<p>We are looking for a Payroll Analyst to support payroll, timekeeping, and leave administration activities for a long-term contract position based in Chicago, Illinois. This role focuses on ensuring accurate pay-related data, maintaining compliance controls, and producing clear reporting across payroll and absence processes. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical ability, careful attention to detail, and the communication skills needed to work effectively with employees, leaders, vendors, and internal partners.</p><p><br></p><p>Responsibilities:</p><p>• Coordinate the collection, review, and submission of time, absence, and payment-related data to help ensure timely and accurate payroll processing.</p><p>• Examine payroll tax wages and related liabilities on a quarterly and annual basis, reconciling findings and identifying issues that require follow-up.</p><p>• Oversee leave of absence administration by tracking claim status, communicating with stakeholders, and confirming that records remain current across systems.</p><p>• Prepare reporting and analytics from payroll, timekeeping, and leave platforms to support operational decisions, compliance needs, and audit readiness.</p><p>• Review control documentation for each pay cycle and help maintain support for internal compliance requirements and financial reporting accuracy.</p><p>• Validate leave-related information between external vendors and HRIS records, including retroactive payments, return-to-work documentation, and job protection timelines.</p><p>• Import and confirm payment requests, review off-cycle payroll activity, and verify garnishment and third-party payment data for accuracy.</p><p>• Partner with payroll and technical teams on system updates, testing, troubleshooting, and post-implementation review when payroll-related changes are introduced.</p><p>• Monitor payroll and leave integrations, resolve processing errors or warnings, and help ensure data flows correctly between inbound and outbound systems.</p><p>• Support specialized payroll activities such as equity-related record updates, reduction-in-force tracking, and separation or severance documentation management.</p>