Junior Payroll Administrator
The Junior Payroll Administrator supports the payroll team by assisting with accurate processing of employee payroll, maintaining contractor pay records, and supporting finance and billing teams. This entry-level role involves handling payroll data, ensuring compliance with regulations, responding to employee inquiries, and preparing payroll reports, ideal for those starting a career in payroll or corporate finance.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Accounting & Finance.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
What You’ll Do
Join Confidential Client’s payroll team and support day-to-day payroll operations, contractor pay records, and cross-team finance support.
- Assist with weekly payroll processing and off-cycle runs, ensuring accurate calculation of hours, wages, tax withholdings, deductions, and reimbursements.
- Review and validate timecards, timesheets, and attendance records; resolve minor discrepancies with location admins.
- Maintain confidentiality of payroll and compensation data in accordance with data privacy regulations.
- Assist with reconciling payroll reports prior to final approval and disbursement.
- Prepare routine payroll summaries, journal entries, and reconciliation reports for the accounting team.
- Serve as a primary contact for routine employee payroll inquiries (pay stubs, direct deposit, tax forms, garnishments, time-off balances); escalate complex issues to the Payroll Manager or HR lead.
Who You Are
- Entry-level to early-career candidate (0–2 years) interested in payroll operations, compensation, or corporate finance.
- Highly organized with strong attention to detail and a commitment to handling sensitive information with integrity.
- Able to meet recurring deadlines in a fast-paced environment and communicate clearly with employees and team members.
Qualifications
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in business, human resources, accounting, or a related field — or equivalent experience.
- 0–2 years of experience in administrative, accounting, or HR support; previous payroll exposure is a plus but not required.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (basic formulas, VLOOKUP, filtering, formatting).
- Strong verbal and written communication skills and demonstrated attention to numerical accuracy.
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with common HRIS/payroll platforms (e.g., ADP Lyric, UKG, Sage).
- Working toward payroll certification (e.g., FPC) is a strong plus.
- Basic understanding of federal and state wage/hour laws (FLSA, overtime rules).
Compensation & Benefits
- Estimated base salary: $50,960 per year (estimated).
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance options; employer-paid life and disability insurance.
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
- Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid company holidays.
Location & Schedule
- Hybrid / on-site in Oak Brook, IL.
- Full-time position.
- Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind.
To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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