Payroll Operations Specialist

Teli Labs; Portland (OR); Remote; USD 77,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercury is seeking a Payroll Operations Specialist to manage multi-state payroll compliance workflows, registrations, and related requirements. You will coordinate with government agencies, insurers, and internal teams to ensure accurate accounts, filings, and timely renewals.

The role emphasizes problem-solving, documentation, and strong communication to deliver a seamless customer experience while maintaining precise records across states and systems.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in payroll operations or related compliance fields.
• Ability to own workflows from intake to resolution with limited oversight.
• Strong research and problem-solving in unfamiliar state requirements.
• Excellent attention to detail with multiple deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication with a customer-focused approach.
• Comfort working with government agencies, carriers, vendors, and cross-functional partners.
• Curiosity to develop deep subject-matter expertise.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end workflows across state registrations, employer accounts, workers’ compensation and related requirements.
• Research state/local requirements and establish/maintain employer accounts and registrations.
• Collaborate with government agencies, carriers, brokers, and partners to resolve issues.
• Manage account lifecycle changes, renewals, audits, transfers, and closures.
• Investigate and resolve registration, policy, and access issues.
• Maintain accurate customer records, deadlines, and status tracking.
• Communicate requirements, blockers, timelines, and steps clearly to customers and internal partners.
• Identify recurring issues and improve processes and automation.
• Handle high-volume workload with time-sensitive tasks.

Skills

Payroll operations

State registrations

Compliance operations

Account maintenance

Research and problem solving

Attention to detail

Communication (written)

Job description

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Payroll Operations Specialist

San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, Portland, OR, or Remote within Canada or United States

About The Role & Team

The Payroll Operations Specialist supports the compliance infrastructure that keeps our customers’ payroll operations running smoothly. You’ll own operational workflows across state registrations, employer account maintenance, workers’ compensation, business registrations, and related requirements.

You’ll work closely with Payroll Operations, Customer Support, Benefit, government agencies, insurance carriers, and external partners to resolve issues and deliver a strong customer experience.

What You’ll Do

• Own end-to-end workflows across assigned areas, including state registrations, employer account maintenance, workers’ compensation, Foreign Qualification (FQAL), Registered Agent Administration (RAA), Statements of Information (SOI), and related requirements.
• Research state and local requirements and determine the steps needed to establish and maintain employer accounts, business registrations, and coverage.
• Work directly with government agencies, insurance carriers, brokers, and third-party partners to establish accounts, obtain information, and resolve issues.
• Manage account, registration, and policy lifecycle changes, including registrations, updates, state additions, renewals, audits, transfers, and closures.
• Investigate and resolve registration, account access, policy, coverage, and other operational issues.
• Maintain accurate customer records, credentials, documentation, deadlines, and status tracking.
• Communicate requirements, blockers, timelines, and next steps clearly to customers and internal partners.
• Identify recurring issues and improve processes, documentation, controls, and automation.
• Manage a high-volume workload while prioritizing time-sensitive and high-risk work.
• Support other Payroll Operations initiatives and duties as business and team needs evolve.

What We’re Looking For

• 2+ years of experience in payroll operations, state or business registrations, workers’ compensation, insurance operations, compliance operations, or a related field.
• Strong ownership and ability to manage work from intake through resolution with limited oversight.
• Strong research and problem-solving skills, including navigating unfamiliar state requirements, agency websites, and carrier systems.
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and workflows.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a customer-focused approach.
• Comfortable working directly with government agencies, carriers, vendors, and cross-functional partners.
• Curiosity and willingness to develop deep subject-matter expertise.

You May Be a Great Fit If You Have

• Experience with multi-state employer or business registrations and account maintenance.
• Experience with workers’ compensation policy administration, renewals, audits, or carrier relationships.
• Experience with FQAL, RAA, SOI, or other business compliance filings.
• Experience in payroll, fintech, PEO, benefits, insurance, or another high-growth operational environment.

Mercury values diversity & belonging and is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All individuals seeking employment at Mercury are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process for applicants with disabilities or special needs. If you need assistance, or an accommodation, please let your recruiter know once you are contacted about a role.

Total Rewards

The total rewards package at Mercury includes base salary, equity (stock options/RSUs), and benefits.

Our salary and equity ranges are highly competitive within the SaaS and fintech industry and are updated regularly using the most reliable compensation survey data for our industry. New hire offers are made based on a candidate’s experience, expertise, geographic location, and internal pay equity relative to peers.

Our target new hire base salary ranges for this role are the following:

US employees in New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, or the San Francisco Bay Area:

$85,500 - $96,200 USD

US employees outside of New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, or the San Francisco Bay Area:

$77,000 - $86,600 USD

Canadian employees (any location):

$80,800 - $90,900 CAD