Payroll Associate

Job description

At Skillsoft, we believe skills fuel growth. Our mission is to empower every organization and every learner to turn constant change into continuous growth. As part of the team, your skills will help organizations understand what skills they have, what they need next, and how to apply them in ways that drive real performance and progress. Payroll Associate Skillsoft is seeking a detail-oriented and customer-focused Payroll Associate to support payroll processing, employee payroll data validation, tax account management, and employee inquiry resolution. This entry-level role is ideal for an early-career payroll professional who is eager to learn payroll operations, build strong compliance habits, and contribute to a reliable, accurate payroll process. In this role, you will have the opportunity to partner closely with Payroll, Human Resources, Finance, and external payroll providers to help ensure employees are paid accurately and on time. The Payroll Associate will also support payroll process documentation, audit readiness, and continuous improvement activities within the payroll function. Key Responsibilities Assist with routine payroll processing activities, including payroll inputs, and payroll report review. Validate payroll data for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with company policies and payroll timelines. Review payroll reports and help identify variances, discrepancies, or missing information for follow-up. Support payroll reconciliations and maintain organized documentation for review and audit purposes. Coordinate with Human Resources on new hires, terminations, compensation changes, employee record updates, and approvals. Assist with processing approved bonus, commission, overtime, or other variable pay items as assigned. Support payroll tax account management activities, including maintaining tax account records, tracking registration updates, reviewing agency notices, and coordinating follow-up with payroll vendors or tax authorities as needed. Respond to employee payroll inquiries in a timely, professional, and service-oriented manner. Track, research, and resolve employee payroll questions related to pay, deductions, taxes, direct deposit, time reporting, and payroll system access, escalating complex issues when appropriate. Partner with payroll vendors and internal stakeholders to research and resolve payroll-related questions. Support quarterly, year-end, and compliance-related payroll activities, including data review and documentation collection. Maintain payroll procedures, checklists, and supporting documentation to promote consistency and audit readiness. Participate in process improvement efforts to improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, and employee experience. Perform other payroll-related duties as assigned. Skills & Qualifications Required 1-3 years of professional payroll, finance, accounting, HR operations, or related administrative experience with a High school diploma (Associate’s or Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Human Resources, or a related field preferred). Basic to intermediate Microsoft Excel skills, including comfort working with spreadsheets and reviewing data. Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines. Ability to handle confidential information with discretion. Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with recurring deadlines. Ability to follow structured processes and escalate issues appropriately. Professional written and verbal communication skills with a keen attention to detail and commitment to accuracy. Willingness to learn payroll systems, payroll processes, compliance requirements, and audit documentation practices. Preferred Competencies Experience with Workday, ADP, UKG, Ceridian, or a similar payroll/HCM system is a plus but not required. Customer-service mindset with a professional and responsive approach to employee questions. Analytical curiosity and willingness to investigate payroll discrepancies. Interest in payroll compliance,