Senior Payroll Specialist Jobs
Senior Payroll Specialist jobs are open across healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, retail, and technology, from mid-level to senior and lead roles, with specializations in multi-state payroll, payroll compliance, and systems implementation. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Overview
Supervises administrative staff. Participates in the planning and development of administrative procedures for central payroll, quality control activities, and a variety of special projects.
Responsibilities
- Manage the annual setup of the Department Budget table for all City of Boston positions. Resolve Department Budget table errors and create combination codes as necessary. Interact with City and BPS senior management. Ensure all errors are resolved, and all tasks are completed prior to the first payroll of the new fiscal year. Following the fiscal year transition, prepare Department Budget Table updates each pay cycle or as warranted.
- Under general supervision of a higher grade administrative employee, manages the time and labor/payroll processes for the City. Leads and participates in the payroll cycle process by coordinating pre-confirm activities and the post-payroll confirm process. Maintains and updates payroll configuration tables. Monitors and participates in high-volume transaction load processing. Oversees quality control, troubleshoots errors, and participates in problem resolution. Reviews activities to determine the feasibility of improvements to the time and labor/payroll functions to eliminate duplication of effort and improve the efficiency of operations. Plans and coordinates citywide employee development and in-service training for time and labor/payroll. Participates in the development of performance measures and goals. Assists in the annual audit. Participates in a variety of special projects.
- Review and resolve exceptions identified on payroll audit queries. Adjust and monitor payroll queries as appropriate. Review Absence Management Finalization output each week prior to processing payroll.
- Manage the calculation and verification of Settlements, Grievances, and Back Pay. Manage the creation and verification of the inactive paysheets to ensure timely and accurate processing. Work with Department Personnel to ensure the timeliness of all employee payroll payments. Review and approve online check requests.
- Perform related work as required.
Minimum Entrance Qualifications
- At least four (4+) years of full-time work experience where the major duties included processing payroll or similar transactions, including experience related to payroll information systems.
- Demonstrated experience in using Microsoft Office and Google Suite. Experience with HR/Payroll database software; PeopleSoft HR/Payroll/TL v.9.2 is a plus.
- Knowledge and experience with time and labor/payroll processes. Experience with PeopleSoft, Inc. applications preferred.
- Knowledge or experience with the City of Boston Auditing time and labor/payroll policies, procedures, forms, and operating procedures.
- Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on details as required by the job.
Hours per week: 35
The City of Boston is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite applications from all qualified individuals and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other protected category.
Overview
Supervises administrative staff. Participates in the planning and development of administrative procedures for central payroll, quality control activities, and a variety of special projects.
Responsibilities
- Manage the annual setup of the Department Budget table for all City of Boston positions. Resolve Department Budget table errors and create combination codes as necessary. Interact with City and BPS senior management. Ensure all errors are resolved, and all tasks are completed prior to the first payroll of the new fiscal year. Following the fiscal year transition, prepare Department Budget Table updates each pay cycle or as warranted.
- Under general supervision of a higher grade administrative employee, manages the time and labor/payroll processes for the City. Leads and participates in the payroll cycle process by coordinating pre-confirm activities and the post-payroll confirm process. Maintains and updates payroll configuration tables. Monitors and participates in high-volume transaction load processing. Oversees quality control, troubleshoots errors, and participates in problem resolution. Reviews activities to determine the feasibility of improvements to the time and labor/payroll functions to eliminate duplication of effort and improve the efficiency of operations. Plans and coordinates citywide employee development and in-service training for time and labor/payroll. Participates in the development of performance measures and goals. Assists in the annual audit. Participates in a variety of special projects.
- Review and resolve exceptions identified on payroll audit queries. Adjust and monitor payroll queries as appropriate. Review Absence Management Finalization output each week prior to processing payroll.
- Manage the calculation and verification of Settlements, Grievances, and Back Pay. Manage the creation and verification of the inactive paysheets to ensure timely and accurate processing. Work with Department Personnel to ensure the timeliness of all employee payroll payments. Review and approve online check requests.
- Perform related work as required.
Minimum Entrance Qualifications
- At least four (4+) years of full-time work experience where the major duties included processing payroll or similar transactions, including experience related to payroll information systems.
- Demonstrated experience in using Microsoft Office and Google Suite. Experience with HR/Payroll database software; PeopleSoft HR/Payroll/TL v.9.2 is a plus.
- Knowledge and experience with time and labor/payroll processes. Experience with PeopleSoft, Inc. applications preferred.
- Knowledge or experience with the City of Boston Auditing time and labor/payroll policies, procedures, forms, and operating procedures.
- Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on details as required by the job.
Hours per week: 35
The City of Boston is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite applications from all qualified individuals and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other protected category.
Senior Payroll Specialist Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsSenior Payroll Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Intuit65
- Baker Tilly Canada5
- InProduction4
- ADP2
- JLL2
Top Industries Hiring
- Accounting & Auditing
- Construction & Real Estate
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Food & Beverage
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior payroll specialist jobs.
- 3-5 years of end-to-end payroll processing experience in a mid-to-large organization
- Proficiency in at least one major HRIS or payroll platform such as Workday, ADP, or Ceridian
- Working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations and filing requirements
- Experience processing multi-state payroll and managing tax withholding across jurisdictions
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) preferred or required
- Strong Excel skills including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and reconciliation-focused formulas
Tips for Your Senior Payroll Specialist Job Search
Quantify payroll volume on your resume
List the number of employees you processed payroll for, the pay cycles you managed, and any systems you owned. Senior payroll specialist roles expect you to show scale, not just describe duties. Specific figures make your experience concrete to hiring managers reviewing dozens of resumes.
List every payroll system you have used
Workday, ADP Workforce Now, Ceridian Dayforce, UKG Pro, and SAP each appear in job postings as hard requirements. Bury these in a dedicated skills section so they surface in keyword searches. Missing a system match is one of the most common reasons strong candidates get filtered out early.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists senior payroll specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter for multi-state experience requirements
Many postings require hands-on experience processing payroll across multiple states with different tax and garnishment rules. If you have that background, call it out explicitly in your summary and bullet points. Roles requiring multi-state experience tend to move faster and attract fewer applicants who meet the requirement.
Prepare for a live payroll scenario question
Interviewers frequently walk candidates through a hypothetical: a payroll run closes and a tax filing deadline is the next morning, but a batch of data is missing. Rehearse your exact process for escalating, resolving, and documenting. Your answer signals whether you can own the close, not just execute it.
Negotiate using total compensation details
Before your final-round conversation, clarify whether the role is exempt or non-exempt, what the bonus structure looks like, and whether remote days are guaranteed or informal. Senior payroll professionals often know compensation structures better than the hiring manager, so asking precise questions signals both expertise and seriousness.
Senior Payroll Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most senior payroll specialists?
The companies hiring the most senior payroll specialists right now include Intuit, Baker Tilly Canada, and InProduction, with the largest share of openings in California, Texas, and New York, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Healthcare systems, large retailers, and staffing firms consistently post the highest volumes of senior payroll roles.
How many senior payroll specialist jobs are remote?
About 53% of senior payroll specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, making this one of the more remote-accessible roles in human resources and finance. Positions focused on payroll systems administration and multi-state tax compliance tend to have the highest share of fully remote arrangements, while roles tied to onsite payroll runs or physical timekeeping systems are more likely to require in-office presence.
How do you become a senior payroll specialist?
Start in a payroll coordinator or payroll administrator role where you process full payroll cycles independently. Build experience with at least one major payroll platform, then add multi-state processing to your background. Earning a Fundamental Payroll Certification or Certified Payroll Professional credential signals readiness for senior-level work. Most employers treat three to five years of progressively responsible payroll experience as the baseline for senior titles.
How do I get hired as a senior payroll specialist with limited experience?
Focus on roles at smaller companies where one person owns the full payroll cycle, since that breadth is more valuable than years on a resume. If your experience is light on multi-state work, take on a state tax registration or year-end reconciliation project in your current role and document it. The FPC certification is achievable early in your career and signals commitment to payroll as a profession rather than a stepping stone.
What does the senior payroll specialist interview process look like?
Most processes run three to four stages. A recruiter screen focuses on your system experience and payroll volume. A hiring manager round goes deeper on compliance knowledge, how you handle errors, and your experience with year-end processes like W-2 reconciliation. Some employers add a technical screen with scenario-based questions or a short Excel exercise. Final rounds often include a conversation with a finance or HR leader.
Where can I find and apply to senior payroll specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to senior payroll specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your system experience, industry background, and preferred location or remote arrangement, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
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