Senior Payroll Operations Lead

Red Robin; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Red Robin is seeking a detail-oriented Senior Payroll Operations Analyst to ensure accurate payroll processing, tight controls, and proactive issue resolution. You will partner with HR, Finance, and external vendors, guiding junior team members and leading key workstreams.

The role emphasizes workflow optimization, compliance with federal/state/local laws, and robust reconciliations and reporting. Strong Excel and payroll platform experience are essential for success.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of progressive payroll, payroll operations, HR operations, accounting operations, or related experience.
• Payroll tax experience and multi-state payroll exposure.
• Strong understanding of payroll processes, controls, reconciliations, and reporting.
• Experience coaching or guiding junior team members preferred.
• Ability to lead workstreams and influence outcomes without direct authority.
• Comfort with GenAI and automation to improve efficiency while ensuring data confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Support payroll processing to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and consistency across cycles.
• Review and validate payroll transactions, adjustments, and data changes.
• Investigate discrepancies with HR, Finance, and external vendors; resolve issues.
• Assist with month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities and reporting.
• Provide documentation for audits, compliance reviews, and control testing.
• Lead or coordinate payroll workstreams, audits, and process improvements.
• Support system updates and optimization across payroll, HRIS, and related platforms.

Skills

Payroll operations

Analytical skills

Communication

Leadership

Advanced Excel

Multi-state payroll

Tools

Workday

ADP

HRIS

Excel

Job description

Red Robin is seeking a detail-oriented Senior Payroll Operations Analyst to ensure accurate payroll processing, tight controls, and proactive issue resolution. You will partner with HR, Finance, and external vendors, guiding junior team members and leading key workstreams.

The role emphasizes workflow optimization, compliance with federal/state/local laws, and robust reconciliations and reporting. Strong Excel and payroll platform experience are essential for success.