JOB DESCRIPTION

Payroll Specialist

As a Payroll Specialist for EF Education First, you will play a critical role in ensuring our employees are paid accurately and on time. You will partner closely with the HR and Finance teams to manage end-to-end payroll processing, maintain compliance with federal and state regulations, and serve as a trusted resource for employee payroll inquiries. This role sits within the HR function and offers exposure to a broad range of compensation, benefits, and people operations processes.

What You'll Do:

• Process employee payroll on a regular schedule, ensuring accuracy and timeliness across all pay cycles.
• Verify timecards and resolve discrepancies in a timely and accurate manner.
• Manage payroll changes including new hires, terminations, salary adjustments, and leave updates.
• Maintain payroll records and ensure data integrity within the payroll system.
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries with professionalism and a commitment to resolution.
• Assist with payroll audits and provide requested documentation and information.
• Assist in compiling reports to support HR, Finance, and leadership needs.
• Assist in processing 401(k) contributions and ensuring accurate deduction management.

Who You Are:

You are detail-oriented, dependable, and take pride in getting things right. You understand the trust employees place in payroll, and you approach your work with the rigor and discretion that requires. You enjoy working cross-functionally and are comfortable navigating complexity. Additionally, you have/are:

• 2+ years of payroll processing experience required.
• Proficiency in payroll systems (experience with ADP GlobalView and ADP Smart Compliance helpful)
• Familiarity with Oracle HCM a plus
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, including the ability to compile and analyze payroll data.
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy in all aspects of payroll processing.
• Well-organized and deadline-driven, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• High level of confidentiality and integrity when handling sensitive employee information.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a customer-service mindset.
• A problem-solving approach, with the ability to identify discrepancies and drive resolution.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.

Why you’ll love working here: Perks, Benefits, and more!

This is the most fun, high caliber place you’ll ever work. Ask any employee why they love EF (whether they’ve been here 10 minutes or 10 years) and they’ll probably tell you the same thing: it’s the people. When you work at EF, you join a purpose-driven, international and energetic community that thrives on continuous learning, fearless innovation and mutual support.

In addition, you can expect:

• Commitment to professional growth: robust monthly calendar of trainings and workshops
• Four weeks paid vacation your first year, ten paid holidays, and two floating holidays
• Exciting business travel opportunities
• 25% company match on your 401(k) contributions
• Market-leading medical, dental and vision coverage, along with options for life and disability insurance, accident and hospital insurance, legal and pet insurance
• Dependent care, healthcare and commuter Flex Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Access to fertility care and family-building support
• Wellness benefits including a yearly fitness reimbursement
• Frequent social and learning events, including access to our employee-run resource groups
• Robust Employee Assistance Program
• Tenure-based sabbatical eligibility
• EF Product Discounts (discounts on travel, international language schools, Au Pair program and more)
• Discounts at local venues and businesses
• Amazing offices designed to match the caliber of the people who work there, plus the flexibility of working from home one day a week.
• Compensation range for this role is $65,000-70,000 based on experience. This role is eligible for overtime for any hours over 40-hours per week with manager approval.

ABOUT US

Some companies are in the business of banking. Others are in the business of shoes. Or sports. Or soft drinks. At EF, we're in a different kind of business. One that's a little less tangible, and a lot more important. Because our business, what we make, makes everything else possible. We're in the business of understanding. Between people. Between cultures.

For over half a century we’ve been the leader in international educational programs and experiences designed to foster such understanding. Through language, cultural exchange, academic studies, and educational travel, we create the kinds of immersive experiences that challenge biases, open minds, and pave the way for a more understanding world.

You’ll find our offices and schools located in some of the world’s greatest cities, and filled with smart, driven people (over 50,000 of us) who push each other to be better every day. But it’s what we do together - building greater understanding, breaking down barriers, and creating a better world - that makes all the difference.

Founded in 1965 in Sweden, EF (Education First) is a global association of education companies that share a common mission of opening the world through education. EF has been recognized on Forbes 2025 and 2024 World’s Best Employers and 2024 Top Companies for Women lists, Fast Company’s 2025 Next Big Things In Tech, and was a 2024 App Store Award winner in Cultural Impact.

At EF Education First, we believe that the world is better when people try to understand one another. Since 1965, EF has helped millions of people see new places, experience new cultures, and learn new things about the world and about themselves.