H-1B Visa Senior Payroll Specialist Jobs
Senior Payroll Specialist roles qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship under the specialty occupation standard, typically requiring a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field. Employers filing LCAs for payroll positions must meet DOL prevailing wage requirements, and cap-subject petitions enter the annual lottery each April.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Thornton Tomasetti applies engineering and scientific principles to solve the world’s challenges. An independent organization of creative thinkers and innovative doers collaborating from offices worldwide, our mission is to bring our clients' ideas to life and, in the process, lay the groundwork for a better, more resilient future. We provide support and opportunities to our employees to achieve their full potential and cultivate a rewarding career.
THE ROLE
We are seeking a payroll professional to join our growing Finance & Accounting team at Thornton Tomasetti and take overall responsibility for processing the U.S. payroll.
This role will report to the Global Payroll Manager and work closely with HR, Finance, IT, and external payroll vendors. This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional who wants ownership of the core portion of North America payroll operations while also contributing to process improvements, compliance, and the implementation of a new global payroll platform.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Own the end-to-end processing of the bi-weekly U.S. payroll for 1,300+ employees in Workday.
- Review payroll inputs, reports, and integrations to ensure payroll is processed accurately and on time.
- Resolve payroll discrepancies, adjustments, and employee inquiries in a timely manner.
- Ensure compliance with U.S. federal, state, and local payroll tax and reporting requirements.
- Review payroll tax filings, reconciliations, and vendor-generated reports for accuracy.
- Partner with HR, Finance, IT, and payroll vendors to resolve issues and support payroll operations.
- Maintain payroll procedures, controls, and documentation to support consistency, efficiency, and audit readiness.
- Support year-end activities, audits, and the transition to a new global payroll platform.
WHAT YOU’LL BRING
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Experience with end-to-end processing of high-volume U.S. multi-state.
- Workday Payroll experience required; ADP Workforce Now experience a plus.
- Strong knowledge of payroll laws, tax requirements, and reporting obligations.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and reconciliation skills.
- Excellent attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with a customer-focused approach.
- Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and integrity.
- Ability to work independently and manage deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
COMPENSATION
The rate for this position generally is $1,000 - $800,000 annually. This range is a good faith estimate provided pursuant to the New York Pay Transparency Law. It is based on what a successful New York applicant might be paid and assumes that the successful candidate will be in New York or perform the position from New York. Similar positions located outside of New York will not necessarily receive the same compensation. Actual pay rates may vary from the range, as permitted by New York Equal Pay Transparency Law. Compensation offers will be based on various factors, including operational needs, individual education, qualifications and experience, work location and comparison to employee already in the role, as well as other considerations permitted by law. A potential new employee’s pay history will not be used in compensation decisions.
BENEFITS
Depending on your employment status, benefits may include:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, Disability and other voluntary benefits
- Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical and Childcare
- Paid Time Off, Family Leave for New Parents, Volunteer Time
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Commuter Transit (where available)
- 401k retirement savings with Company matching on employee contributions and/or qualified student loan repayments
- Fitness Reimbursement
- And other various wellness, diversity/inclusion and employee resource programs and initiatives
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Thornton Tomasetti is proud to be an equal employment workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Thornton Tomasetti are considered without regards to age, ancestry, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, protected family care or medical leave status, race, religion (including beliefs and practices or the absence thereof), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Thornton Tomasetti Global Terms of Use and Privacy Statement
Carefully read these Terms of Use before using this website. Your access to and use of this website and application for a job at Thornton Tomasetti are conditioned on your acceptance and compliance with these terms.
Please access the linked document by clicking here, select the country where you are applying for employment, and review. Before submitting your application you will be asked to confirm your agreement with the terms.
To request a reasonable accommodation during the application process for this role, please contact talentconcierge@throntontomasetti.com.
Beware Of Recruitment Fraud: Scammers may attempt to impersonate Thornton Tomasetti. Messages from our firm come only from the ThorntonTomasetti.com domain, Thornton Tomasetti does not use any third-party recruiters. When in doubt, please contact us through our web form here and see how you can protect yourself online here.
INTRODUCTION
Thornton Tomasetti applies engineering and scientific principles to solve the world’s challenges. An independent organization of creative thinkers and innovative doers collaborating from offices worldwide, our mission is to bring our clients' ideas to life and, in the process, lay the groundwork for a better, more resilient future. We provide support and opportunities to our employees to achieve their full potential and cultivate a rewarding career.
THE ROLE
We are seeking a payroll professional to join our growing Finance & Accounting team at Thornton Tomasetti and take overall responsibility for processing the U.S. payroll.
This role will report to the Global Payroll Manager and work closely with HR, Finance, IT, and external payroll vendors. This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional who wants ownership of the core portion of North America payroll operations while also contributing to process improvements, compliance, and the implementation of a new global payroll platform.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Own the end-to-end processing of the bi-weekly U.S. payroll for 1,300+ employees in Workday.
- Review payroll inputs, reports, and integrations to ensure payroll is processed accurately and on time.
- Resolve payroll discrepancies, adjustments, and employee inquiries in a timely manner.
- Ensure compliance with U.S. federal, state, and local payroll tax and reporting requirements.
- Review payroll tax filings, reconciliations, and vendor-generated reports for accuracy.
- Partner with HR, Finance, IT, and payroll vendors to resolve issues and support payroll operations.
- Maintain payroll procedures, controls, and documentation to support consistency, efficiency, and audit readiness.
- Support year-end activities, audits, and the transition to a new global payroll platform.
WHAT YOU’LL BRING
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Experience with end-to-end processing of high-volume U.S. multi-state.
- Workday Payroll experience required; ADP Workforce Now experience a plus.
- Strong knowledge of payroll laws, tax requirements, and reporting obligations.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and reconciliation skills.
- Excellent attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with a customer-focused approach.
- Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and integrity.
- Ability to work independently and manage deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
COMPENSATION
The rate for this position generally is $1,000 - $800,000 annually. This range is a good faith estimate provided pursuant to the New York Pay Transparency Law. It is based on what a successful New York applicant might be paid and assumes that the successful candidate will be in New York or perform the position from New York. Similar positions located outside of New York will not necessarily receive the same compensation. Actual pay rates may vary from the range, as permitted by New York Equal Pay Transparency Law. Compensation offers will be based on various factors, including operational needs, individual education, qualifications and experience, work location and comparison to employee already in the role, as well as other considerations permitted by law. A potential new employee’s pay history will not be used in compensation decisions.
BENEFITS
Depending on your employment status, benefits may include:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, Disability and other voluntary benefits
- Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical and Childcare
- Paid Time Off, Family Leave for New Parents, Volunteer Time
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Commuter Transit (where available)
- 401k retirement savings with Company matching on employee contributions and/or qualified student loan repayments
- Fitness Reimbursement
- And other various wellness, diversity/inclusion and employee resource programs and initiatives
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Thornton Tomasetti is proud to be an equal employment workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Thornton Tomasetti are considered without regards to age, ancestry, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, protected family care or medical leave status, race, religion (including beliefs and practices or the absence thereof), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Thornton Tomasetti Global Terms of Use and Privacy Statement
Carefully read these Terms of Use before using this website. Your access to and use of this website and application for a job at Thornton Tomasetti are conditioned on your acceptance and compliance with these terms.
Please access the linked document by clicking here, select the country where you are applying for employment, and review. Before submitting your application you will be asked to confirm your agreement with the terms.
To request a reasonable accommodation during the application process for this role, please contact talentconcierge@throntontomasetti.com.
Beware Of Recruitment Fraud: Scammers may attempt to impersonate Thornton Tomasetti. Messages from our firm come only from the ThorntonTomasetti.com domain, Thornton Tomasetti does not use any third-party recruiters. When in doubt, please contact us through our web form here and see how you can protect yourself online here.
See all H-1B Visa Senior Payroll Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Senior Payroll Specialist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Senior Payroll Specialist
Verify your degree matches payroll requirements
USCIS scrutinizes specialty occupation claims for payroll roles. A degree in accounting, finance, human resources, or business administration directly supports the petition. A general studies degree without relevant coursework can trigger an RFE, so gather transcripts and credential evaluations before applying.
Target employers with active LCA filing histories
Search Migrate Mate to identify companies that have filed Labor Condition Applications for payroll and compensation roles. Employers with repeat LCA filings for your SOC code signal an established H-1B sponsorship process, not a one-off hire.
Check prevailing wage levels before negotiating offers
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the prevailing wage for payroll specialists in your target metro area. Your offered salary must meet at least the Level I wage for your experience tier, and knowing the thresholds lets you negotiate without jeopardizing the LCA certification.
Clarify payroll system expertise in your petition
H-1B petitions for payroll roles succeed when job duties are tied to specialized software and compliance functions, such as multi-state tax processing or HRIS configuration. Document your hands-on experience with enterprise payroll platforms in your support letter to strengthen the specialty occupation argument.
Understand the 60-day grace period when switching employers
If your current H-1B employer terminates your role, you have a 60-day grace period to find a new sponsor and have an H-1B transfer petition filed. The new employer can file the transfer petition, allowing you to start work upon receipt rather than waiting for approval.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting an offer
All H-1B employers must be E-Verify participants. Before signing an offer for a Senior Payroll Specialist role, confirm the company is enrolled, because an employer that isn't enrolled cannot legally employ H-1B workers and will face delays or invalidation of the petition.
H-1B Visa Senior Payroll Specialist: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Senior Payroll Specialist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, provided the employer requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as accounting, finance, or human resources management. If the job description accepts any bachelor's degree regardless of field, USCIS may issue an RFE challenging the specialty occupation classification. A tightly scoped job description tied to technical payroll compliance functions strengthens the petition significantly.
Which employers sponsor H-1B visas for payroll specialist roles?
Large enterprises with in-house payroll departments, payroll outsourcing firms, and major accounting or HR technology companies consistently file H-1B petitions for payroll positions. You can browse verified H-1B sponsors for this role on Migrate Mate, which filters employers by LCA filing history so you're only seeing companies with a documented track record of sponsorship.
How does the DOL prevailing wage requirement affect payroll specialist H-1B petitions?
Before filing your H-1B petition, your employer must obtain a certified LCA from the DOL confirming your offered wage meets the prevailing wage for the role in your work location. Prevailing wages vary by metro area and experience level. You can look up applicable wage levels using the OFLC Wage Search, filtering by the payroll and timekeeping clerks SOC code or the compensation and benefits managers category depending on your seniority.
Can a Senior Payroll Specialist H-1B petition be filed outside the annual lottery cap?
It depends on the employer. Universities, nonprofit research organizations, and certain government-affiliated entities are cap-exempt, meaning they can file H-1B petitions year-round without entering the April lottery. Most private payroll departments and corporate employers are cap-subject, so your petition must be selected in the lottery before USCIS can adjudicate it.
What happens to my H-1B status if my payroll employer is acquired or restructures?
A corporate acquisition or merger that results in a successor-in-interest employer can allow your H-1B status to continue without a new petition, provided the new entity assumes the liabilities of the original LCA and the job duties remain substantially the same. If the role changes materially or the successor entity is a different legal structure, your employer should file an amended H-1B petition to protect your status.