Senior Payroll Specialist

About the JobSenior Payroll SpecialistDepartment: People Services (Shared Services)Reports to: Senior Payroll ManagerFLSA Status: ExemptLocation: On-Site | Columbus, OhioCompany: GOSH EnterprisesAbout UsGosh Enterprises is a dynamic, rapidly growing company that oversees a family of brands:Charleys: A 850+ unit restaurant brand known worldwide for serving the #1 Philly Cheesesteak in the WorldBIBIBOP Asian Grill: An award-winning, 80+ unit Korean-inspired fast casual restaurant conceptLenny’s Grill & Subs: A Memphis-based 60+ unit chain serving high-quality deli and hot subsCharleys Kids Foundation: A nonprofit partnering with organizations around the world to provide food, education, and mentorship to at-risk childrenSolar Planet: A company providing solar field advisory and installation servicesPosition SummaryThe Senior Payroll Specialist is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of biweekly payroll across multiple GOSH entities, as well as supporting workers’ compensation coordination, unemployment claims, employment verifications, benefits administration, and HR operational functions. This role requires strong attention to detail, the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, and a service-oriented mindset when responding to employee and manager inquiries.Operating within a shared services model, this role supports the broader People Services team and may take on additional responsibilities across payroll, HR, and benefits as business needs evolve. This role is well-suited for a payroll professional with 3+ years of experience who is comfortable operating independently and partnering cross-functionally with HR, Finance, and Operations.What You’ll Own (Core Responsibilities)Payroll Processing & ExecutionProcess biweekly payroll across multiple GOSH entities, ensuring accuracy and compliance in every cycleImport and validate employee hours; identify and resolve payroll errors and discrepanciesProcess tips, adjustments, and off-cycle payments as neededCalculate and reconcile tip distributions based on reportingManually correct missing or inaccurate employee data to ensure payroll integrityReview and submit payroll for each company, applying required compliance checks prior to submissionDistribute payroll previews to managers and accounting; implement revisions as directedRespond daily to payroll-related inquiries from employees, HR, and leadershipReporting & ComplianceRun weekly WOTC (Work Opportunity Tax Credit) reports and submit required documentation to third-party vendorsMaintain payroll records in compliance with company policies and applicable federal, state, and local regulationsSupport multi-state wage and hour compliance across all GOSH brands and entitiesAssist with year-end payroll activities including W-2 preparation, reconciliation, and distributionUnemployment ClaimsServe as the primary point of contact for unemployment claims across all GOSH entitiesReview, respond to, and track unemployment claims in a timely and accurate mannerGather and submit supporting documentation to state agencies and third-party administratorsCoordinate with HR and Operations to obtain information needed to respond to or contest claimsMaintain records of claim outcomes and identify trends that may inform HR or operational practicesEmployment VerificationsProcess employment and income verification requests from employees, lenders, background screening vendors, and government agenciesRespond accurately and promptly to verification inquiries, ensuring compliance with applicable privacy and data standardsMaintain documentation related to verification requests and responsesCoordinate with HR and payroll systems to ensure employment data used in verifications is current and accurateWorkers’ Compensation ManagementRespond to workers’ compensation inquiries from employees, managers, and claims representativesManage incident reports in Risk Manager Pro, including data entry, updates, and claim conversionsTrack claim status and update records with claim numbers as receivedComplete and submit required documentation to carriers and claims representativesCoordinate follow-up communication and request additional information as neededHR Operations SupportRequest and maintain supporting documentation in employee personnel filesRespond to general HR and payroll-related inquiries, escalating complex matters to the Senior Payroll ManagerAssist with administrative processes and HR special projects as neededHRIS Data IntegrityMaintain accurate employee payroll data within the HRIS (UKG), including pay rates, deductions, and job informationConduct routine data audits to identify and resolve discrepanciesProcess employee changes, transfers, pay adjustments, and status changesShared Services SupportOperate as a collaborative member of the People Services shared services team, supporting colleagues and cross-functional partners as neededTake on additional payroll, HR, benefits, or compliance tasks as business priorities and team needs evolveSupport organizational changes, new entity setup, or system implementations as directedContribute to process improvement efforts that increase efficiency, accuracy, and service quality across the teamWhat Good Looks LikeYou will be successful in this role if you:Take pride in getting payroll right, quickly, every cycle and treat accuracy as non-negotiableStay calm and focused under the pressure of hard payroll deadlinesCommunicate clearly and professionally with employees, managers, and external vendorsManage multiple competing priorities without letting things fall through the cracksBring a strong customer service mindset to every employee interactionEscalate issues early and ask questions before problems growTake ownership of your work and follow through without needing constant directionWhat You Bring (Qualifications)RequiredBachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience)3+ years of payroll experienceStrong knowledge of payroll processes, multi-state compliance, and benefits administrationExperience with payroll systems and HRIS platforms (UKG preferred)Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skillsStrong attention to detail with the ability to handle confidential information with discretionEffective written and verbal communication skillsProficiency in Microsoft Excel and Office applicationsPreferredExperience in a multi-entity, multi-location, franchise, or restaurant environmentFamiliarity with WOTC reporting, unemployment claims administration, and employment verification processesExperience with workers’ compensation administration and Risk Manager ProBenefits OfferedGenerous paid time offHealth insuranceDental insuranceHealthcare spending account (HAS)Retirement benefits or accountsGym memberships or discountsEmployee discountsGOSH is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the application process and throughout employment, as required by applicable law. If you require assistance or accommodation, please inform us so we can ensure your needs are met. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.