Adriana Ballestas

Adriana Ballestas Perez Zeledon, San Jose, Costa Rica- │-Payroll Analyst & Implementation Specialist Payroll & HR Processes | Implementation | Project Management Results driven professional with background supporting payroll processing and systems implementation. Skilled business partner with experience in payroll reconciliation, tracking paid time off, reporting, regulatory standards, policies, and procedure reform. Proven business acumen with extensive knowledge of benefits and compensation administration, payroll practices/techniques, garnishment management, multi tax compliance and associated accounting practices. Strong quantitative, analytical, negotiation, and organizational skills. Proficient in problem resolution with ability to provide outstanding customer service to internal and external clients. Perceptive hands-on leader with an easily transferable skill set, who identifies needs and initiates communication, training, and interventions to accomplish desired outcomes. Fluent in Spanish. Payroll Processing Garnishments/Deductions Reconciliation/Analysis Reporting MTD/QTD/YTD Implement Data Transfer/Set-up Regulatory & Tax Compliance HR & Policy Compliance ADP WFN – EV5, UltiPro, Workday, Paychex Payroll Systems Problem Resolution Communication Prioritization Leadership Professional Experience GENEDX LLC 07/10/2023- Current Payroll Analyst II Responsible for ensuring all USA and Canada payrolls are delivered timely, accurately, and in compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements. Knowledgeable of United States and Canada federal, state, and local regulations including tax, audit, and reporting laws. Frequent and regular interactions with cross-functional departments throughout the company. Organize and perform the preparation work for each payroll including data entry items for employee maintenance, review/resolution of email submissions to the group email inbox, logs, checklists, and items reconciled and carried forward from the previously processed payroll. Use various logs, checklists, and work aids and tools to ensure accurate and consistent processes including follow up with outstanding items. Utilizes checklists and ensures proper signoffs. Accurately perform employee maintenance items such as validation for new hires, terminations, voluntary deductions, wage attachments, direct deposits, and tax changes, etc. Research and responds to requests for information by employees regarding personal payroll information and to agency requests for verification of income and employment. Participate in testing of various payroll changes, such as earning/deduction code taxability Administer the full employee tax withholding process. Provide excellent customer service to internal and external clients, vendors, and consultants. Follow through to full resolution of tax issues and/or inquiries. Proactively identifies problems and recommend resolutions. CLARO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS 06/17/2022- 07/10/2023 Payroll Specialist Performs the company’s payroll processing on a bi-weekly basis for 200 + employees, to include non-exempt and exempt employees. Proposes best practices as needed to ensure efficient and effective payroll processing. Update payroll records by reviewing and approving changes in exemptions, insurance coverage, savings deductions, job titles, and department/ division transfers. Provides information needed during quarterly/yearly audits. Performs routine tasks required to administer and execute human resource programs including but not limited to compensation, benefits, and leave; disciplinary matters; disputes and investigations. Prepares standard and complex payroll reports by compiling summaries of earnings, taxes, deductions, leave, disability, and nontaxable wages. Determines payroll liabilities by approving the calculation of employee federal and state income and social security taxes, and employer's social security, unemployment, and workers compensation payments. Multi Jurisdiction. Maintains payroll guidelines by writing and updating policies and procedures. Complies with federal, state, and local legal requirements by studying existing and new legislation; enforcing adherence to requirements; advising management on needed actions. Maintains employee confidence and protects payroll operations by keeping information confidential. Maintains appropriate records and documentation to support all payroll activities. Timely responses and processing of support orders, garnishments, liens, bankruptcies, and levies. Identify, initiate, and implement continuous process improvement opportunities. COVANTA 11/16/2020- 06/17/2022 Senior Payroll Practitioner Accurate and timely process multi state USA and Canada payrolls for over 500 employees on weekly and bi-weekly pay frequencies. Responsible for processing all staffing transactions (new hires, terms, etc.) into the Workday system with proper backup documentation needed for processing payroll. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations. Responsible for ensuring all timecards are compiled and approved to process payroll timely. Adjust employee timecards as needed and validate when payroll is processed. Research, troubleshoot and respond to a wide range of inquiries related to payroll and time & attendance. Partner with Benefits Team on any issues with “leave” pay to ensure accuracy. Provide customer service to all levels of employees in both corporate and facility locations. Set up, maintain, and troubleshoot garnishments for employees and act as a point of contact for agencies and bureaus. Make requests to stop payments, process off cycle payments and reimbursements as needed. Always comply and in all situations with the Sarbanes Oxley Act and other internal policies of Covanta. Provide support to the payroll team members and Human Resources Dept. Assist with projects as needed. PLANNED COMPANIES03/2020- 11/06/2020 Senior Payroll Administrator Manage and process bimonthly payroll for 3500 employees, including management reporting and statuary filings though Ultipro system After every payroll, upload 401(k) reports with contributions to third party providers Ascertain that the operational aspects of payroll processing and associated activities such as salaries/hourly increases, retro payments and leave management are accurately handled. Prepare complex payroll and human resource information for data input purposes and assist in checking that quality control measures are undertaken properly. Assist the company in meeting its taxation obligations, along with ensuring that appropriate returns and processed and prepared on time Review timesheets and workorders to ensure the accurate running of payroll processes Help in auditing and administering terminated employees’ files and records Keep abreast of current payroll tax requirements and advise management on pay practices, along with fringe benefit reporting processes REALOGY OPERATIONS, Madison, NJ 11/2017 – 11/2019 Payroll Analyst-Shared Services Managing Payroll vendor, overseeing the payroll processing for 10000+ employees including bonus payroll and RSU processing to ensure the information is accurate and timely distributed to employees. After every payroll process, download and audit General Ledger payroll reports to ensure accurate download to accounting system. Run and develop, if necessary, payroll reports for senior management as requested Run monthly hourly and salary accrual reports from ADP GL System for monthly allocations. Request and track any payroll adjustment processed in the payroll system and make sure they are correctly downloaded to the accounting system using reports downloaded from GL system. Research and resolve finance payroll inquiries. Create on demand reports with ADP reporting tool based on payroll information as they are needed by business unit accounting department or senior management. Responsible for reviewing and processing vendor invoices, to ensure the charges are applied aligned with the contract. Responsible for Sign off timecards in the time and attendance system (ADP Etime) to transmit employee’s time information to process payroll every pay period. Familiar with SOX compliance as I am responsible for reviewing and testing annual reports provided by the payroll company. Research tax notices with payroll provider and ensure they are resolved in a timely manner. Work in close liaison between payroll vendor and Human Resources department to ensure correct and accurate communication among them. WYNDHAM WORLDWIDE CORP, Parsippany, NJ 01/2017 – 11/2017 Payroll Analyst-Tax Specialist Responsible for managing, auditing, and processing payroll for nine pay groups with employees located in hotels in different states including Virgin Island and Puerto Rico Responsible for researching and processing all payroll tax notices. Follow up with ADP and agencies until they are resolved Input monthly relocation entries into EV5 to properly apply taxes to relocation benefits paid to associates Complete registrations with state agencies for State unemployment and withholding tax including POA filing for third party providers. Responsible for set up correctly local taxes. MATHESON TRI-GAS, Basking Ridge, NJ 03/2016 – 01/2017 Sr. Payroll Specialist Responsible for managing payroll for 900+ employees located in branches and plants over 29 states Perform daily payroll department operations Manage all garnishment orders including child support and tax levy Manage workflow to ensure all payroll transactions are processed accurately and timely Reconcile payroll prior to transmission and validate confirmed reports Understand proper taxation of employer paid benefits Process correct garnishment calculations and compliance Execute eTime time and attendance processing and interface with payroll Develop ad hoc financial and operational reporting as needed Process manual checks Load import files received from HR (All locations) to process payroll Research and email appropriate audience of file issues PAYCHEX, Piscataway, NJ – Metro NY Branch04/2007 – 03/2016 Implementation Specialist II, 10/2015 – 03/2016 Responsible for managing and successful implementation for moderately complex, revenue intensive clients. Responsible for setup, training, and transfer of data into Paychex system for a smooth and successful transition. Input and load any necessary and pertinent information to ensure all areas are populated for maximum use of system and programs. Researches and resolves client concerns and patiently answers all queries in a timely manner to optimize client experience and satisfaction. Completes necessary client documentation to ensure external and internal communication is moving forward in a consistent manner. Provides client with appropriate reports and data to support proper usage of system’s capabilities. Implementation Specialist I, 04/2013 – 10/2015 Performed setup, training, and successfully implemented programs for small and mid-size clients. Established relationship with client to ensure continued loyalty and to facilitate communication, ensuring quality product and services are utilized. Utilized procedures to establish new clients and confirm full utilization of product per contractual service agreement. Populated employee payroll information and personnel data into database prior to client use of product for smooth and seamless transition. Balanced QTD/YTD wages, deductions, and other pertinent information to accurately reconcile client data during data migration. Performed setup on ancillary products to confirm products sold by sales representatives are available with processing of first payroll. Processed payrolls and associated reports for clients until transfer to ongoing service. Completed documentation of client transferal to service team to ensure continued support, answering questions as needed. Sr. Payroll Specialist, 04/2007 – 05/2013 Processed and maintained payroll data with an unparalleled level of service to client base including audits, compliance, garnishments, tax adjustments, W2, and reconciliation. Verified data entry of new hires, terminations, and personnel status changes. Calculated and processed commissions, bonus, and union payroll for a widely diverse group of customers, partnered with management team to determine any discrepancies and provide special reports. Monitored pay and adjustments as required for employees on LOA. Maintained W-4 information, direct deposit, and other documentation as requested by clients. Performed additional HR /payroll duties as requested including benefits enrollment and administration. Maintained knowledge of current changes in payroll processing, wage and hour legislation, and tax laws to verify client compliance. Education & Credentials Associate Degree, Business Management, Politecnico de la Costa, Barranquilla Colombia Business Management Classes, Raritan Valley Community College SHRM-CP (expired), Farley Dickenson University