Payroll Specialist

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community safety and racial justice. Since 1996, we’ve worked alongside communities, courts, and those most directly affected by the justice system to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods. With a team of over 900 staff and an annual budget of $130 million, the Center carries out its mission through three core strategies:

1. Operating Programs that pilot new ideas and address local challenges;
2. Conducting original research to evaluate what works—and what doesn’t; and
3. Providing expert assistance and policy guidance to reformers across the country and beyond.

Backed by decades of on-the-ground experience and nationally recognized expertise, we bring innovative, practical, and lasting solutions to justice systems nationwide.
Learn more about our work at www.innovatingjustice.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY 

The Center is looking for a Payroll Specialist to support the operations, communication, implementation, and administrative functions of all payroll processes. Reporting to the Associate Director, Payroll, the Payroll Specialist will be responsible for execution of payroll for all Center staff. We are looking for a dynamic, self-starter, who enjoys working both independently and within a team. 

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Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Support the administration of bi‑weekly payroll processing for 900+ salaried and hourly employees, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and timely execution;
• Review, analyze, and audit employee timecards; advise managers on discrepancies, policy compliance, and required adjustments;
• Confirm and validate direct deposit and tax-related information for new hires, ensuring compliance with internal controls and regulatory requirements;
• Enter and maintain employee data in Paycom, including garnishments, child support orders, and tax setup changes;
• Assess and resolve escalated payroll issues confidentially, providing guidance and interpretation of payroll policies and regulatory requirements;
• Generate, analyze, and interpret bi‑weekly payroll reports for HR, Fiscal, audit review, and year‑end reporting; identify trends and recommend process improvements;
• Support the department with the annual W‑2 process;
• Calculate partial payments for new hires and separating employees; maintain and update the partial payment tracking spreadsheet;
• Collaborate with cross-functional departments to resolve payroll-related issues, such as missing hours or timecard assignments;
• Manage payroll department correspondence, including filing, archiving, faxing, photocopying, and shipping;
• Facilitate payroll onboarding during New Hire Orientation;
• Complete special projects as assigned by the Payroll Manager;
• Provide general administrative support to the Payroll department and assist with day-to-day office needs;
• Prepare payroll-related invoices and coordinate with HR and Fiscal teams to resolve billing or payment inquiries; and
• Perform additional relevant tasks as needed to support payroll operations.

Qualifications: Associate’s degree in a relevant field (such as Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or Human Resources) with at least 1-2 years of experience working in an office environment (HR, payroll, etc.). Non-profit experience a plus. Experience working with Paycom software preferred. Proficiency with MS Office programs and intermediate skill required in Excel. Candidate must be detail oriented and possess excellent communication and organizational skills. The ideal candidate will be professional and personable yet have the ability to exercise sound judgment when dealing with sensitive and confidential matters. 

Position Type: Full-time

Position Location: Midtown Manhattan. 

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $68,400 - $75,000 and is commensurate with experience. 

Benefits: The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.

At this time, the Center is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

Candidates are expected to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the hiring process. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of an offer, or termination of employment, regardless of when discovered.

In compliance with federal law, all hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment verification form upon hire. Please refer to the job posting for relevant contact information. If contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.