Payroll Specialist

What you'll do:

As the Payroll Specialist, you will be responsible for preparing and processing company payrolls accurately and on time. This role is responsible for new employee set-up and terminations within our HRIS and ongoing maintenance of employee records. Additionally, the Payroll Specialist supports the HR Operations Manager in the development, implementation, and maintenance of payroll policies, procedures, and related documentation.

In this role you will:

• Independently manage bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and off-cycle payrolls
• Stay current with federal, state, and local payroll regulations and legislation and ensure compliance
• Review and verify timecard entries and work closely with Team Leads to resolve discrepancies
• Address and resolve employee inquiries regarding paychecks and payroll reporting, escalating issues as needed
• Manage payroll email inbox in a timely manner
• Manage payroll tax registrations and updates across multiple states (state withholding, SUI, and state/local paid family leave programs)
• Manage payroll tax issue resolution with our payroll provider
• Assist employees with tax form inquiries (W-4, state/local)
• Respond to unemployment claims
• Ensure all data within HRIS is accurate at all times
• Accurately onboard and terminate employees within the HRIS system
• Collect new hire I-9s and manage E-Verify compliance within the company’s HRIS
• Verify completion and collection of all required employment forms upon hire
• Ensure timely enrollment of new hires in benefits programs by their effective date
• Provide data and reporting to support the broader People team
• Administer COBRA offerings and enrollments through Optum
• Manage workers’ compensation data and reporting
• Support the organization’s audit process by providing data and documentation
• Support the HR Operations Manager in ad hoc projects within the organization
• Maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive employee information

What you'll need:

• 3+ years of hands-on payroll experience
• Strong knowledge of payroll regulations and multi-state tax requirements
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now preferred
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office tools
• Excellent attention to detail
• Confident communicator, able to translate complex items into easy-to-understand language for employees

Compensation:

The salary range for this role will be $65,000.00 - $85,000.00 USD. In addition, this position will also receive an annual target bonus of 6%. Bonus pay at NinjaTrader is based on individual performance (50%) as well as company/team performance (50%).

Salary and bonus earnings are only two components of the total compensation package offered by NinjaTrader. NinjaTrader offers a 401K plan through ADP under which the company will match up to 3.5% of employee contributions. Annual paid time off allowance accrues at a rate of 18 days per year (some positions may qualify for more) plus seven paid holidays.

Location:

This role is based in Chicago, IL. We are not open to remote candidates for this role

Hybrid:

For Chicago-based employees, we follow a hybrid work schedule: In-office Tuesday through Thursday, with remote work on Mondays and Fridays. In addition to these weekly remote days, we offer:

• 20 additional flex remote days annually
• 5 Company Wide Office-Optional weeks tied to major holidays