People Ops & Payroll Specialist

Applause • Framingham, MA

6d • $50,000 - $65,000

About The Position

People Ops & Payroll Specialist Applause is raising the bar for digital quality and employee experience. Recognized as a Top Workplace, Applause provides award-winning software testing and UX research solutions to top brands. Our fully managed services leverage a global team and the world's largest independent testing community. We improve digital experiences for global innovators like Google, Microsoft, PayPal, Starbucks, Vodafone, and BMW. We’re looking for an enthusiastic, smart, and motivated People Operations & Payroll Specialist to join our dynamic People team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone early in their HR career who is eager to learn, grow, and make an impact. You’ll work across the People Operations function with a particular focus on HRIS/ADP, payroll support, and administrative operations. This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, is highly organized, a self-starter, and loves problem-solving. You’ll have exposure to multiple areas of the People function, making this an ideal role to build a strong HR foundation.

Requirements

• 1–3 years of experience in People Operations, HR, or payroll (internships and early career experience welcome).
• Familiarity with HRIS systems (ADP experience strongly preferred).
• Basic understanding of payroll processes and compliance.
• Analytic mindset with strong problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and Google Slides, with the ability to create professional-level reports, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Responsibilities

• HRIS & Data Management Support the administration and maintenance of our HRIS (ADP) including employee records, job data, and reporting.
• Ensure data accuracy and consistency across systems.
• Assist in optimizing workflows and processes within the HRIS platform.
• Assist with system implementations, upgrades and integrations.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly reports.
• Payroll Support Partner with the Payroll team to help ensure timely and accurate payroll processing for U.S. and international employees.
• Assist with payroll audits, data entry, and reconciliations.
• Support compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• People Operations Administration Own and execute a variety of day-to-day administrative tasks across the People team.
• Support onboarding and offboarding processes to ensure a seamless employee experience.
• Assist with compliance tracking, employee verifications, and reporting.
• Cross-Functional Support Collaborate with internal teams such as Finance, IT, and Legal to support employee-related processes.
• Jump in where needed to support broader People initiatives and projects.

Benefits

• We have a flexible work environment with top talent from across the globe
• Collaborate with an international team of 450+ passionate, talented co-workers
• Expand your portfolio with exciting, hands-on projects providing exposure to well-known, global brands
• Learn and grow through structured onboarding, in-house knowledge sessions and access to thousands of virtual courses available on demand
• Incorporate AI and other exciting technologies into your work, to help you prioritize and boost productivity
• Experience a supportive culture that emphasizes teamwork, innovation and transparency
• Share your voice! Contribute and integrate creative and innovative ideas across roles and departments
• Beyond Applause’s award-winning culture, our employee-centric benefits and competitive compensation strategy are designed to support your physical and mental well-being, promote work-life balance, and fuel your professional growth.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees