LA'QUITA CHEATHAM
Summary
Detail-oriented Payroll and HR professional with 7 years of experience processing accurate and timely payroll while supporting core HR functions, including onboarding, employee relations, benefits administration, HRIS management, personnel records, compliance, and policy administration. Experienced in ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, resolving payroll discrepancies, and maintaining confidential employee information. Proficient in ADP, Paylocity, Sage Intacct, UKG, and ADP Workforce Now, with a proven ability to manage large-scale payroll operations, support the employee lifecycle, and contribute to efficient, compliant HR and payroll processes.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
HRIS Administrator/HR Generalist
Certex
Phoenix, AZ
06.2026 - Current
- Serve as primary HR Generalist supporting full employee lifecycle, including onboarding, offboarding, job changes, and employee records management.
- Administer and maintain HRIS system data integrity, ensuring accurate employee information, organizational structure, and workflow configuration.
- Process and support payroll-related HR functions including time and attendance validation, deductions, benefits updates, and compliance reporting.
- Provide employee relations support by addressing HR inquiries, resolving workplace issues, and ensuring consistent application of company policies.
- Manage HR compliance activities including personnel file audits, documentation standards, and adherence to federal, state, and local employment laws.
- Support benefits administration by assisting with enrollments, changes, terminations, and coordination with vendors and payroll.
- Generate HRIS reports and analytics to support leadership decisions, audits, and workforce planning.
- Partner with payroll, finance, and management teams to ensure accurate data flow between HR systems and payroll processing.
- Identify and implement process improvements to streamline HR operations, improve data accuracy, and enhance employee experience.
- Maintain confidentiality of sensitive employee data while ensuring accuracy and efficiency across all HR systems and processes.
- Processing human resources transactions, conducting background checks, and performing related administrative tasks.
Payroll Accountant/HR Generalist- Temp Position
Bumblebee Home Services
Glendale
01.2026 - 05.2026
- Led payroll-related projects by collaborating cross-functionally with HR and finance teams, identifying risks, and implementing process improvements.
- Managed end-to-end payroll processing, including vendor coordination, timesheet auditing, tax withholdings, journal entries, and final employee payments.
- Supported HR Generalist functions including onboarding, offboarding, employee records management, HRIS updates, and payroll-related employee inquiries.
- Assisted with employee relations and issue resolution related to payroll, benefits deductions, and HR policy interpretation.
- Maintained HR and payroll documentation, ensuring compliance with company policies, labor laws, and audit requirements.
- Analyzed payroll and timekeeping processes to improve efficiency, accuracy, and operational workflows.
- Processed accounts payable/receivable transactions, invoices, and expense reports to ensure timely payments and accurate financial records.
- Reconciled account statements and assisted with month-end close, including general ledger and payroll-related journal entries.
- Utilized HRIS and accounting systems to maintain accurate employee, payroll, and financial data.
- Managing HR administrative functions, including working with human resources management systems such as PeopleSoft or other similar software.
- Providing HR customer service, including handling escalated issues and working with difficult employees.
Payroll Administrator/HRIS Administrator
Valley Metro
Phoenix, AZ
08.2024 - 12.2025
- Maintained and updated database for invoicing and accounting reconciliation.
- Accurately processed data, validation and transmission for weekly, semi-monthly payrolls.
- Prepared and balanced end-of-period reports and reconciled payroll issues.
- Coordinated with HR to ensure accurate employee data for payroll processing.
- Tracked employee vacation, personal and sick leave earnings and use.
- Processed payroll for over 500 employees bi-weekly, ensuring accuracy of pay and deductions.
- Prepared and submitted payroll reports for review by senior management.
- Maintained up-to-date payroll records by recording employee exemptions, transfers and resignations.
- Researched discrepancies in payroll data and provided corrective action when needed.
- Managed multiple tasks simultaneously while meeting deadlines consistently.
- Create labor allocation in payroll.
- Build pivot tables to reconcile payroll submissions.
- Perform VLOOKUP on payroll reports.
- Maintained employee records and HRIS data, ensuring accuracy of personnel information, pay rates, tax elections, deductions, and direct deposit information.
- Supported the employee lifecycle by assisting with new hire onboarding, employee status changes, promotions, transfers, and terminations.
- Partnered with HR and management to resolve employee payroll, benefits, and HR-related inquiries while providing exceptional customer service.
- Assisted with benefits administration by processing employee benefit deductions and ensuring payroll deductions were accurately reflected.
- Interpreting and explaining human resources policies and procedures.
- Proofing and auditing documents for accuracy.
- Processing payroll and leave transactions with a high level of proficiency.
Senior Payroll Specialist
Paylocity
Phoenix, AZ
10.2021 - 09.2024
- Generated relevant paperwork and payroll reports.
- Calculated overtime, vacation sick hours and other categories of time.
- Managed payroll for temporary, hourly, and salaried employees.
- Assisted with audits by preparing accounts and providing information.
- Responded to requests for information as company expert on payroll operations.
- Updated and reconciled retirement, tax and health care accounts.
- Onboarded new employees in time reporting and payroll systems.
- Processed rehires, transfers, terminations, garnishments and withholdings.
- Corrected payroll transactions by voiding checks and issuing stop payment orders.
- Followed IRS guidelines and state regulations when submitting payroll taxes.
Payroll Specialist/Talent Mngmt and Recruitment
ADP
Tempe, AZ
06.2019 - 09.2021
- Provided technical expertise to employees and auditors on federal, state and international income tax matters.
- Compiled financial, accounting and auditing reports and tables for cash receipts, expenditures, accounts payable, receivables and profits and losses.
- Reviewed, investigated and corrected errors and inconsistencies in financial entries, documents and reports.
- Ensured the proper processing of garnishments, which included child support and wage assignments.
- Processed rehires, transfers, terminations, garnishments and withholdings.
- Followed all IRS guidelines and state regulations when submitting payroll taxes.
- Processed terminations.
- Corrected payroll transactions by voiding checks and issuing stop payment orders.
- Managed payroll and time and attendance systems.
- Created, organized and maintained employee personnel files to keep sensitive data secure.
- Managed communication regarding employee orientation and open enrollment for benefits.
- Onboarded new employees in time reporting and payroll systems.
Account Protection Specialist
American Express
Phoenix, AZ
03.2016 - 08.2017
- Handled calls and exercising sound judgment when determining fraudulent applications.
- Contacted new account applicants to ensure they applied for an account.
- Prioritized and multi-tasked effectively by keeping the nature of the request, the requester, and all related details in perspective and confidential.
- Used analytical thinking with a strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Analyzed a large number of activities related to inappropriate usage of American Express card products.
- Delivered extraordinary service through inbound and outbound calls in a fast paced, structured environment.
Education
High School Diploma -
South Mountain High School
Phoenix, AZSome College -
Maricopa Community Colleges - Phoenix College
Phoenix, AZSkills
- Cross functional collaboration
- Problem-solving and reasoning
- Prioritization skills
- Self-directed mindset
- HR Generalist Support
- Strong math skills
- Year-end processing
- Data entry
- Tax compliance
- General ledger maintenance
- HRIS Management
- Timekeeping
- Garnishment processing
Timeline
HRIS Administrator/HR Generalist
Certex
06.2026 - Current
Payroll Accountant/HR Generalist- Temp Position
Bumblebee Home Services
01.2026 - 05.2026
Payroll Administrator/HRIS Administrator
Valley Metro
08.2024 - 12.2025
Senior Payroll Specialist
Paylocity
10.2021 - 09.2024
Payroll Specialist/Talent Mngmt and Recruitment
ADP
06.2019 - 09.2021
Account Protection Specialist
American Express
03.2016 - 08.2017
High School Diploma -
South Mountain High School
Some College -
Maricopa Community Colleges - Phoenix College