Melissa Porter
ALIGNED DENTAL SERVICES
Palmetto,FL
1
Certification
12
years of professional experience
Highly skilled payroll professional with comprehensive understanding of payroll systems and compliance regulations. Proven ability to streamline processes, ensure accuracy, and adapt to evolving needs. Strong focus on team collaboration and driving results through effective communication and problem-solving. Known for reliability and consistently delivering high-quality outcomes in fast-paced environments.
Work History
Payroll Manager
1 Year- Provide strategic and operational leadership for payroll functions supporting a complex, multistate workforce. Oversee payroll compliance, process accuracy, reporting, issue resolution, staff development, and continuous improvement initiatives. Lead cross-functional initiatives to develop, implement, and maintain payroll policies and procedures aligned with federal, state, and local requirements. Provide leadership, mentoring, and technical guidance to payroll staff, establishing best practices and promoting continuous professional development.
- Analyze payroll data, trends, variances, and operational metrics to identify opportunities for improved efficiency, accuracy, and financial controls. Conduct comprehensive payroll audits and implement corrective actions to proactively identify and resolve discrepancies. Ensure payroll compliance by monitoring changes to federal, state, and local tax regulations and incorporating regulatory updates into payroll processes. Investigate complex payroll variances, employee claims, tax discrepancies, and financial differences through detailed research and reconciliation.
- Partner with HR, Finance, Benefits, and management to resolve payroll-related issues and strengthen cross-functional processes. Support the integration of newly acquired companies into established payroll systems, ensuring accurate employee setup, tax configuration, deductions, and regulatory compliance. Develop detailed payroll reports, analyses, expense summaries, trends, and projections to support management decision-making. Resolve sensitive employee payroll concerns with professionalism, discretion, and a strong customer-service focus while mentoring junior payroll professionals and providing guidance on payroll processes, compliance requirements, and issue resolution.
Payroll Specialist
2 Years 2 Months- Manage high-volume multistate payroll operations supporting approximately 60+ dental offices and 700+ employees. Process and audit payroll across multiple states, ensuring accurate wages, taxes, deductions, benefits, and other payroll components while maintaining compliance with applicable federal and state requirements.
- Perform detailed payroll audits to identify discrepancies and ensure the accuracy and integrity of payroll data. Coordinate 401(k) and IRA funding and reporting and support retirement-plan administration. Partner with HR on benefits reconciliation, workers’ compensation audits, retirement-plan activities, and other payroll-related compliance requirements, including Form 5500-related tasks.
- Lead workflow improvements designed to streamline payroll processes, reduce processing time, and increase productivity. Investigate and resolve complex payroll discrepancies efficiently and accurately while providing responsive support to employees regarding pay, deductions, benefits, and payroll-related questions. Maintain strict confidentiality and security of sensitive payroll and employee information while collaborating with HR, Finance, Benefits, and management to ensure payroll information is accurate and properly reflected across business functions.
Senior Payroll Specialist
1 Year- Managed complex multistate payroll processing for multiple clients using PrismHR, providing comprehensive payroll, tax, client support, reporting, and implementation services. Processed payroll while ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with applicable regulations. Managed payroll, tax, banking, and operational cases through PrismHR Client Space CRM.
- Supported client onboarding and employee lifecycle activities, including new hires, terminations, garnishments, and state tax setup. Established and maintained new state tax jurisdictions and payroll configurations. Produced customized payroll, General Ledger, and management reports based on client requirements. Processed check and voucher reversals, off-cycle payrolls, pay-code changes, workers’ compensation setup, and GL configurations.
- Researched and resolved complex client payroll issues while providing knowledgeable, high-level customer support. Partnered with clients to identify payroll needs, explain processes, and deliver accurate solutions while managing multiple priorities and strict payroll deadlines.
Client Payroll Specialist
2 Years- Provided full-service payroll administration for assigned clients using UKG/UltiPro, managing payroll activities from employee setup through year-end processing. Processed payroll while coordinating closely with clients, HR teams, and internal stakeholders to ensure accurate and timely results.
- Entered and audited employee benefits, new hires, terminations, direct deposits, deductions, and other payroll changes. Reviewed payroll data and employee records for accuracy prior to payroll finalization. Supported year-end processing, including open enrollment audits, new calendar-year setup, year-end reporting, and W-2 reconciliation.
- Investigated payroll discrepancies and worked collaboratively with clients to resolve issues. Maintained detailed payroll records while protecting confidential employee and client information. Served as a trusted payroll resource for clients, providing clear communication and practical solutions to complex payroll questions.
Payroll Specialist
10 Months- Managed semimonthly payroll for multistate workforce using UltiPro, collaborating with HR, Finance, and management on payroll, tax, benefits, reporting, and compliance to ensure accuracy in PTO, leave of absence, deductions, garnishments, commissions, bonuses, and hours.
- Produced payroll reports for management and Finance, coordinating 401(k) contributions and collaborating with Finance and UltiPro on payroll tax filings, tax issues, employee setup, and multistate SUTA configurations while correcting historical payroll tax filing discrepancies.
- Identified and resolved multistate tax issues, securing over $10,000 in company refunds while supporting HR projects, payroll reporting, and operational initiatives between payroll cycles.
Payroll Specialist
10 Months- Processed payroll for 100+ multistate clients using HRP and PrismHR, managing client cases and information through PrismHR CRM to ensure accurate payroll, tax, benefits, workers’ compensation codes, garnishments, and employee setup.
- Resolved payroll discrepancies and configuration issues while providing high-level client support in fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, balancing multiple client requirements and payroll schedules while maintaining accuracy, confidentiality, and compliance.
Garnishment Specialist
1 Year 4 Months- Managed accurate, timely processing of wage garnishments across multiple states, ensuring compliance with state-specific laws and requirements while reviewing and maintaining garnishment orders and payroll deductions for accuracy.
- Communicated with courts, Child Support agencies, law offices, and other entities to resolve issues and maintain compliance, investigating discrepancies to establish, maintain, and process appropriate deductions according to state requirements.
Payroll Coordinator
1 Year 9 Months- Processed weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, and monthly payrolls for multistate clients, ensuring accuracy and compliance with federal and state Department of Labor requirements while managing multiple payroll schedules within strict deadlines.
- Processed and reviewed Certified Payroll and Prevailing Wage Payroll, verifying employee documentation, including I-9s and tax withholding forms, while ensuring completeness and accuracy of payroll data to maintain regulatory compliance.
Education
Bachelor’s Degree - Accounting
Skills
Multistate U.S. Payroll Administration
Federal
State and Local Tax Compliance
W-2 preparation
Payroll Auditing
Garnishments
Benefits Administration
Retirement Plan Administration
Workers’ Compensation Audits & Setup
New Hire & Termination Processing
Payroll System Integration
Payroll Reporting
Payroll Process Improvement
Client & Employee Relations
Team Leadership & Staff Development
HR & Finance Team Collaboration
Multistate Compliance
Microsoft Office and Google Workspace Proficiency
UKG Pro
PrismHR
Isolved HRM Proficiency
Affiliations
American Payroll Association
Certification
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) Examination — Sitting Spring 2027
Timeline
Payroll Manager
ALIGNED DENTAL SERVICES
09.2025 - CurrentRead More
Payroll Specialist
ALIGNED DENTAL SERVICES
07.2024 - CurrentRead More
Senior Payroll Specialist
CONSOLIDATED HUMAN RESOURCES
07.2023 - 07.2024Read More
Client Payroll Specialist
WISE CONSULTING
07.2021 - 07.2023Read More
Payroll Specialist
TRIAD DIGITAL MEDIA
07.2019 - 05.2020Read More
Payroll Specialist
ENGAGE PEO
06.2018 - 04.2019Read More
Garnishment Specialist
ENGAGE PEO
02.2017 - 06.2018Read More
Payroll Coordinator
FRANKCRUM
10.2014 - 07.2016Read More
Goldey-Beacom College
Bachelor’s Degree from Accounting
Read More