Payroll Processing Associate Jobs in Atlanta, GA

Nichols Cauley is a leading integrated financial services platform recognized among the Top 120 Firms by Inside Public Accounting. We are honored to be named one of Accounting Today's Best Firms to Work For and Best Firms for Young Accountants, reflecting our commitment to professional excellence, career development, and a collaborative, supportive culture. Through our Manage. Protect. Grow. approach, we provide clients with coordinated expertise across tax, assurance, outsourced accounting, insurance, transaction advisory, and strategic consulting services. By strategically investing in technology, automation, and AI-driven innovation to enhance client service and empower our team members to do their best work. At Nichols Cauley, you'll find an environment where relationships matter, innovation is encouraged, and long-term success is a shared goal. If you're seeking a rewarding career with an organization dedicated to your growth, development, and future success, we encourage you to apply and join our team.

Payroll Administrator

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Administrator or Manager to own end-to-end payroll operations through UKG and oversee accounts payable processes through Bill.com. This role goes beyond transactional processing — it requires someone who can manage compliance risk, lead process improvements, and serve as the department's subject-matter expert on payroll systems and controls. Ideal for a candidate ready to step into ownership of two critical, high-visibility financial functions with direct impact on employees, vendors, and audit readiness.

This role will be hybrid to Kennesaw or Peachtree Corners

Key Responsibilities

Payroll (UKG) — Administration & Oversight

• Own full-cycle payroll processing for up to 500 employees across multi-state/multi-entity, ensuring accuracy of hours, deductions, tax withholdings, and special pay runs (bonuses, commissions, off-cycle)
• Serve as primary administrator of the UKG system: manage configuration, employee setup, tax jurisdiction updates, and troubleshooting
• Oversee payroll tax compliance across federal, state, and local jurisdictions, including timely filings and reconciliations
• Lead quarter-end and year-end payroll close, including W-2 processing, tax reconciliations, and audit support
• Manage garnishments, benefits deductions, and leave adjustments in coordination with HR
• Act as escalation point for complex employee pay inquiries and discrepancies

• Lead payroll integration for newly acquired or merged entities, including onboarding employee data into UKG, aligning pay practices/policies, and ensuring a smooth transition with minimal disruption to affected employees

• Own payroll reporting and analytics for leadership, including labor cost trends and variance analysis
• Identify, recommend, and implement process improvements and automation within UKG
• Maintain and strengthen internal controls around payroll processing and data integrity

Accounts Payable (Bill.com) — Oversight

• Oversee AP operations processed through Bill.com, including invoice coding, approval workflows, and payment scheduling
• Manage payment runs (ACH, check, credit card) and cash flow planning for AP obligations
• Ensure accurate vendor records, W-9 collection, and timely 1099 issuance
• Review and approve AP aging reconciliations and vendor statement reconciliations
• Resolve escalated vendor disputes and maintain strong vendor relationships
• Partner with Controller on AP-related internal controls and month-end close accuracy

Leadership & Cross-Functional

• Serve as the go-to resource for payroll and AP questions across the organization
• Support internal, external, and payroll tax audits with documentation and process walkthroughs
• Partner with HR and Finance leadership on compensation changes, benefits administration, and system integrations
• May provide guidance or informal oversight to junior payroll/AP staff, if applicable
• Maintain strict confidentiality and data security standards for payroll and financial information

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in payroll administration, with direct ownership of end-to-end payroll cycles
• Advanced, hands-on expertise with UKG (payroll module); system administration experience strongly preferred
• Experience overseeing accounts payable functions; Bill.com experience preferred
• Strong working knowledge of multi-jurisdiction payroll tax compliance
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data analysis)
• Demonstrated ability to manage confidential, sensitive information with sound judgment
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing deadlines and prioritize under pressure

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification strongly preferred
• Experience managing multi-entity or multi-state payroll environments
• Prior experience leading or mentoring payroll/AP team members
• Experience with system implementations, upgrades, or process automation initiatives