Colleen Morales
Senior Payroll Specialist | Multi-State Payroll, Tax Compliance & HRIS Administration
New York
Professional Summary
Senior Payroll Specialist with extensive experience directing multi-state payroll operations, tax compliance, and HRIS integrations for mid-to-large workforce organizations. Demonstrated precision in managing complex compensation structures, statutory garnishments, and general ledger reconciliation under federal, state, and local standards.
Professional Experience
Vanguardia Logistics Group
New York, NY
Lead Payroll Specialist
Apr 2019 – Present
- Manage multi-state bi-weekly payroll operations for 1,400 salaried and hourly employees across 12 states using Workday Payroll.
- Audit quarterly payroll tax filings and year-end reconciliations with third-party tax partners to ensure compliance with federal, state, and municipal regulations.
- Administer statutory garnishments, levies, and benefit deductions in coordination with legal requirements and internal benefit programs.
- Lead year-end W-2 balancing, adjustments, and electronic filings, maintaining a record of zero filing penalties or statutory deadlines missed.
Crestview Media Holdings
New York, NY
Senior Payroll Specialist
Aug 2014 – Mar 2019
- Administered semi-monthly payroll runs for 850 corporate employees across multiple media entities using ADP Workforce Now.
- Reconciled gross-to-net payroll entries against the corporate general ledger, working directly with finance teams to resolve journal discrepancies.
- Reviewed timekeeping records for non-exempt departments, ensuring adherence to FLSA standards and state meal break regulations.
- Drafted standardized operational documentation for off-cycle adjustments, bonus cycles, and final wage payments under regional labor laws.
Harborlight Retail Services
New York, NY
Payroll Coordinator
Jan 2011 – Jul 2014
- Computed weekly timesheet entries, shift differentials, and overtime adjustments for 450 store employees across regional branches.
- Maintained employee master data including W-4 declarations, direct deposit records, and transit benefit deductions.
- Handled Tier 2 employee inquiries regarding wage statements, withholding amounts, and paid time off accruals within established service windows.
Education
Baruch College, City University of New York
Bachelor of Business Administration · Accounting · New York, NY · Cum Laude · Sep 1999 – May 2003
Completed core coursework in corporate accounting principles, tax accounting, and business financial controls.
Key Projects
Enterprise Payroll System Migration
Mar 2020 – Nov 2020
- Spearheaded functional testing and data migration validation during an enterprise transition from a legacy payroll system to Workday Payroll.
- Conducted parallel payroll runs over two billing cycles to reconcile gross-to-net variations and correct earnings code mapping prior to go-live.
Core Competencies
Multi-State Payroll Processing
Payroll Tax Compliance
Workday Payroll
ADP Workforce Now
FLSA & Labor Standards
General Ledger Reconciliation
Garnishments & Benefits Deductions
Year-End W-2 Reporting
Payroll Auditing
Languages
English
C2
Spanish
B1
Certifications
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)
PayrollOrg · Jun 2016
Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC)
American Payroll Association · May 2013
Community Involvement
Metro Community Tax Coalition
New York, NY · Feb 2021 – Apr 2024
- Volunteer Tax Preparer
- Assisted low-income individuals and families with basic state and federal personal income tax filings during peak filing season.