Payroll Specialist Lead - PEO

Remote

16h•Remote

About The Position

The PEO Payroll Specialist Lead (United States) is a mid-level individual contributor responsible for executing and supporting payroll operations within the US PEO environment. This role combines hands-on payroll execution, operational expertise, and support for other payroll specialists. You will ensure payroll is delivered accurately, on time, and in compliance with regulations, while contributing to process improvements and operational efficiency. You will work closely with internal teams across Payroll Operations, Finance, Product, and Service Operations, as well as relevant external stakeholders.

Requirements

Proven experience in end-to-end payroll execution within the US PEO or similar environment, including payroll validations, reconciliations, and statutory filings.
Knowledge of US federal, state, and local payroll regulations and payroll best practices.
Experience in implementing payroll processes or contributing to operational rollouts.
Strong analytical skills, with the ability to identify issues, interpret data, and resolve exceptions accurately.
Proficiency in payroll systems and ability to quickly learn new operational tools; experience with automation or AI-assisted workflows is a plus.
Comfortable operating independently in a remote-first, asynchronous work environment.
Collaborative mindset and strong communication skills for partnering with internal teams and external stakeholders.
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple payroll cycles and deadlines effectively.
High integrity and discretion when handling sensitive payroll information.
Demonstrates strong automation and AI capabilities

Nice To Haves

Experience with multi-country payroll is a plus, but not required for this US-focused role.

Responsibilities

Execute end-to-end payroll operations for the US PEO environment, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
Validate payroll inputs, calculations, and outputs, maintaining data integrity across all payroll cycles.
Manage payroll-related exceptions, adjustments, and reconciliations, escalating complex issues when necessary.
Support the operational implementation of payroll processes, including system updates, statutory changes, and new program rollouts.
Serve as a point of contact for internal teams and relevant external stakeholders regarding payroll execution and compliance.
Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, documentation, and operational workflows.
Participate in testing payroll system enhancements and updates to ensure operational readiness.
Provide support and guidance to other payroll specialists when needed to maintain continuity and quality of payroll delivery.
Monitor and contribute to payroll performance metrics, including SLAs and KPIs.