Payroll Specialist

Payroll Process Improvement Specialist (Remote)

Location : World wide (Remote - contractor)

Company : Thriveworks

Work schedule : Monday to Friday (8 : 00 a.m. – 5 : 00 p.m. EST Time)

Salary : Up to $17.00 / hr

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled Payroll Process Improvement Specialist to lead the modernization and optimization of our payroll operations. This role will bridge technical expertise with operational payroll knowledge, working closely with our Finance team’s data analyst and payroll staff to streamline workflows, reduce reliance on SQL-based processes, and ensure scalability for future business needs.

The ideal candidate will initially partner with our data analyst to implement recommendations from our recent payroll process review, then transition into a key member of the payroll team — with potential to grow into a leadership or management position.

Key Responsibilities

• Process Analysis & Design
• Gain a deep understanding of current payroll operations, tools, and workflows.
• Review and prioritize consultant recommendations for payroll process improvements.
• Identify opportunities to reduce manual work, eliminate redundancies, and improve process flexibility.
• Collaboration & Implementation
• Partner with the Finance team’s data analyst to design and implement automation solutions and reporting enhancements.
• Work with stakeholders to replace SQL-dependent steps with more user-friendly and maintainable solutions.
• Document all process changes, configurations, and workflows for ongoing team use.
• Optimization & Efficiency
• Implement process improvements that make payroll more dynamic and adaptable to changes in regulations, policies, and staffing.
• Introduce monitoring tools, validation checks, and exception-handling processes to reduce errors.
• Recommend and implement payroll technology enhancements, integrations, or system upgrades.
• Transition to Operational Role
• Take ownership of the updated payroll process once improvements are implemented.
• Serve as a payroll subject matter expert within the organization.
• Potentially lead the payroll function, providing guidance, training, and mentorship to team members.

Qualifications

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