Payroll Accountant

Payroll Accountant (HYBRID - Portland, OR)

Our client is seeking a skilled Payroll Accountant to join their team in Portland . This role is focused on managing daily payroll accounting tasks, tax filings, and reconciliations. The goal is to shift some of the tax and reconciliation responsibilities away from Payroll Specialists and into the hands of a dedicated accountant. With the fiscal year-end approaching in July , this added support will be critical in ensuring accurate reporting and compliance during a high-volume period. You'll work cross-functionally with HR, Finance, and other departments to ensure payroll accuracy, regulatory compliance, and data integrity throughout the bi-weekly payroll cycle. SAP experience is strongly preferred.

Pay Range: $33.00 - $40.00/hr. DOE.
Location: Portland, OR. 97204 (Hybrid, 2-3 days a week onsite)
Contract Duration: 6 Months - Possibility of Extension
Benefits Eligible: YES.

Key Responsibilities of Payroll Accountant:
Process payroll transactions, including general ledger (GL) and third-party remittances (3PR).
Monitor payroll simulations, resolve errors, and ensure accurate posting.
Reconcile payroll to GL, 3PR, and accounts payable (AP).
Initiate and track payroll-related payment requests.
Provide backup support for daily tax reconciliation and remittances.
Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual payroll tax filings and payments.
Oversee W-2 and W-2C processing for accuracy and compliance.
Support bi-weekly payroll cycles by validating employee data changes per HR policies.
Troubleshoot, analyze, and document HR/payroll system issues.
Contribute to payroll system upgrades and business process improvements.
Provide technical support for payroll data, processes, and systems.
Partner with HR and department teams to resolve payroll discrepancies.
Manage off-cyclecheck requests for terminations or corrections.

Qualifications of Payroll Accountant:
High school diploma or GED (additional education preferred).
3-5 years of progressive experience in HR/payroll administration.
Proficiency with payroll systems (SAP preferred) and EXCEL (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables).
Strong knowledge of payroll systems, accounting principles, and reconciliation processes.
Familiarity with federal, state, and local payroll laws and tax requirements.
Experience with business process documentation and payroll data analysis.
Ability to interpret and apply HR policies, labor agreements, and compliance guidelines.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

We are unable to accommodate corp. to corp. candidates

About Motus Recruiting and Staffing, Inc:
Founded in 2006, Motus is an award-winning recruiting and staffing firm in the Pacific Northwest, specializing in professional services and technology solutions. We are a group of people who not only recognize the importance of representation, but actively fight for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the recruitment process. Our goal is to educate organizations on the importance of DEI when hiring, promoting, and supporting diverse employees. We are calling organizations to demonstrate their commitment to DEI by being intentional about who they hire.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability or protected veteran status.

PG/BH

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $33.00 - $40.00 per hour

Benefits:
401(k)
Dental insurance
Health insurance
Vision insurance
Schedule:
8 hour shift
Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):
Do you have familiarity with federal, state, and local payroll laws, tax requirements, business process documentation and payroll data analysis?

Experience:
Payroll management: 3 years (Preferred)
SAP: 1 year (Preferred)
Microsoft Excel: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: In person