Senior Payroll Specialist

THE COMPANY

Cogir Senior Living, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, proudly oversees a network of senior living communities spanning 11 states nationwide. As a trusted leader in senior housing, we are dedicated to growth while maintaining our commitment to exceptional care for our residents and a supportive, growth-focused environment for our team members.

At Cogir, our culture is rooted in the core values of human focus, creativity, and excellence, which inspire us to continuously improve and achieve excellence in all we do. Join us in our mission to enrich the lives of our residents while building a meaningful and fulfilling career!  

POSITION SUMMARY

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Senior Payroll Specialist to join our team. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate, timely payroll processing for multi-state employees, maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements, and delivering exceptional service to internal partners. The ideal candidate is a payroll expert who thrives in a fast-paced environment, excels in problem-solving, and has a strong understanding of wage laws, payroll systems, and reporting.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Payroll Processing & Compliance

•  Process bi-weekly payroll for multi-state exempt and non-exempt employees.
•  Review and validate timecards, PTO, deductions, bonuses, commissions, and adjustments.
•  Ensure payroll accuracy and compliance with federal, state, and local wage/hour laws.
•  Maintain detailed payroll records and audit trails.
•  Oversee garnishments, child support orders, wage attachments, and tax withholdings.
•  Prepare and review payroll reports, including payroll registers, timecard reports, and audit files.

Systems & Technical Expertise

•  Maintain and update payroll information in HRIS/Payroll systems (Paylocity).
•  Troubleshoot payroll system issues and collaborate with HR to resolve errors.
•  Support system upgrades, new feature testing, and process enhancements.

Employee Support & Partnership

•  Serve as the subject-matter expert for payroll-related questions from employees, managers, HR, and Finance.
•  Partner with onsite teams on onboarding, offboarding, status changes, and compensation updates.
•  Assist with year-end activities, including W-2 preparation, audits, and tax filings.

Auditing & Process Improvement

•  Conduct regular internal audits to ensure data accuracy and regulatory compliance.
•  Recommend and implement process improvements to streamline payroll operations.
•  Develop and maintain payroll SOPs, ensuring consistency and clarity.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

Education, experience, and skills:

• A high school diploma is required. A college degree is a plus.
• At least four (4) years of payroll experience, preferably in a multi-state environment.
•  Strong knowledge of FLSA, state wage laws, overtime rules, and payroll tax regulations.
•  Experience with Paylocity preferred or other HRIS systems.
•  High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and confidentiality.
•  Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (XLOOKUP, pivot tables, formulas).
•  Strong analytical skills with the ability to troubleshoot complex issues.
•  Excellent communication and customer-service orientation.
•  CPP or FPC certification is a plus.

Key Competencies

•  Payroll Expertise & Accuracy
•  Confidentiality & Integrity
•  Problem-Solving & Root-Cause Analysis
•  Customer Service Orientation
•  Technology & Systems Fluency
•  Organizational Awareness
•  Ability to Work Under Pressure & Meet Deadlines

WHAT WE OFFER

• Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 401K with company match
• Paid Vacation, Holidays, and Sick Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Generous Employee Referral Program and more