Payroll Specialist/Administrator - Hourly Consultant

Description

• Are you looking for something different than your typical in-house payroll role?
• Do you love to roll up your sleeves and solve problems for others?
• Are you looking to advance your career doing work that showcases your payroll expertise?
• Do you enjoy variety and challenging yourself to learn new systems and processes?
• Would you like to gain valuable experience in different industries?

If you answered "YES" to these questions, Growth Operators is the place for you to grow your career!

We are seeking a payroll professional with prior experience as a Payroll Specialist or Payroll Administrator who is passionate about accuracy, business results and delivering a high level of client service.

As an hourly Payroll Administrator/Consultant, you will serve Growth Operators' clients, typically under the direction of a Growth Operators Partner, Managing Director, Senior Director or Director. Services are provided as advisory services (specific projects) and outsourced services (interim or fractional roles with clients). Work on client engagements may include the following:

• Processes end-to-end payroll for multiple clients across weekly, biweekly and semi-monthly cycles, including review and approval of time and attendance data.
• Enters and audits payroll changes such as new hires, terminations, pay rate changes, deductions, garnishments, bonuses, commissions and PTO accruals.
• Performs pre- and post-payroll audits and reviews payroll registers. Secures payroll approval from Finance and supports general ledger reconciliation and payroll journal entries.
• Manages payroll tax compliance, including federal, state and local withholding, multi-state setups, quarterly and annual filings, W-2s, and resolving tax agency notices.
• Reconciles benefit and retirement plan deductions and remittances with carriers and providers.
• Serves as a primary point of contact for employees and managers with payroll questions and requests.
• Ensures compliance with federal and state wage and hour requirements, including FLSA, overtime, earned sick and safe time, and state paid leave programs such as MN Paid Leave.
• Prepares payroll reporting and analysis for client leadership, auditors and Finance teams.
• Supports projects such as payroll system implementations and conversions, year-end close, process improvement and internal controls, and M&A payroll integrations.
• Documents payroll procedures and builds repeatable processes that clients can sustain.
• Maintains knowledge of payroll industry trends and legislation and helps clients stay compliant.

Note: This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties. Responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder might differ from those outlined in the job description and other duties, as assigned, might be required.

Required Qualifications and Core Competencies

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, human resources or business, or equivalent experience
• 4+ years of hands‑on payroll processing experience, including multi‑state payroll
• Strong working knowledge of payroll tax, wage and hour laws, and payroll accounting
• Experience with payroll, HRIS and time‑keeping systems (ADP, Paylocity, Paycom, UKG, Paychex, etc.)
• High proficiency in MS Excel (pivot tables, lookups, reconciliations)
• Ability to use independent judgment to manage the priorities and payroll deadlines of multiple clients
• Critical thinking and analytical skills
• Detail oriented with strong organizational skills and a commitment to confidentiality
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced collaborative environment with clients and internal teams
• Must be able to spend substantial time in the Greater Minneapolis‑St. Paul, MN area for onsite client work as needed

Preferred Experience

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC)
• Payroll system implementation or conversion experience
• Prior experience in consulting or contract work
• Experience working with private equity‑backed companies
• Background in mergers, acquisitions and integrations

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• This is an hourly consulting position. Hours vary based on client needs, with some flexibility regarding work schedule and location.
• FLSA Status: Non‑Exempt
• Pay Range: $35–$45 per hour, based on experience

Work Environment/Travel

• The work is performed on‑site at client locations and remotely from home.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as laptop computers and smartphones.
• Travel is primarily local during the business day.

Benefits/Total Rewards

• Hourly consultants are eligible for PTO, Minnesota Earned Sick and Safe Time, 401k, and MN Paid Family and Medical Leave. Hourly consultants who meet the minimum hours for eligibility have access to a competitive insurance benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance.

About GROWTH OPERATORS®:

• Our purpose is to empower growth for our clients.
• Our vision is to be the premier Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Transaction Advisory, Strategy, and Technology services firm for growing companies.
• Our mission is to take good companies and transform them into great companies by deploying our collective knowledge and expertise to propel our clients to higher levels of performance.

Our clients hire Growth Operators because we are different. Our people are experienced, industry‑proven professionals that we call Growth Pros. We provide Strategy, Finance, HR, Transaction Advisory, Technology, and AI Decision Intelligence transformation services that empower our clients to create sustainable growth and value, and we approach our work with our sleeves rolled up. Come grow your career with us!

Growth Operators is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

For more information about what it's like to work for Growth Operators, go to