Interim Sr. Payroll Administrator

BrainWorks; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

BrainWorks is seeking a Senior Payroll Administrator for a 6–9 month interim assignment based in Boulder, CO. The role oversees biweekly payroll for 200+ employees across multiple states using Paychex, with a strong emphasis on efficiency and automation.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years of payroll experience, strong Excel skills, and a willingness to leverage AI tools to streamline processes. Collaboration with HR and Finance is key, as is documentation of new workflows.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of payroll experience supporting 200+ employees across multiple states.
• Experience with Paychex payroll processing and tax administration.
• Experience with benefits deductions, 401(k) contributions, and employee changes.
• Strong Excel skills, including PivotTables and VLOOKUPs.
• Willingness to use AI tools to improve workflows.
• Strong communication with HR and Finance.

Responsibilities

• Process biweekly payroll and taxes for 200+ employees across multiple states.
• Manage payroll changes: new hires, terminations, and bonuses.
• Oversee benefits deductions and 401(k) contributions.
• Identify opportunities to automate payroll processes.
• Build Excel reports using PivotTables and VLOOKUPs.
• Use AI tools to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.
• Work with HR and Finance to resolve payroll issues and improve communication.
• Document updated processes and recommend payroll system improvements.

Skills

Payroll processing

Paychex

Excel PivotTables

VLOOKUPs

AI tools

HR & Finance liaison

Payroll certification

Deltek

Multi-state payroll

Education

Payroll certification preferred

Tools

Deltek

Job description

Interim Sr. Payroll Administrator

Location: Boulder, CO (Hybrid, 2 days/week in-office)

About the Opportunity

Our client, an established architecture firm, is seeking an experienced Senior Payroll Administrator for a 6–9-month interim assignment. This individual will oversee biweekly payroll for a multi-state workforce while identifying opportunities to streamline workflows, automate manual processes, and improve efficiency. Working closely with HR and Finance, the ideal candidate will bring extensive payroll experience, strong Excel skills, and a willingness to leverage AI tools to develop more efficient processes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Process biweekly payroll and payroll taxes for 200+ employees across multiple states using Paychex.
• Manage payroll changes, including new hires, terminations, and employee bonuses.
• Oversee payroll-related benefits deductions and 401(k) contributions.
• Identify opportunities to improve and automate existing payroll processes.
• Build Excel spreadsheets and reports using PivotTables, VLOOKUPs, and other formulas.
• Use AI tools to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.
• Work with HR and Finance to resolve payroll issues and improve communication.
• Document updated processes and recommend payroll system improvements.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of payroll experience supporting 200+ employees across multiple states.
• Experience with Paychex payroll processing and tax administration.
• Experience with benefits deductions, 401(k) contributions, and employee changes.
• Strong Excel skills, including PivotTables and VLOOKUPs.
• Experience improving or automating manual processes.
• Willingness to use AI tools to improve workflows.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work with HR and Finance.
• Payroll certification preferred
• Deltek experience and payroll system implementation experience are a plus.