Payroll Analyst

keystone group; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k contribution

Annual discretionary bonus

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

Keystone Group in Boston is seeking a Payroll Analyst to support accurate and compliant payroll processing across U.S. and international employees. The ideal candidate will manage payroll operations, ensuring timely processing while working with HR and external payroll providers.

This role requires strong payroll administration experience and a high attention to detail. Successful candidates will thrive in a tech-enabled environment and be part of a collaborative Finance team.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of payroll administration or analyst experience.
• Hands-on experience with international payroll.
• Strong Excel skills and comfort working with payroll data.

Responsibilities

• Support accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Coordinate payroll activity across multiple global payrolls.
• Research and resolve payroll discrepancies.

Skills

Payroll administration

Excel

Attention to detail

Communication

International payroll

Education

3+ years of payroll experience

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

Workday

Rippling

Job description

Keystone is a premier economics, technology, and strategy consulting firm built to help companies lead through transformation. As breakthrough innovations reshape industries, redefine competition, and change our society, complex and highly competitive ecosystems emerge. Keystone advises technology leaders, Fortune 100 companies, their legal counsel, and governments on business, economic, litigation, and regulatory strategy in relation to these innovations and competitive ecosystems. We operate globally from offices in New York City, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, London, Dubai, and Washington, D.C.

We are growing quickly and looking for an exceptional Payroll Analyst to join our Finance team. This is an exciting opportunity for a payroll professional who has experience supporting domestic and international payroll in a centralized payroll environment. This individual will support accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing across multiple countries while helping Keystone continue to build scalable, tech‑enabled payroll operations as the company expands globally.

About the Payroll Analyst Role

The Payroll Analyst will support payroll operations across U.S. and international employee populations, partnering closely with HR, Finance, and external payroll providers to ensure employees are paid accurately and on time. This role is focused on traditional payroll execution, international payroll coordination, payroll data accuracy, employee support, and process improvement.

The ideal candidate has experience supporting multiple global payrolls, ideally up to 8, in a centralized payroll environment. They should bring strong attention to detail, excellent follow‑through, a high degree of discretion, and a forward‑thinking, tech‑enabled mindset aligned with Keystone’s culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Support accurate and timely payroll processing for U.S. and international employees
• Coordinate payroll activity across multiple global payrolls, ideally up to 8, in a centralized payroll environment
• Partner with external payroll providers and in‑country vendors to ensure payroll inputs, approvals, timelines, and outputs are accurate
• Validate payroll inputs including new hires, terminations, compensation changes, bonuses, deductions, benefits, leaves of absence, and paid time off
• Maintain payroll calendars and ensure all payroll deadlines are met across countries and pay cycles
• Research and resolve payroll discrepancies involving pay, taxes, deductions, benefits, and paid time off
• Serve as a point of contact for employee payroll questions, providing accurate and timely support
• Maintain data integrity across HRIS, payroll systems, and related employee records
• Partner with HR, Finance, and Benefits teams to ensure payroll data is complete, accurate, and aligned across systems
• Support quarter‑end and year‑end payroll activities, including payroll validations and employee reporting
• Assist with payroll tax, statutory, and compliance requirements in partnership with payroll providers
• Document payroll processes, improve workflows, and identify opportunities for automation, better controls, and stronger data quality
• Help build scalable, tech‑enabled payroll operations as Keystone continues to grow globally

What You’ll Bring

Required

• 3+ years of payroll administration, payroll operations, or payroll analyst experience
• Hands‑on international payroll experience
• Experience running or supporting multiple global payrolls in a centralized payroll environment
• Experience working with external payroll providers, in‑country vendors, or payroll shared services teams
• Strong payroll systems and HRIS fluency
• Strong Excel skills and comfort working with payroll data
• High attention to detail and ability to manage deadlines across multiple payroll cycles
• Strong judgment, discretion, and ability to handle confidential employee information
• Clear written and verbal communication skills

Preferred

• Experience supporting up to 8 global payrolls
• Experience processing multi‑state U.S. payroll
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now, Rippling, Workday, UKG, Deel, CloudPay, Papaya, Safeguard, or similar payroll/HRIS platforms
• Experience with payroll implementations, vendor transitions, process improvements, or payroll automation
• CPP or FPC certification
• Experience in a high‑growth, global, professional services, consulting, or technology‑enabled environment
• Familiarity with payroll accounting, reconciliations, or journal entries is helpful, but not required

What Sets You Apart

• Strong international payroll judgment and comfort managing complexity across countries, vendors, calendars, and deadlines
• Forward‑thinking, tech‑enabled mindset with an interest in improving how payroll operates
• Ability to identify process gaps and create cleaner workflows, documentation, and data flows
• Strong employee‑service orientation and ability to resolve payroll questions with accuracy and care
• Comfort operating in a fast‑moving, global organization with high standards for accuracy and execution
• Ability to partner effectively across HR, Finance, Benefits, and external payroll providers

Why Join Us

• Play a key role in building a scalable global payroll function
• Gain exposure to domestic and international payroll operations as Keystone continues to expand globally
• Help modernize payroll workflows, documentation, systems, and processes
• Join a tech‑enabled advisory firm with a high bar for operational excellence
• Be part of a collaborative Finance team supporting Keystone’s continued growth

In addition to annual salary, we provide an annual discretionary bonus, 401k contribution, and competitive benefits package. Actual compensation within the range will depend upon the level the individual is hired into based on their skills, experience, and qualifications.

Annual Salary Range: $70,000 – $90,000 USD

At Keystone we believe diversity matters. At every level of our firm, we seek to advance and promote diversity, foster an inclusive culture, and ensure our colleagues have a deep sense of respect and belonging. If you are interested in growing your career with colleagues from varied backgrounds and cultures, consider Keystone.