Senior Payroll Specialist

Senior Payroll Specialist Role

Join a large, established organization where you can take ownership of complex payroll operations, support a high-volume employee population, and contribute to an important payroll systems initiative. This temporary opportunity offers strong leadership visibility, meaningful problem-solving work, and exposure to sophisticated payroll processes.

Our client is a large organization within the Professional Services and Technology sectors that supports complex, regulated operations. The company maintains a broad national workforce and operates in a structured, process-driven environment.

The organization offers established systems, experienced leadership, and opportunities to work across payroll, finance, human resources, and technology teams. This position is based in Northern Virginia. This role offers remote flexibility, with occasional onsite attendance.

The Senior Payroll Specialist will support end-to-end payroll operations for a large, multi-state employee population. This position will serve as a key resource for complex payroll questions, escalations, off-cycle processing, tax matters, and employee support.

The Senior Payroll Specialist will work closely with payroll leadership and cross-functional teams to maintain accuracy, resolve issues, and support financial reporting. The role will also contribute to payroll system testing, process improvements, and internal training.

This is a hands-on temporary assignment for someone who can quickly learn the environment, manage competing deadlines, and work independently.

Role Responsibilities

• Support semi-monthly payroll processing for a large, multi-state workforce
• Manage complex payroll transactions, adjustments, and escalations
• Process terminations, off-cycle payments, garnishments, and levies
• Research and resolve payroll, timekeeping, leave, and tax-related questions
• Complete payroll reconciliations and support accurate labor distribution
• Troubleshoot payroll issues through internal ticketing and support systems
• Assist with payroll system testing, enhancements, and process documentation
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, and employee service

Qualifications

• At least five years of hands-on payroll experience
• Experience supporting payroll within a large or complex organization
• Strong working knowledge of Deltek Costpoint and Workday
• Experience managing multi-state payroll and related tax requirements
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and comfort working with large datasets
• Ability to manage high-volume workflows with accuracy and attention to detail
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and cross-functional partnership skills

Why This Role Stands Out

• Opportunity to work with complex, enterprise-level payroll processes
• Meaningful involvement in payroll system testing and enhancements
• Broad exposure to payroll, finance, human resources, and technology teams
• High-visibility role supporting employees and business leaders
• Primarily remote schedule outside of the systems-testing period
• Fast-moving interview and hiring process

If this opportunity sounds interesting but your background does not align perfectly with every qualification, we still encourage you to apply. We would welcome the opportunity to connect and learn more about your payroll experience, systems knowledge, and career goals.