Payroll Specialist

Vulcan Elements · Research Triangle Park

Posted 9/2/2026 · last confirmed live 9/5/2026

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to  our core values of being  Mission - Focus ed ,  having  Technical  Excellence and  Integrity .   The Payroll Specialist will be responsible for processing accurate and timely payroll for Vulcan Elements employees, including calculating wages, overtime, deductions, and tax withholdings in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. They'll maintain payroll records, resolve discrepancies, and serve as a point of contact for employee questions regarding pay, benefits deductions, and related policies. As Vulcan scales its workforce across sites like Durham and the new Benson facility, this role will also help ensure payroll systems and processes stay accurate and compliant through that growth. This role will be located at our Durham, NC location and will move to the Benson, NC office when open and operational.     Responsibilities Verify employee timesheets are approved by managers to confirm hours worked and ensure accuracy before processing   Calculate wages, overtime, and bonuses in accordance with company policy and applicable labor laws using systems such as Rippling, ADP, or QuickBooks Payroll   Process payroll using systems such as ADP, Rippling, or QuickBooks Payroll, including off cycle runs for corrections or urgent adjustments   Enter and maintain data related to benefits deductions, tax withholdings, and direct deposit preferences   Confirm accuracy of new hires in the payroll system and assist with terminations, ensuring final paychecks comply with state-specific deadlines   Maintain organized, audit-ready records of payroll transactions and employee compensation history   Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, errors, and employee inquiries in a timely and professional manner   Ensure ongoing compliance with federal, state, and local wage, hour, and payroll tax laws, updating systems and processes as regulations change   Process wage garnishments, tax levies, and other court-ordered deductions accurately and confidentially   Prepare and file payroll tax reports (e.g., Form 941, state unemployment, W-2s, 1099s) and reconcile payroll tax liabilities using systems such as Rippling, ADP, or QuickBooks payroll   Reconcile payroll data with the general ledger and support Finance/Accounting during month-end close   Partner with the People Partner to track and audit PTO and leave accruals (vacation, sick, FMLA) to ensure accurate employee balances   Support payroll system upgrades, integrations, and internal or external audits   Generate payroll reports for management, including labor costs, headcount, and overtime trends, to support budgeting and workforce decisions   Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business   Qualifications     Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent work experience)   3+ years of experience processing payroll, preferably in a multi-state or high-volume environment   Hands-on experience with payroll software (ADP, Rippling, QuickBooks Payroll, or similar)   Working knowledge of wage and hour laws, tax withholding requirements, and garnishment procedures   Experience with payroll tax filings and general ledger reconciliation preferred   Strong proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets for reconciliation and reporting   Excellent attention to detail and ability to handle confidential information with discretion   Strong communication skills to resolve employee payroll questions clearly and professionally   Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.     Preferred Qualifications     CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation a plus, but not required   International payroll experience (e.g., managing payroll across multiple countries, currencies, or working with global EOR/PEO providers) a plus  

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This role is published by Vulcan Elements on greenhouse. SwiftFit is not the employer and does not accept applications.