Payroll & HR Specialist - Part Time

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Payroll & HR Specialist (primary focus is Payroll)

Company: Shades of Grey HR

Location: 100% Remote (U.S.-Based)

Employment Type: Part-Time, Hourly (approximately 20–25 hours per week)

Reports To: CEO

Travel: No routine travel required… unless we have a company partay (!)

Compensation: Starting at $25.00–$30.00/hour, depending on experience, with opportunities for growth

Benefits:

• 100% remote work
• Flexible scheduling, with dependable availability and responsiveness during agreed-upon working hours
• Six paid holidays per year, paid at four hours per holiday
• Support for Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification
• Collaborative and supportive team environment

Please Note: This is a part-time position! It does not include healthcare benefits or PTO.

Before You Apply, Let’s Be Honest (for real).

Skills can be taught. Systems can be learned. What is much harder to teach is accountability, communication, curiosity, and the ability to receive feedback without treating it like a personal attack.

This probably isn’t the right role for you if you:

• Need someone checking in constantly to make sure you’re working.
• Think “fully remote” means “occasionally available.”
• Say, “That’s not my job,” when something falls outside your usual responsibilities.
• Miss deadlines and hope no one notices.
• Prefer guessing instead of asking questions.
• Struggle with change, shifting priorities, or learning new systems.
• Believe accuracy is more of a suggestion than a requirement.
• Have a hard time taking ownership when you make a mistake.
• Make excuses, shift blame, or focus on defending yourself instead of fixing the issue.
• Get defensive when someone gives you constructive feedback.
• View coaching or feedback about improvement as a personal attack.
• Aren’t willing to adjust, improve, and learn from what didn’t go well.
• Want to perform the exact same tasks every day without new clients, systems, or challenges.

We’re all human, and mistakes happen. We don’t expect perfection.

We do expect honesty, ownership, communication, and a willingness to learn. When something goes wrong, we focus on fixing it, understanding what happened, and making sure we’re better prepared the next time.

We’re flexible, supportive, and committed to helping our team grow. We don’t micromanage adults. We also don’t want to have to.

Still reading? Good. You may be exactly who we’re looking for.

Job Summary

The Payroll Specialist is responsible for processing accurate and timely payroll for multiple clients while providing HR consulting support across a variety of industries. This is a part-time role, generally 20–25 hours per week, and the workload may shift based on client payroll schedules, deadlines, and project needs.

This role combines payroll administration with general HR responsibilities, including onboarding, benefits administration, compliance, and HRIS support. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, highly organized, adaptable, and able to manage multiple priorities and client relationships in a fully remote environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Process payroll accurately and on time for multiple clients.
• Process regular and off-cycle payrolls.
• Review payroll reports for accuracy prior to processing.
• Process bonuses, commissions, reimbursements, garnishments, and payroll adjustments.
• Assist with payroll reconciliations and year-end payroll activities.
• Research and resolve payroll questions and discrepancies.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and documentation.
• Educate and support clients regarding payroll processes and best practices.
• Stay current on payroll laws, regulations, and compliance requirements.
• Support employee onboarding and offboarding.
• Assist with benefits and leave administration.
• Update HR policies and employee handbooks.
• Conduct HR compliance research.
• Assist with HRIS implementations and system support.
• Provide recruiting support as needed.
• Process employment verification requests.
• Assist with employee relations matters.
• Support general HR consulting initiatives and special client projects.
• Prioritize multiple deadlines while maintaining high accuracy.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive payroll and employee information.
• Communicate professionally with clients and internal team members.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of payroll experience.
• Experience using one or more payroll systems.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent customer-service skills.
• Ability to work independently in a fully remote environment.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality.
• Willingness to support HR responsibilities outside of payroll.
• Strong problem-solving skills and willingness to learn.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and new systems.
• Takes ownership of work and accepts constructive feedback professionally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience processing multi-state payroll.
• Experience with Gusto, ADP, Paychex, Paylocity, Paycom, or similar payroll platforms.
• Previous HR experience.
• Interest in expanding HR consulting knowledge.
• Experience working directly with clients.
• Experience in a professional services or consulting environment.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification preferred.
• Willingness to obtain CPP certification after hire if not currently certified.

EEO Statement

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law.