Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high-quality chemicals, fibers, and plastics. With world-scale integrated manufacturing facilities we are able to develop new products from our core technologies and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of our customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution with five manufacturing facilities in the United States. Ascend is currently searching for a Payroll Processing Manager to be located in our Houston office. POSITION OVERVIEW The Payroll Processing Manager will be an integral member of the Total Rewards team reporting to the Sr. Payroll Manager. This role will serve as the subject matter expert and escalation point to resolve issues, and continuously improve processes and implement new initiatives to achieve optimization as defined by department goals. The ideal candidate will have high-level knowledge of payroll laws and tax regulations, and strong analytical skills. This role requires strategic partnerships with internal/external customers to support the goals and initiatives of the organization. TARGETED OUTCOMES
- Lead all payroll functions for multi-state US payroll.
- Assist with International Payroll implementations.
- Enhances payroll processes and documentation.
- Partners with Total Rewards Team to streamline the reporting and reconciliation of fringe benefits.
- Set and achieve SMART (specific, motivating, attainable, relevant, trackable) goals for measuring key accomplishments and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Displays leadership behaviors as defined by the Ascend Leadership model.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - Lead day-to-day operations of Workday payroll, time tracking, absence, and all related functions for multi-state bi-weekly US payroll.
- Serve as the subject matter expert for payroll and payroll projects.
- Processes standard and complex payroll transactions including retro calculations, manual adjustments, error resolution and analysis of root cause.
- Maintain payroll records and data for the calculation of payroll for multiple pay groups.
- Partner with HR and Benefits personnel to ensure employee data, compensation and benefit deductions are correct and promptly funded.
- Partner with Accounting and Corporate tax to reconcile/resolve payroll and payroll tax discrepancies during month-end close. Ensure the accuracy of the account posting rules for all on/off-cycle payments.
TEAM - Reports to: Senior Payroll Manager
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE - Bachelor's degree in a business or technical field or equivalent work experience.
- Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in Payroll.
- Experience with Workday Payroll is essential.
- Experience in accounting is a plus.
- CPP certification preferred.
REQUIRED SKILLS - Minimum 5 years' experience of in-house payroll processing, preferably Workday Payroll.
- Knowledge of payroll regulations, laws, and processes.
- CPP certification or equivalent preferred.
- Excellent analytical skills with focus on process improvement and knowledge transfer.
- Strong customer service skills.
- Advanced skills in Microsoft Office products.
- Motivated with the ability to resolve issues with minimal supervision.
- Demonstrated good judgment and decision-making capability.
At Ascend Performance Materials, we value transparency and fairness in our hiring process. We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters, search firms, or staffing agencies. Any resumes received from such entities will be considered the property of Ascend Performance Materials, and we will not be obligated to pay any fees for such submissions. Our Talent Acquisition Team actively engages with preferred recruitment partners who have established agreements with us. We encourage all interested candidates to apply directly through our official channels to be considered for any open positions.
Skills Summary: About Us: Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high quality chemicals, fibers and plastics. With world scale integrated manufacturing facilities we are able to develop new products from our core technologies, and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution facilities across the globe and six manufacturing facilities globally. As a privately-held company, our people do big things and make big decisions, often much earlier in their careers than at larger companies. Ascend Performance Materials offers team members the opportunity to contribute in big, meaningful ways-all within a stable and growing business.
Why work at Ascend? Our vision is to be the recognized leader in the nylon 6,6 value chain, creating new possibilities with PA66 for everyone, everywhere, every day. We achieve that through living our Ascend values.
We care. We operate safely with high integrity for our employees, our customers and our communities. Our people are our greatest assets, and our Total Rewards Program extends beyond traditional benefits to include access to on-site medical clinics at our U.S. facilities, a global wellness rewards program and Performance Matters, an employee-driven recognition plan. Our Commitment to Zero demonstrates our belief that is it possible to operate with zero personal injuries, zero process safety incidents and zero environmental releases. And the Ascend Cares Foundation, led by Ascend employees, supports Ascend families in times of need, provides inspiring opportunities for community engagement and facilitates community leadership.
Customer-focused. We exist for our customers; they drive our actions. Their success is our success. Our plastics and chemicals are building blocks that help make everyday essentials safer and more sustainable, and we constantly strive to develop new and innovative products to meet the future needs of our customers. And that customer focus doesn't only apply to the marketplace - it also applies to how we treat our colleagues and our fellow community members.
Better every day. We invest in our people and our processes to improve every day. A2E, our continuous improvement program, guides the way we do business. And this way of problem solving applies not only to our manufacturing practices but also to our commitment to developing our people. You'll see it during your career at Ascend in our leadership development, skills training and mentoring programs
Agile. We think broadly and lead proactively in a constantly evolving organization and industry. Agility doesn't mean simply working quickly - it means critical thinking, creative problem solving and novel approaches to everyday challenges.
One Ascend. All together, with a common set of goals and an eye toward the future. We don't accept silos. We look for ways to share across departments, sites and geography. This means you won't be boxed into a single role at Ascend - you could get the chance to work with teams across the globe to improve the way we serve our people, our customers and our communities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information or other protected status under federal, state or local laws.