Senior Payroll Specialist -US - Remote

Overview

A global midsize Contract Research Organization (CRO) is seeking a Senior Payroll Specialist to manage and ensure the integrity of end-to-end multi-entity global payroll processes. This role serves as the primary liaison between Payroll, Finance, and Human Capital Management (HCM) teams, providing leadership, mentorship, and strategic input to support payroll scalability and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate directly with the HCM/Workday team to design and troubleshoot file feeds, identifying and resolving root-cause data discrepancies before payroll processing.
• Oversee and certify the accuracy of global payroll runs, ensuring compliance with regional tax, social security, and labor law changes.
• Serve as the primary contact for the Treasury department to ensure accurate funding and timely cross-border liability payments.
• Maintain integrity and certification of payroll control accounts across regions, investigating and resolving discrepancies to ensure financial accuracy.
• Manage the end-to-end funding process, including initiating ACH payments and certifying payroll control accounts.
• Support financial year-end audit requirements, fiscal year reporting, and general payroll reporting.

Requirements

• Ability to monitor, interpret, and implement complex international payroll legislation and tax compliance updates across multiple jurisdictions.
• Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to maintain high accuracy under tight deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills for managing employee queries and cross-department collaboration.
• Proven discretion in handling highly sensitive and confidential employee information.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and lead assigned projects.

Experience

• Minimum 4 years of experience with a degree, or 6 years without a degree, in a high-volume Finance or Payroll department.
• Proven track record of leading year-end processes or system implementations.
• Expert-level proficiency in Excel (including Power Query, advanced VLOOKUPs, or Macros).
• Deep proficiency in global payroll platforms such as ADP, TMF, and Workday.
• Active pursuit or attainment of Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) designation is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects independently and influence cross-functional stakeholders.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $55,500.00 - $110,500.00, depending on skills, experience, and location.

Location

• Not specified.