Jobs › Northwestern Medicine

Payroll Specialist

Northwestern Medicine · Chicago, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

How do you stay accurate under a payroll deadline?

What they are checking: Payroll runs to an immovable date and errors are visible to everybody.

Tell me about a mistake you caught before payroll went out.

What they are checking: Accuracy described through a real case rather than claimed as a trait.

This is based in Chicago. How does that fit your life?

What they are checking: Honest fit with the location the posting states.

What would you do

An employee says their pay is wrong. Walk me through what you check.

What they are checking: The posting names resolving payroll discrepancies by collecting and analyzing information.

How do you talk to someone who is upset about their pay?

What they are checking: The posting names providing payroll information by answering questions and requests, and pay is personal.

How do you handle the confidential information you see every day?

What they are checking: The posting names maintaining employee confidence and keeping information confidential.

About the work

Tell me about your payroll experience.

What they are checking: The posting requires one or more years in payroll or a related field.

Walk me through processing a new hire or a termination in the payroll system.

What they are checking: The posting names processing new hires, terminations, changes, earnings and withholdings.

How do you find and fix an out of balance condition?

What they are checking: The posting names balancing earnings and deduction totals and correcting out of balance conditions.

How do you prepare a report summarizing earnings, taxes and deductions?

What they are checking: The posting names compiling summaries of earnings, taxes, deductions, leave and disability.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

The Payroll Specialist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. The Payroll Specialist is responsible for maintaining payroll records of employees of Northwestern Medicine. The Payroll Specialist will collect and analyze information to resolve payroll discrepancies as well as answer questions and process requests of both the Payroll Manager and the employees of Northwestern Medicine. Responsibilities: • Maintain payroll information by collecting, calculating, and entering data into the payroll system • Process employee data (new hires, terminations, changes, earnings, withholdings) • Prepare reports by compiling summaries of earnings, taxes, deductions, leave, disability, and nontaxable wages • Balance earnings and deduction totals and corrects out of balance conditions • Resolve payroll discrepancies by collecting and analyzing information • Provide payroll information by answering questions and requests • Maintain employee confidence and protects payroll operations by keeping information confidential • Support the payroll and finance team with special projects Required: • 1+ years of experience in payroll or related field • High school diploma • High attention to detail • Strong communication and problem solving skills Preferred: • Associates Degree • APA Certification • Experience in PeopleSoft or Kronos Payroll system Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more. Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.

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