professionals with a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Opportunities for advancement exist, and we are committed to helping all staff develop and grow.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

Orchestra is seeking a Payroll Specialist to support the accurate, compliant execution of biweekly and semi-monthly payroll for a growing, multi-state workforce. This is a hands-on role responsible for payroll processing, payroll tax and compliance support, and employee payroll inquiries.

The Payroll Specialist partners closely with the Director of Payroll and the Payroll Systems Analyst to ensure payroll is processed accurately, issues are resolved efficiently, and payroll data is maintained with integrity across systems. This role reports to the Director of Payroll.

Role location: This role is based on a hybrid basis in our New York, N.Y. office. The Finance team is in-office three days per week.

ACCOUNTABILITIES & QUALIFICATIONS

As the Payroll Specialist, you will…

Payroll Processing & Execution

• Execute biweekly and semi-monthly payrolls, including off-cycle runs, for 700+ employees across multiple U.S. states
• Review and validate payroll inputs including earnings, deductions, taxes, garnishments, and adjustments
• Perform pre-payroll audits to ensure accuracy prior to submission
• Process payroll corrections, retroactive pay, and adjustments as needed
• Support payroll close activities and post-payroll reconciliations

Payroll Tax & Compliance Support

• Support compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements
• Assist with payroll tax filings, reconciliations, and responses to agency notices
• Maintain accurate tax setup for employee work locations and jurisdictional changes
• Support audits related to payroll, payroll taxes, workers’ compensation, and benefits
• Escalate complex compliance or regulatory issues to the Director of Payroll

Employee Payroll Support

• Monitor and respond to payroll-related inquiries via Zendesk in coordination with the Payroll Systems Analyst
• Resolve employee questions related to pay, deductions, taxes, W-2s, withholding and pay timing
• Partner with the Payroll Systems Analyst on system- or data-related issues
• Provide clear, timely communication and meet established service-level expectations
• Escalate sensitive or unresolved inquiries to the Director of Payroll

Employee Lifecycle & Payroll Events

• Support payroll-related onboarding and offboarding, including final pay and severance processing
• Process garnishments, tax notices, and payroll impacts related to leaves of absence
• Coordinate with HR and Finance on payroll implications of employment changes

Systems, Data & Process Support

• Partner with the Payroll Systems Analyst to identify and resolve payroll system or data issues
• Validate payroll system outputs and calculations
• Support payroll system testing related to earnings, deductions, and pay frequency changes
• Ensure data accuracy across payroll, timekeeping, and HRIS integrations
• Assist in maintaining payroll procedures, controls, and documentation

ESSENTIAL SKILLS

• 3–5+ years of hands-on U.S. payroll processing experience
• Experience running biweekly and semi-monthly payrolls
• Working knowledge of multi-state payroll taxation and wage and hour rules
• Experience responding to payroll inquiries in a ticketing or case-management environment
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify and resolve discrepancies
• Comfort working in payroll systems and handling sensitive payroll data
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume environment

Preferred

• Experience with Paylocity, ADP, Workday or similar payroll/HCM platforms
• Exposure to payroll tax filings and agency correspondence
• FPC or CPP certification (or interest in pursuing certification)
• Experience supporting payroll in a high-growth or multi-entity organization
• Identify recurring issues and opportunities for process improvement and standardization

WORKING AT ORCHESTRA

Salary range (commensurate with experience and skills): $80,000 – $90,000

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