Payroll Administrator

Company Overview

The Lightstone Group, LLC, or Lightstone, founded by David Lichtenstein, is one of the most diversified privately held real estate companies in the United States. Headquartered in New York City, Lightstone is active in 27 states across the country, developing, managing and investing in all sectors of the real estate market, including residential, hospitality, commercial, and retail. With 209 existing properties, Lightstone’s over $9 billion portfolio currently includes over 13 million square feet of industrial, life sciences, and commercial properties, over 25,000 residential units, and over 5,100 hotel keys. Lightstone’s development portfolio includes over $3.5 billion currently under development in the residential and hospitality sectors spread across New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami.

Postion Overview

The Payroll Administrator is responsible for the timely and accurate processing of weekly and bi-weekly payroll for all Lightstone employees and its affiliates. This includes payroll processing, tax filing, garnishment management, union compliance, employment verifications, reporting, and unemployment claims.

The role ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local tax and labor laws, and provides expert guidance on payroll-related matters across the organization. The Payroll Administrator works closely with the Sr. Director of Benefits and Compensation, particularly on deductions, disability payments, and benefit compliance. Experience managing union payrolls (particularly under Local 32BJ agreements) is preferred.

This position requires strong analytical skills, deep knowledge of payroll systems and legislation, and the ability to manage sensitive employee information with integrity and discretion.

Essential Functions

• Ensure the accurate and timely processing of weekly, bi-weekly, and supplemental payrolls, including special funding requests, tax submissions, bonuses, commissions, off-cycle payments, auditing timesheet data, and retroactive pay calculations.
• Enter and maintain all payroll system changes, including terminations, deduction and withholding changes, garnishments, and tax levies.
• Manage union payroll requirements, including accurate processing of status changes, health and welfare, pension, 401(k), fees, and payments via 32BJ’s ESS system.
• Ensure adherence to union agreements, including pay scales, shift differentials, and overtime rules.
• Conduct routine payroll reconciliations and partner with internal teams and ADP support to resolve system issues.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll inquiries from employees, managers, and external auditors.
• Partner with the Sr. Director of Benefits and Compensation to manage and track disability payments and ensure appropriate payroll treatment.
• Receive, review, and respond to payroll-related correspondence, including notices from taxing authorities.
• Manage all payroll-related reporting (monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad-hoc), including internal requests, audits, and compliance filings.
• Handle employment verifications and unemployment claim responses.
• Review and ensure the accuracy of quarterly and year-end tax filings, including W-2s and 941s submitted by ADP.
• Stay abreast of all relevant employment and payroll legislation and recommend process improvements to maintain compliance.
• Support audits (internal, external, union, or government) with timely and accurate data submission.
• Maintain accurate, confidential electronic and physical payroll files in compliance with document retention laws.
  
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in payroll administration, preferably in a multi-entity, multi-state organization.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) strongly preferred.
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now required.
• In-depth knowledge of federal and multi-state payroll and tax regulations.
• Experience working with union payrolls; familiarity with Local 32BJ preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g., pivot tables, v-lookups) and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience handling payroll in a hospitality, real estate, or property management environment a plus.
  
  
  

Competencies

• Demonstrates reliability by consistently meeting deadlines, maintaining confidentiality, and ensuring the accuracy of payroll processing without the need for close supervision.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment with accuracy and attention to detail.
• High level of integrity and confidentiality in handling sensitive employee data.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to communicate technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot issues independently.
• Strong customer service orientation and ability to build trust with employees and managers.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply labor laws, wage & hour regulations, and union agreements.
• Comfortable working independently but also thrives in a collaborative team environment.
• Process improvement mindset with the ability to identify and recommend more efficient workflows.
  
  
  

Schedule

• 9 Hour Daily Shift Monday-Thursday; 4 hours Friday
• Monday through Friday in the Lakewood, NJ Office
  
  
  

Pay Rate

• This is an hourly position and compensation will range from $33/hr to $40/hr
  
  
  

Lightstone offers our employees a comprehensive and competitive benefits program inclusive of:

– Paid time off for vacation and sick leave

– Health, dental, and vision insurance, and wellness programs

– 401(k) and Roth retirement plans

– Flexible spending accounts (medical & dependent care)

– Life and AD&D insurance with options for supplemental employee, spouse, and child

– Long-term and short-term disability insurance

– Commuter spending accounts (transit and parking)

– Tuition assistance and employee assistance program

– Corporate discount programs

– On-site mother’s room

– Office perks such as lunch, fruit, drinks, and snacks