Payroll Specialist | Grand Rapids, MI

Salary Range: $48,000 - $74,000 depending on experience

Are you a skilled professional with a passion for excelling in payroll specialist? The Pivot Group is dedicated to building meaningful connections in the manufacturing community. We are collaborating with companies in Grand Rapids seeking experienced Payroll Specialists.

The Opportunity

We collaborate with manufacturing companies in the Grand Rapids region seeking Payroll Specialists. These employers partner with us because they want real insight into candidates—not just resumes. By joining our network, you gain access to roles worth considering.

Key Responsibilities

• Process accurate and timely bi-weekly payroll for a diverse workforce, including hourly production and salaried employees.
• Review and verify timecards, attendance records, and production incentives for accuracy and compliance with company policies and labor laws.
• Manage all payroll deductions, including taxes, benefits, garnishments, and 401(k) contributions.
• Administer new hire payroll setup, employee changes, and termination processes, ensuring accurate final pay calculations.
• Reconcile payroll data to the general ledger and prepare related journal entries.
• Generate and distribute required payroll reports for management, finance, and regulatory bodies.
• Ensure strict compliance with federal, state, and local payroll laws, including FLSA and wage and hour regulations.

Recommended Qualifications

• Proven experience processing full-cycle payroll for hourly and salaried employees, ideally within a manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency with payroll software (e.g., ADP, UKG, Paychex) and integrated time & attendance systems (e.g., Kronos, ADP eTime).
• In-depth knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, FLSA, and multi-state payroll compliance.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy in data entry, calculation, and reconciliation of payroll.
• Ability to handle complex pay structures, shift differentials, overtime calculations, and production-based incentives typical in manufacturing.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience with time and attendance systems common in manufacturing environments (e.g., Kronos, ADP eTime).
• Familiarity with payroll processing for shift differentials, piece rates, or union contracts.
• Knowledge of HR/Payroll modules within large ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Workday).
• Experience with multi-state payroll processing for a distributed manufacturing workforce.

Job Titles That Should Apply

Payroll Specialist, Payroll Administrator, Payroll Coordinator, Payroll Processor, Senior Payroll Specialist, Payroll Analyst, HR & Payroll Specialist, Payroll Clerk, Payroll Officer

Why Pivot Group

The Pivot Group was founded by manufacturing professionals who've been on both sides of the hiring process. Our clients are strategic—they partner with us because they want real insight into their roles and the people filling them, not a stack of resumes. We focus on match-driven placements built around what actually matters: Commute, Compensation, Culture, and Career trajectory.

If you're ready to take the next step in your career and connect with a firm that values fit over speed, we invite you to reach out. The Pivot Group offers resources to support your search—market insights, resume feedback, and interview preparation. As our partnerships grow, we'll reach out with opportunities aligned with your goals. Thank you for considering this approach to career advancement.