Senior Payroll Specialist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Senior Payroll Specialist roles attract H-1B and TN visa sponsorship from mid-size and enterprise employers, particularly in healthcare, finance, and tech. Employers typically require a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field, and USCIS classifies payroll specialization as a qualifying specialty occupation. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Remote Position Pay: $53.34-55.18/hour. W2 only. Duration: 8 mo
ROLE DESCRIPTION
The Senior Payroll Specialist will independently execute semi-monthly, high-volume North American payroll (US / Canada / Mexico) in a fast-paced environment, ensuring payroll is accurate, audit-ready, and approved on time. This role owns payroll readiness end-to-end in tandem with our Payroll Specialist - preparing inputs, validating results, and proactively resolving issues before approval - with the Payroll Manager reviewing final outputs. In addition, this role will prepare monthly journal entries and accruals and partner with the Accounting team to support reconciliations and other analyses as needed.
Responsibilities:
- Execute semi-monthly, high-volume NAMER payroll (U.S., Canada, and Mexico) in a fast-paced environment, delivering accurate and on-time payroll results.
- Own payroll readiness by preparing payroll templates/loads and validating upstream inputs (e.g., Workday changes, benefits/tax updates, and one-time payments).
- Perform pre-approval audits and exception/variance checks; ensure issues are identified, resolved, and documented before approval.
- Proactively troubleshoot payroll errors, drive root-cause resolution, and reduce repeat issues through improved checks and documentation.
- Manage out-of-cycle payments as needed (manual checks/electronic transfers) with appropriate approvals and an audit trail.
- Manage employee payroll inquiries and intake via ServiceNow, meeting SLAs and escalating appropriately.
- Partner with ADP and Cloudpay on case resolution, compliance reporting, and tax/benefits coordination.
- Prepare monthly payroll journal entries and payroll accruals with supporting schedules; support GL upload processes (Oracle, SAP, or equivalent).
- Support Accounting close by providing tie-outs, audit support, and responses for reconciliations and flux/variance explanations.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- 8+ years of progressive payroll experience, including end-to-end responsibility for high-volume, semi-monthly multi-state U.S. payroll is required.
- Prior experience supporting Canada and Mexico payroll is required. (NAMER scope)
- Strong knowledge of payroll impacts from benefits administration and taxation for federal, state, and local entities, including compliance requirements and reporting is required.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and related business tools (e.g., large data validation, pivots/lookups, audit checks, and reconciliations) is required.
- ADP Workforce Now payroll experience is required.
- Ticketing system experience is required. ServiceNow is preferred.
- Workday and Oracle Cloud experience are strongly preferred.
- Experience preparing payroll journal entries and payroll accruals, including supporting schedules and working with Accounting on close timelines is required.
By applying for this job, you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages, or emails from and its affiliates, and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You can reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. You can access our privacy policy at Privacy Policy.
INTRODUCTION
Remote Position Pay: $53.34-55.18/hour. W2 only. Duration: 8 mo
ROLE DESCRIPTION
The Senior Payroll Specialist will independently execute semi-monthly, high-volume North American payroll (US / Canada / Mexico) in a fast-paced environment, ensuring payroll is accurate, audit-ready, and approved on time. This role owns payroll readiness end-to-end in tandem with our Payroll Specialist - preparing inputs, validating results, and proactively resolving issues before approval - with the Payroll Manager reviewing final outputs. In addition, this role will prepare monthly journal entries and accruals and partner with the Accounting team to support reconciliations and other analyses as needed.
Responsibilities:
- Execute semi-monthly, high-volume NAMER payroll (U.S., Canada, and Mexico) in a fast-paced environment, delivering accurate and on-time payroll results.
- Own payroll readiness by preparing payroll templates/loads and validating upstream inputs (e.g., Workday changes, benefits/tax updates, and one-time payments).
- Perform pre-approval audits and exception/variance checks; ensure issues are identified, resolved, and documented before approval.
- Proactively troubleshoot payroll errors, drive root-cause resolution, and reduce repeat issues through improved checks and documentation.
- Manage out-of-cycle payments as needed (manual checks/electronic transfers) with appropriate approvals and an audit trail.
- Manage employee payroll inquiries and intake via ServiceNow, meeting SLAs and escalating appropriately.
- Partner with ADP and Cloudpay on case resolution, compliance reporting, and tax/benefits coordination.
- Prepare monthly payroll journal entries and payroll accruals with supporting schedules; support GL upload processes (Oracle, SAP, or equivalent).
- Support Accounting close by providing tie-outs, audit support, and responses for reconciliations and flux/variance explanations.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- 8+ years of progressive payroll experience, including end-to-end responsibility for high-volume, semi-monthly multi-state U.S. payroll is required.
- Prior experience supporting Canada and Mexico payroll is required. (NAMER scope)
- Strong knowledge of payroll impacts from benefits administration and taxation for federal, state, and local entities, including compliance requirements and reporting is required.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and related business tools (e.g., large data validation, pivots/lookups, audit checks, and reconciliations) is required.
- ADP Workforce Now payroll experience is required.
- Ticketing system experience is required. ServiceNow is preferred.
- Workday and Oracle Cloud experience are strongly preferred.
- Experience preparing payroll journal entries and payroll accruals, including supporting schedules and working with Accounting on close timelines is required.
By applying for this job, you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages, or emails from and its affiliates, and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You can reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. You can access our privacy policy at Privacy Policy.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Senior Payroll Specialist
Target employers with large, complex payroll operations
Companies running multi-state or international payroll are far more likely to sponsor visas. Healthcare systems, financial institutions, and enterprise tech firms regularly file H-1B petitions for Senior Payroll Specialists because replacing specialized expertise is costly and disruptive.
Frame your degree as directly relevant to the role
USCIS requires a direct connection between your degree and the position. A bachelor's in accounting, finance, or business administration strengthens your petition significantly. If your degree is adjacent, document how your coursework directly supports payroll systems and compliance work.
Highlight payroll software certifications and credentials
Certifications like CPP or FPC from the American Payroll Association signal specialized knowledge USCIS looks for in specialty occupation cases. They also differentiate you from general HR candidates and help employers justify the sponsorship investment to their legal team.
Prioritize employers with established immigration programs
Companies that have sponsored H-1B or TN visas before move faster and make fewer mistakes. Check DOL LCA disclosure data to identify employers who have previously filed for payroll or accounting roles before applying, it tells you who is genuinely sponsorship-ready.
Understand the TN visa pathway if you're Canadian or Mexican
TN status covers accountants under USMCA and can apply to Senior Payroll Specialists with an accounting degree. It requires no lottery, processes quickly at the border or a consulate, and is a practical alternative to waiting for H-1B selection in April.
Be prepared to explain the specialty occupation argument
Some USCIS examiners scrutinize payroll roles, questioning whether a degree is truly required. Your employer's attorney should show the role involves tax compliance, system implementation, or multi-jurisdiction regulation, not just check processing, to satisfy the specialty occupation standard.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Senior Payroll Specialist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, in most cases, but the employer's petition needs to make the argument explicitly. USCIS requires that a bachelor's degree in a specific field is the normal minimum for the position. Senior Payroll Specialist roles focused on tax compliance, multi-state payroll law, or enterprise payroll systems (Workday, SAP) are far easier to defend than general payroll processing roles. The more complex and technically demanding the job description, the stronger the case.
What degree do I need for an employer to sponsor my visa as a Senior Payroll Specialist?
A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or business administration is the most defensible credential for H-1B sponsorship in this role. Degrees in human resources or information systems can work if your coursework included payroll-relevant subjects like tax, compensation, or enterprise systems. USCIS looks for a direct relationship between your field of study and the duties of the specific position, so a generic business degree with no accounting coursework carries more risk of a Request for Evidence.
Which visa types are most common for Senior Payroll Specialists?
H-1B is the most common route, particularly for Indian and Nigerian nationals who make up a significant share of visa-sponsored finance and HR roles. Canadian and Mexican nationals with accounting degrees should strongly consider TN status, which requires no lottery and can be obtained at the border. Australians with relevant degrees may qualify for the E-3. Each pathway has different processing timelines and renewal rules, so the best option depends on your nationality and the employer's timeline.
How do I find employers actively sponsoring Senior Payroll Specialist roles?
Migrate Mate is the most direct way to find Senior Payroll Specialist roles with confirmed sponsorship. DOL LCA disclosure data is also searchable and shows which companies have filed labor condition applications for payroll and accounting positions historically, this tells you which employers have real infrastructure for sponsorship, not just a checkbox on a job posting. Focus on healthcare systems, payroll service bureaus, and large tech companies, which file consistently in this category.
Can I transfer my H-1B to a new employer as a Senior Payroll Specialist?
Yes. H-1B portability allows you to start working for a new employer as soon as they file a transfer petition, without waiting for approval, as long as your previous H-1B was approved and you've maintained valid status. Your new employer files a fresh I-129 petition specific to the Senior Payroll Specialist role at their company. The specialty occupation standard must be satisfied again for the new position, so the job description and your credentials need to align clearly.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Senior Payroll Specialist jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.
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