DENISE A. WOOD
Silver Spring,Maryland
Summary
Dynamic Senior Payroll Consultant with extensive experience at Pyramide Staffing, adept at regulatory compliance and payroll administration. Proven track record in streamlining processes and enhancing employee engagement, leveraging strong leadership and project management skills to drive efficiency and accuracy in payroll operations. Expert in ADP and relationship building. Seasoned Senior Payroll Consultant with acomprehensive understanding of payroll management, tax regulations, and financial reporting. Known for strategic planning skills and ability to improve efficiency in payroll operations while ensuring compliance with legal standards. Have successfully led teams in streamlining payroll processes, resulting in improved accuracy and reduced processing times.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Payroll Consultant
Pyramide Staffing
Alpharetta, Georgia
04.2025 - Current
- Managed payroll processing for diverse client portfolios using advanced software.
- Ensured compliance with federal and state payroll regulations through regular audits.
- Collaborated with HR teams to effectively resolve employee payroll inquiries.
- Reviewed and processed payroll information, including salary calculations and deductions.
- Analyzed employee data to maintain accurate payroll records.
- Tracked changes in applicable laws to ensure ongoing compliance.
- Prepared periodic reports on payroll activities for management review.
- Resolved complex pay issues, including tax filings and overtime payments.
Payroll Administrator
International Baccalaureate Org.
12.2017 - 06.2024
- Managed a $5.5M bi-weekly/ monthly US & International payroll with precision, ensuring accuracy and compliance with all federal and state regulations.
- Generated payroll for exempt/ non-exempt, union & government employees (SCA).
- Established and maintained multi-state payroll taxes.
- Streamlined payroll processes through the development of comprehensive manuals and conducted onsite training sessions, enhancing overall proficiency, and reducing errors.
- Served as the primary liaison for payroll-related issues, effectively handling queries fostering clear communication to all employees.
- Created and maintained meticulous payroll records, generating end-of-month reports, and ensuring accurate documentation for annual filings, such as W-2s and ACA compliance.
- Consistent liaison between HR and Finance.
- Implementing and administering employee benefits & payroll deductions accounts, ensuring accurate remittance, compliance with requirements, and effective employee communication, resulting in a 95% increase in employee participation.
- Managing open enrollment processes.
- Maintaining relationships with vendors, insurance carriers and third-party benefits administrators, negotiating contracts, and monitoring service levels.
- Facilitated the administration of employee benefits, including 401(k) contributions with liaison with third party administration/ Vendor.
- Transformed payroll operations for the U.S. division by mobilizing a dedicated email queue which also elevated employee engagement, resulting in an impressive 24-hour turnaround for inquiries.
- Directed the transition from ADP to UltiPro, implementing new systems to improve efficiency and user experience payroll and benefits.
- Enhanced 401k fund accuracy by consolidating processes, resulting in improved financial management and compliance, thereby boosting employee trust in benefits administration.
Payroll Accountant
Working America
05.2010 - 09.2016
- Processed payroll for 1000+ employees, ensuring timely and accurate payments that enhanced employee satisfaction and retention.
- Spearheaded the implementation of ADP Workforce Now, streamlining payroll operations and increasing efficiency across the organization.
- Executed full-cycle payroll functions, including the meticulous payment of deductions to various agencies, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations.
- Reconciled monthly general ledger and payroll bank accounts, optimizing accuracy rate and enhancing financial reporting.
- Utilized ability to calculate outside wage garnishment requests and judgments for individual paychecks to ensure compliance with legal requirements and timely responses to employee inquiries.
- Led the onboarding process for new hires, optimizing talent integration and aligning with organizational goals.
- Managed the HRIS system for accurate new enrollments, timely adjustments, efficient terminations, and other life events, ensuring compliance and enhancing data integrity, mitigating processing errors and improving operational efficiency.
- Responded promptly to employee inquiries regarding payroll discrepancies, fostering a supportive work environment and resolving issues effectively.
- AFL-CIO
- Trained and supervised a team of two payroll assistants, enhancing departmental capabilities and facilitating one-on-one mentoring for payroll timekeeping in 20 office locations.
E5 / Honorable Discharge – 68C (Medical Corpsman/ LPN)
US Army
- Exhibited exemplary leadership and strategic acumen, expertly guiding diverse teams through complex, high-pressure scenarios while executing mission-critical operations in a combat environment, ultimately enhancing unit cohesion, operational effectiveness, and the safety of personnel in challenging situations.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology, Human resource Mgmt.
Southern New Hampshire University
01.2026
Accounting -
Prince George Community College
01.2009
Skills
- ADP
- UKG ( Pro/WFM)
- Cost Point
- Oracle
- HCM
- HRIS
- Deltex
- Payroll Administration
- Benefit Administration
- Project Management Skills
- Strong Knowledge of Federal & State Tax Regulations
- Tax Calculations & Filings
- Regulatory Compliance
- Resource Management
- Relationship Building
- Training and development
- Leadership
- Collaboration
Timeline
Senior Payroll Consultant
Pyramide Staffing
04.2025 - Current
Payroll Administrator
International Baccalaureate Org.
12.2017 - 06.2024
Payroll Accountant
Working America
05.2010 - 09.2016
E5 / Honorable Discharge – 68C (Medical Corpsman/ LPN)
US Army
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology, Human resource Mgmt.
Southern New Hampshire University
Accounting -
Prince George Community College