Job Title: Payroll Specialist II

Company Overview

National Veterinary Associates (NVA) is a global leader in animal care, supporting over 1,400 veterinary hospitals and pet resorts across five countries. NVA cultivates a compassionate, innovative, and collaborative environment, celebrating the unique culture of each location while offering centralized resources to promote growth and operational excellence.

Position Summary

The Payroll Specialist II is a key contributor in managing complex payroll operations across multiple states. This role is responsible for independently performing advanced payroll processing, auditing, research, and issue resolution. The Payroll Specialist II serves as a subject matter expert (SME) in payroll functions, supporting escalated inquiries and assisting in process improvements. This position reports directly to the Payroll Supervisor and supports training and mentorship for junior payroll team members.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Operations & Compliance

• Lead end-to-end processing of complex, multi-state payroll in accordance with company policies and compliance standards.
• Perform advanced payroll data validation, audits, and reconciliations to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Respond to and resolve escalated payroll inquiries from employees, managers, and HR, ensuring timely and professional communication.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on payroll systems and processes; contribute to training and documentation efforts.
• Review, assign, and prioritize payroll-related tickets via ServiceNow, ensuring prompt resolution.
• Partner with Accounting, HR, and other departments on payroll-related initiatives, reporting, and audits.
• Identify process gaps and recommend solutions to streamline operations and enhance accuracy.
• Ensure secure handling of confidential employee and company payroll information.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in U.S. multi-state payroll processing for large organizations (3,000+ employees).
• Strong knowledge of payroll laws, regulations, and compliance requirements.
• Proficiency in ADP Vantage and/or Ceridian Dayforce strongly preferred.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (e.g., formulas, pivot tables, VLOOKUP).
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field preferred.
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification preferred.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks and deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to analyze data, resolve discrepancies, and drive process improvements.
• Availability to work extended hours during peak processing periods or audits.