Nicole Johnson

• Oversees the US payroll function, ensuring accurate and timely processing of all transactions in accord­ ance with regulations.

• Ensures compliance with local, state, federal, and international regulations, staying updated on policy changes.

• Identifies and provides solutions for potential payroll issues, implementing process changes and/or additional training as a preventive measure for future errors.

• Conducts payroll audits and establishes controls to maintain data integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of processing.

• Addresses escalated employee inquiries and concerns related to payroll promptly and effectively.

• Identifies and resolves potential payroll issues, implementing process improvements and providing additional training as necessary.

• Reviews and/or creates all communications regarding Payroll and Timekeeping activities.

• Leads and develops the payroll team through direction, coaching, and performance management.

Upholds strict confidentiality to safeguard the payroll system, reports, and documentation.

• Calculated deductions and processed payroll for employees.
• Processed payroll garnishments such as tax liens and child support.
• Coordinated new hire and termination processes to facilitate smooth operations.
• Investigated payroll variances and employee claims to resolve discrepancies and balance financial records.
• Performed calculations in overtime, vacation, and sick hours to provide accurate data to payroll processing database.
• Coordinated with finance to reconcile payroll accounts, ensuring accuracy in financial reporting.
• Monitored and updated employee information in payroll system to add changes in salary, bonuses and deductions.
• Customized payroll reports for management, providing valuable insights into labor costs and financial planning.
• Managed year-end payroll activities, ensuring timely and accurate W-2 distribution.
• Addressed employee inquiries regarding pay issues promptly, fostering positive relationships between management and staff members.
• Developed and implemented payroll procedures and policies to determine compliance with regulations.
• Mentored junior team members, helping them develop the skills necessary for career advancement within the payroll field.
• Improved payroll accuracy by conducting regular audits and addressing discrepancies proactively.

• Direct staff performance pertaining to payroll activities, including payroll processing with FSLA and FMLA compliance, payroll budging, and reconciling.
• Lead payroll processing for separate entities and locations.
• Evaluate overall workflow processes to ensure adherence to departmental policies and procedures.
• Support payroll processing integration for newly acquired entities.
• Deliver end-to-end assistance with year-end audit process and any special purpose audits.
• Process payroll in coordination with company database programs.
• Manage preparation and processing of payroll on weekly basis, including time and attendance, employee maintenance, record-keeping, and audit schedules for guidance of management.
• Direct union documentation and reporting requirements to ensure compliance with state/federal regulations and contractual agreements and processing weekly payrolls for all union and non-union employees accurately.
• Incorporated multiple process improvements via WorkDay for automation.
• Created and revised department policies and procedures time-to-time.
• Led processing of payroll for 2200 employees within organization.
• Maintained staff database regarding salaries and managed each entities payroll budget/expenditures.
• Generated reports for relevant departments about payroll, company budget, and expenses.
• Rectified employee complaints relating to payroll system by addressing or escalating.

• Confirmed processing of payroll in timely, accurately, and in compliance with external regulations via ADP Workforce Now.
• Interfaced with HR Ops team for adjustments required before each payroll cycle, encompassing new hires, terms, and rate changes of one-time payroll runs (bonus).
• Established new payroll companies, states, and localities, while ensuring completion of required tax filings appropriately.
• Facilitated payroll calculations, deductions, insurance coverage, wage garnishments, tax filings, and child support.
• Created and updated staff payroll records up-to-date and accurate.
• Led preparation of employee wage summaries for earnings, taxes, deductions, leaves, retirement savings, and benefits.
• Provided records and documentation to auditors to contribute to audits process.
• Determined and provided scalable recommended updates to payroll processing software, systems, and procedures.
• Reconciled weekly payroll data for ensuring involuntary deductions, while processing of levies and garnishments efficiently and in accordance with law.
• Oversaw processing of all voluntary deductions; union dues, benefits including but not limited to 401k, medical, dental, vision, LegalShield, and pension.
• Oversaw and processed bi-weekly payrolls for 400 personnel.
• Acquired appropriate approvals and managed non-exempt employee timecards reviews.
• Recognized as focal contact point for all payroll-related inquiries resolution.
• Optimized payroll cycle, entailing new hires, terminations, time tracking, and time off in partnering with HR for implementation, documentation, and maintenance of adequate and effective workflows.
• Drove towards implementation of best practices and instigated business process improvement culture.

• Maintained payroll records relating to all companies in ADP and Workday payroll systems.
• Collated, conducted audits, and determined employee expenses, as well as prepared periodic reports of earnings, taxes, and deductions.
• Aided Supervisor with all payroll tax filings and issuance of W-2s, 1095's and Benefit runs.
• Processed all demographic, rate, and deductions changes for all staff.
• Upheld employee documentation, entailing attendance, disciplinary actions, and injuries.
• Prepared and assessed payroll provider capabilities for optimal operational efficiencies.
• Verified consistent and accurate execution of payroll by devising and setting payroll policies, procedures, and practices.
• Produced all ad hoc payroll reports and queries as well as reviewed weekly, monthly, quarterly, and year-end payroll reports to ensure accuracy and timeliness of filings.
• Ensure accuracy and compliant with federal, state, and local legal requirements of pay records.
• Maintained time and attendance records, like time off requests by utilizing HRIS/Payroll system.
• Enabled accurate payroll processing by maintaining employee timecards and information accurately.
• Enhanced overall efficiency and consulted with HR team for payroll and HRIS processes improvement by implementing and maintaining payroll best practices.
• Managed processing of bi-weekly payroll for ~3K salaried and hourly staff across New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

• Leveraged ADP Workforce Now for one-time payments, hours worked, overtime, and deductions adjustments to formulate and load payroll data batches.
• Executed various general administrative support work, such as building and maintaining payroll files.
• Validated accuracy, proper coding, and correct entry in payroll and HRMS system of all information obtained from forms/paperwork/time and attendance system/ mileage reports.
• Steered provision of frequent and clear communications regarding status of initiatives and informing changes/ in-progress work.
• Enabled optimal integrity of data entered into HRIS/Payroll with high accuracy.
• Carried-out reviews, evaluation, and checks of payroll reports for accuracy and incorporated necessary adjustments/corrections through journal entries or other established procedures.
• Designed and optimized processes by providing feedback, while completing biweekly union payroll 1199SEIU.
• Ensured best-in-class practices maintenance by developing documentation for including How To documents, workflow processes, separation of duties for current staff along with updates on company growth.

• Utilized ADP Workforce Now to revise, assess, and verify payroll reports for accuracy and make necessary adjustments through established procedures.
• Delivered assistance Payroll Management with quarterly and yearly audits performed by outside audit firms.
• Performed data entry of missed punches, work schedules and time adjustments, direct deposit, tax, and other data in ADP.
• Processed garnishments, cash awards, education assistance, retroactive adjustments, automatic deposits, garnishment and earning.
• Administered staff performance appraisal process.
• Conducted multiple system audits to verify accuracy and timely processing of salary/wage information, deductions, terminations, and leave information.
• Delivered exceptional customer service and supported ADP Workforce Now system.
• Resolved problems with nominal support from operations manager, while performing payroll functions with minimal errors and maximum efficiency.
• Operated as Lead for delegating and prioritizing workflow, troubleshooting issues, facilitating training/orientation, and providing backup support for supervisor.

• Assisted in time and attendance of all sites and coordinated with accruals, calculations, reports, and any manual processes for documentation.
• Managed ADP for filing and reconciliation of taxes at federal, state, and local levels.
• Uploaded and validated payroll files for processing into ADP system, while updating wiring of payroll and 401(k) funding.
• Confirmed records maintenance and compliance with local, state, and federal laws.
• Performed in depth investigations and resolved payroll issues.
• Ensured best practices maintenance by creating documentation to include How To documents, workflow processes, separation of duties for current staff with updates as company grows.
• Delivered support to managers, supervisors, and employees and sustained employee confidence as well as protected payroll operations by keeping information confidential.
• Managed processing of bi-weekly and semi-monthly payrolls for approx. 250 employees timely and accurately.
• Orchestrated audits, maintained, and updated payroll and employee records for new hires, terminations, garnishments, levies, and company/employee directed changes.
• Conducted comprehensive research and prepared manual checks upon demand via Paychex and ADP.

• Utilized ADP Workforce and PCPayroll to produce and load payroll data batches.
• Assisted in monthly/quarterly accounting closure tasks for payroll and compensation related accruals.
• Monitored activities of payroll staff and engaged with Human Resources (HR) and accounting teams.
• Ensured compliance with all underlying state and federal laws as well as fulfilment of desired internal business needs by system by reviewing payroll system.
• Reviewed garnishments, support payments, and withholdings.
• Honed expertise in payroll software, encompassing HRIS (SAP, ADP, Kronos) and MS Office (especially Excel).
• Administered accurate processing of staff appointments, transfers, promotions, and terminations.
• Led implementation of necessary changes in partnering with payroll software vendor.