Payroll Consultant – UKG
Overview
A leading transit organization is seeking a senior-level Payroll Consultant with strong UKG expertise to manage complex, end-to-end payroll operations in a highly regulated, unionized environment. This consultant will oversee biweekly and semimonthly payroll processing for approximately 5,000 employees across multiple states and Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
The ideal candidate is a hands-on payroll expert who can quickly take ownership of complex processing, interpret union contracts, resolve time and attendance issues, and provide technical guidance to payroll stakeholders. This is an impactful opportunity to support a high-volume payroll function while helping ensure accurate, compliant, and timely pay delivery.
Required Skills
- 5+ years of experience owning complex, unionized payroll operations
- Strong experience managing payroll governed by multiple Collective Bargaining Agreements
- Extensive hands-on experience with UKG payroll systems
- Experience processing biweekly and semimonthly payrolls
- Knowledge of multi-state payroll processing, including California payroll requirements
- Experience managing complex time and attendance data
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and familiarity with the broader Microsoft Office Suite
- Prior payroll management or senior-level payroll responsibilities
- Ability to interpret and apply union contracts, pay policies, overtime rules, and shift differentials
- Strong reconciliation, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills
- Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities in a deadline-driven environment
Nice-to-Have Skills
- Experience with UKG Workforce Management
- Experience supporting payroll in the transit or transportation industry
- Experience working with BART or similar unionized transportation operations
- Background with other UKG or payroll platforms, such as UKG Pro, UKG Ready, UKG Dimensions, UltiPro, or Kronos
- Experience providing direction or functional guidance to payroll specialists
- Experience with payroll system implementations, testing, configuration, or process improvement
Preferred Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, human resources, or a related field preferred
- 5+ years of progressively responsible payroll experience, including complex unionized payroll
- Prior experience serving as a Payroll Manager, Senior Payroll Manager, Payroll Lead, or equivalent
- Experience supporting payroll populations of several thousand employees preferred
Other Requirements
- Work arrangement: Remote or hybrid in the Boston area
- Duration: 6+ months
- Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
- Must be available to support select payroll processing periods outside standard hours, including California payroll cycles
- Must be comfortable working with multiple union agreements and highly complex payroll requirements
- Must be able to quickly assume ownership of UKG payroll processing with minimal ramp-up time
