Payroll Specialist (contract)

Thomson Reuters; Eagan, Northern (MN, KY); Hybrid; USD 48,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan

Job summary

Tundra Technical Solutions seeks a Payroll Specialist to oversee global payroll operations and governance across six countries, including EOR locations. You will lead a team, drive continuous improvement, and partner with HR, Finance, Tax, and IT to ensure compliant, timely payroll delivery.

The role requires 5+ years in payroll, strong payroll tax knowledge, and supervisory experience. ADP/SAP and MS Office skills are preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience in a multi-jurisdictional environment.
• Minimum 2+ years in supervisory/management role.
• Strong payroll tax knowledge and accounting focus.
• Experience with internal controls to reduce operational risk.
• Ability to research and resolve complex payroll issues.

Responsibilities

• Oversee global payroll operations and governance, ensuring accurate and timely execution across multiple jurisdictions.
• Lead a payroll team, coaching, succession planning, and performance reviews.
• Manage payroll tax compliance, audits, and remittances with internal and external stakeholders.
• Partner with outsourced payroll providers, HR, Finance, Tax, and IT to drive service delivery improvements.
• Monitor payroll metrics, controls, and process improvements to mitigate risk.

Skills

Global payroll

Team leadership

Payroll tax knowledge

Payroll accounting

Internal controls

Issue resolution

Data analytics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

ADP

SAP

MS Office

Job description

The Payroll Specialist is responsible for the strategic oversight, governance, and operational excellence of payroll processes supporting employees across six countries, as well as additional locations managed through Employer of Record (EOR) arrangements. This role partners closely with outsourced payroll providers, HR, Finance, Tax, and Technology teams to ensure accurate, compliant, and timely payroll execution. The position leads a team of payroll professionals, drives continuous improvement initiatives, maintains a strong internal control environment, and ensures compliance with all applicable payroll regulations.

Key Responsibilities

Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of payroll professionals responsible for supporting global payroll operations.
• Build organizational capability through coaching, succession planning, and talent development.
• Set performance goals and conduct regular reviews
• Allocate workload and ensure adequate coverage to meet business needs
• Foster a culture of accountability, customer service, and continuous improvement

Payroll Operations

• Develop and execute the payroll strategy aligned with organizational objectives
• Establish and maintain payroll governance standards, operating procedures, and performance reporting frameworks
• Responsible for payroll across six countries, as well as additional locations managed through Employer of Record (EOR) arrangements, ensuring compliance with local statutory, tax, employment, and reporting requirements
• Lead transformational initiatives to improve payroll service delivery and employee experience
• Proactively manage payroll auditing, validation, and approval
• Responsible for payroll delivery, vendor governance, operational effectiveness initiatives, service level performance, and management of end-to-end payroll controls
• Serve as the primary contact for payroll tax-related issues and partner with internal and external stakeholders to research and resolve complex matters
• Manage various audits, such as employment tax audits and internal/external audits
• Manage the administration of the registration or closure of employment tax authorizations as well as the remittance and reporting of payroll tax
• Analyze payroll metrics and trends to identify risks, improve processes, and support strategic decision-making
• Lead the governance and performance management of outsourced payroll providers, ensuring achievement of contractual service levels, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence
• Manage vendor relationships to deliver timely, accurate and compliant payroll
• Resolve discrepancies, payment issues, and vendor inquiries

Controls & Compliance

• Design and enforce internal controls to prevent duplicate payments, fraud, and errors
• Support proper segregation of duties
• Monitor regulatory developments impacting payroll tax compliance
• Ensure accurate payroll tax filings, remittances, reconciliations, and year-end reporting.
• Ensure compliance with company policy, tax regulations, and audit requirements
• Assess and remediate payroll process risks on an ongoing basis
• Ensure proper recording of liabilities and accruals in accordance with applicable accounting standards

Systems & Process Improvement

• Manage payroll software/ERP systems (e.g., ADP/SAP etc.)
• Demonstrate a continuous improvement mindset
• Lead automation and efficiency initiatives
• Develop and maintain process documentation and standard operating procedures
• Collaborate with IT/Finance on system upgrades or integrations

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Finance and HR on payroll-related policies and procedures
• Partner with Finance to ensure timely and accurate payroll accounting, reporting, accruals, reconciliations, journal entries, and balance sheet account reviews
• Partner with Tax and external advisors on complex payroll tax matters
• Serve as point of escalation for vendor and internal stakeholder issues

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience, including global payroll operations in a complex, multi-jurisdictional environment.
• Minimum 2+ years in a supervisory/management role
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of payroll tax and employment regulations
• Knowledge of accounting, with a focus on payroll accounting
• Experience with internal controls aimed at reducing operational risk
• Experience mentoring and coaching a team
• Ability to research, identify and resolve complex payroll issues

Preferred

• Experience with ADP HR/Payroll/Time Reporting is a plus
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation strongly preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of MS productivity tools (MS Office); Word, PPT, and Excel
• Project Management mindset and experience
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Highly motivated, accountable and responsible
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and vendors
• Problem-solving and process improvement mindset
• Strong organizational and time-management abilities.
• Strong vendor and stakeholder relationship management
• Strategic thinking and decision-making
• Change leadership and organizational agility
• Risk management and governance
• Data analytics and performance management
• Executive presence and stakeholder influence

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

The pay range that the employer in good faith reasonably expects to pay for this position is $35-$40/hr USD.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Our optional benefits can include medical, dental, vision and retirement benefits.

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.

Tundra Technical Solutions (the operator of this Talent Community) is a global leader of contingent talent services. Our success and our clients’ success are built on a foundation of service excellence. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Unincorporated LA County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: client provided property, including hardware (both of which may include data) entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all portable client computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon completion of the assignment, and; maintain the confidentiality of client proprietary, confidential, or non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected client information technology systems and related data security obligations.