Senior Payroll Specialist

Empower Staffing, Inc; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Empower Staffing seeks a Senior Payroll professional to elevate our payroll operations. You will own end-to-end US payroll for a ~1,300-person, multi-state workforce and serve as the internal SME for Workday optimization across HCM, Finance, and Payroll.

The role handles complex compensation events (bonuses, RSUs, claw backs, W-2 amendments, tax notices), administers a small PPO population, ensures federal and state compliance, and partners with the C-suite to drive strategic value.

Qualifications

• Strong Workday expertise is a non-negotiable.
• CPP or FPC certification is required.
• Growth mindset with openness to AI and process innovation.

Responsibilities

• End-to-end US payroll for ~1,300-person multi-state workforce.
• Serve as internal Workday SME for HCM, Finance, Payroll optimization.
• Handle complex comp events: bonuses, RSUs, claw backs, W-2 amendments, tax notices.
• Administer payroll for a small PPO population.
• Ensure compliance across federal and state requirements.
• Partner with C-suite to drive strategic value beyond routine processing.

Skills

Workday

Payroll

Multi-state payroll

Education

CPP or FPC certification

Tools

Workday

Job description

A growth-stage financial services firm is looking for a Senior Payroll professional to take their function to the next level. They've done the hard work of implementing and streamlining Workday now they need someone to optimize it and shift the team from reactive to proactive.

What You'll Own

• End-to-end US payroll for a ~1,300-person, multi-state workforce
• Workday optimization (HCM, Finance, Payroll) you're the internal SME
• Complex comp events: bonuses, restricted stock, claw backs, W-2 amendments, tax notices
• Administration for a small PPO population
• Compliance across all federal and state requirements
• C-suite partnership bringing strategic value, not just clean runs

What They're Looking For

• Strong Workday expertise is a non-negotiable
• CPP or FPC required
• Growth mindset they want someone excited about what's next (AI, process innovation), not someone set in their ways

Equal Opportunity Statement

Empower Staffing is committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.