Company Description

PQ is a leading global provider of silicates, silicas and derivative products. PQ’s products are used in a wide variety of industrial processes and many customer products, from decorative paints to green cement, from clean drinking water to green tires and from toothpaste to biofuels and beer.

Job Description

Working collaboratively with PQ’s HR team, leaders and employees, this role is solely responsible for-to-end payroll administration for all North America employees across the US and Canada, ensuring accurate, timely payroll for union, non-exempt and exempt populations across multiple states and provinces.

In addition to payroll execution and compliance, this position serves as a key owner of select HR technology platforms and workforce data reporting, supporting HR processes such as performance management, compensation planning, workforce planning, and employee lifecycle transactions. The role partners closely with HR leadership, Finance, and IT to ensure HR systems are optimized, integrated, secure, and aligned with business needs.

This position requires strong technical capability, attention to detail, and a continuous improvement mindset. The successful candidate will demonstrate a persistent, solution-based approach, proactively identifying opportunities to improve payroll accuracy, enhance system functionality, and deliver meaningful workforce insights through analytics and reporting.

Ideal candidates align with PQ’s Core Values of Integrity, Sustainability, People, Customer Focus and Safety. Successful employees embrace and model these values in their behaviors and actions.

Payroll Administration & Execution:

• Manage all aspects of payroll for union and non-union employees in the U.S. and Canada, including data entry for new hires, terminations, and updates.

• Process payroll transactions including salaries, bonuses, commissions, shift differentials, retroactive pay, benefits deductions, garnishments, taxes, and other earnings/deductions.

• Maintain payroll master data including new hires, terminations, job changes, wage increases, and employee status updates.

• Partner with Benefits Manager on payroll-related benefits processing, including disability pay coordination, benefit deductions, and vendor file reconciliation.

• Prepare and process final paychecks, terminations, and off-cycle payrolls in compliance with applicable state and provincial regulations.

• Serve as the payroll subject matter expert, responsible for maintaining and continuously improving payroll procedures, controls and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Compliance, Controls & Union Contract Administration:

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, and provincial wage and hour laws, payroll regulations, and company policies.

• Administer payroll-related requirements within union contracts, including shift premiums, overtime rules, and contract-driven wage increases.

• Maintain strong internal payroll controls, ensuring proper approvals, documentation, and audit readiness.

• Stay current on payroll legislation and regulatory changes, recommending process and system updates as needed.

HR Technology & Systems Ownership

• Serve as the primary HR functional owner for North America payroll and timekeeping systems (ADP Workforce Now and ADP Time & Attendance).

• Provide support and functional administration for additional HR technology platforms supporting performance management, compensation planning, workforce planning, and employee data management.

• Support system configuration, security roles, workflow approvals, and data governance to ensure accurate employee data and controlled access.

• Lead system testing and validation for enhancements, new features, annual updates, and process improvements, ensuring minimal disruption to payroll and HR cycles.

• Develop training materials and deliver training to HR team members, plant administrators, and managers on payroll, timekeeping, and related HR systems.

• Maintain vendor relationships and serve as key contact for HR technology providers, supporting issue resolution and continuous optimization.

Workforce Analytics, Reporting & KPI Management

• Develop and maintain workforce dashboards and recurring reporting for payroll, labor cost, overtime trends, absenteeism, and turnover metrics.

• Analyze payroll and timekeeping data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and compliance risks, providing actionable insights to HR and leadership.

• Provide accurate payroll and workforce data reporting to Finance and business leaders to support forecasting, budgeting, and workforce planning decisions.

• Support HR leadership with analytics for annual cycles including merit, compensation planning, performance review processes, and headcount reporting.

• Ensure reporting accuracy through periodic audits and validation processes.

Stakeholder Engagement & Employee Support

• Maintain high visibility and build strong working relationships with employees across all levels, from plant and union employees to senior leadership.

• Respond professionally and promptly to payroll inquiries, resolving discrepancies and ensuring positive employee experience.

• Communicate proactively with stakeholders regarding payroll schedules, system changes, and process updates.

• Support HR communications and employee-facing guidance related to payroll, HR technology tools, and annual HR programs.

Tax Compliance & Year-End Processing

• Manage quarterly and annual payroll tax filings and ensure compliance with federal, state, local, and provincial requirements.

• Ensure accurate tax setup for new hires and employee transfers across jurisdictions.

• Manage new tax jurisdiction setup and resolve tax amendments as required.

• Respond to and resolve tax notices in partnership with ADP and internal stakeholders.

• Ensure accurate year-end processing including W-2 and T-4 preparation and distribution.

• Calculate and process imputed income for applicable fringe benefits, ensuring proper tax reporting and compliance.

• Support vendor file generation and reconciliation for 401(k), HSA, and other benefit programs, partnering with Benefits Manager and third-party vendors.

Process Improvement & Continuous Improvement

• Identify and implement improvements to payroll processes, HR technology workflows, reporting automation, and data integrity practices.

• Serve as a change agent, recommending and driving best practices in payroll administration, HRIS governance, and system efficiency.

• Participate in cross-functional projects supporting HR operations, digital transformation, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Additional Responsibilities

• Comply with all environmental, health, safety regulations, and company policies.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in payroll management, with a focus on multi-state and Canadian operations.
• Proven experience with payroll systems such as ADP Workforce Now or similar systems
• Demonstrated experience with Time & Attendance systems, preferably ADP
• Extensive knowledge of the payroll function including preparation, balancing, internal control, and payroll taxes.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll laws and regulations in U.S.
• Canadian payroll experience and knowledge preferred.
• Experience managing payroll for union and non-union employees.
• Demonstrated ability to handle complex payroll tax issues and compliance in both countries.
• Experience in writing and updating payroll rules and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Experience in process improvement and automation within payroll functions.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel (e.g., VLOOKUPs, pivot tables) Word, Outlook and Powerpoint.
• Behavioral & Job Competencies (including leadership competencies)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrate a self-starter mentality with the ability to effectively collaborate within a team, driving initiatives forward while fostering a cooperative work environment.
• Ability to lead complex projects with meticulous planning, ensuring successful execution and alignment with organizational goals.

Additional Information

EHS Responsibilities

• Communicates, promotes and personally demonstrates Safety/Health (including PQP Principles) as #1 priority
• Participation in risk assessment audits as applicable
• Understand PQ Principles (PQP) and how they are implemented in the site organization, rules and procedures
• Completes HSE training requirements identified for the job in a timely manner

PQ is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics. Click on the link to read Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal (eeoc.gov). For more information, please review the link Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (eeoc.gov).

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