Senior Payroll Specialist (Hybrid or Remote)

From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 — all while keeping the heart of “People Build Businesses” alive.

Our talented people are at the core of our growth, constantly reinventing the Sonoco wheel with brilliant solutions every year. Today we are a world leader in global packaging solutions with diversified operations in over 34 countries. We're extremely proud of our portfolio of brands, our achievements in sustainability and industrialization and the groundbreaking work accomplished by our people. 

Alongside the Payroll Specialist team, the Sr. Payroll Specialist will be responsible for performing assigned duties regarding the processing of hourly and salaried payrolls for the Company’s US and Canadian operations.  Additionally, they will be responsible for serving as the Workday subject matter expert (SME) within the payroll department.  While sitting within the payroll operations team, this SME role will serve as the key connection point between IT/Technology support, Hire to Retire continuous improvement support, and the payroll operations team.  This role is an operations role within our growing Sonoco Services (S2) organization.  It is an excellent opportunity to gain experience within a global organization and use the operations knowledge to explore further career growth within Sonoco Services or the broader Sonoco organization. 

What you’ll be doing:

• Responsible for the timely and accurate payment of Sonoco’s payrolls. Includes multi-company, multi-state, and multiple pay cycles.
• Drive improvement projects through optimization of Workday processes specifically focused on eliminating manual operations.
• Serve as SME and assistance in project execution for large strategic projects impacting payroll including but not limited to new system implementations, new business acquisitions, process improvement and process rationalization efforts.
• Assist in Root Cause investigation and corrective/preventative action implementation for repeat and impactful payroll errors.
• Proactive audits to ensure data accuracy and compliance with SOX to identify any control weaknesses. Initiates corrective action for system edit and error messages.
• Oversee distribution of confidential information as needed to PWC, auditors, corporate, etc. as needed.
• Assist with year-end processing to ensure that tax forms are issued timely and accurately.
• Must be able to research federal and state rules and regulations for the U.S. and Canada.
• Must be able to make decisions to resolve pay issues that arise with the operations, balancing the needs of the employees with the cost to Sonoco, while ensuring that Sonoco follows federal, state, and local regulations.
• Serve as liaison between IT/Technology team and payroll operation team to trouble-shoot and address issues with Workday software connectivity and interface issues.
• Other duties as assigned.

This is a hybrid position located in Hartsville, SC. Will consider remote applicants as well.

We’d love to hear from you if:

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree – preferred majors include business administration, accounting, finance, and human resources
• 6+ years of payroll processing experience
• Strong technical aptitude and ability to grasp a general knowledge of multiple disciplines and technologies
• Strong analytical and people skills
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications (particularly Excel, Teams and Planner)
• Ability to effectively organize and structure activities
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral

Preferred Qualifications:

• 6+ years of payroll processing experience
• Strong Workday payroll processing experience
• Experience with payroll corrections in Workday
• Experience with Workday report creation
• Experience working in a fast-paced public company environment UKG experience
• ADP experience (Preferably ADP Smart Compliance)

Preferred Certifications: CPP

Compensation: 

Senior Payroll Specialist: The annual base salary range for this role is from $78,160 to $87,930. 

Lead Specialist - Payroll: The annual base salary range for this role is from $82,880 to $93,240. 

Associate Manager, Payroll: The annual base salary range for this role is from $119,280 to $134,190, plus an annual target bonus of 7.5% of base salary. .

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We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.