Senior Payroll Specialist (US Multi-State, Remote)

Sailglobal; United States; Remote; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance-based bonus

Stock option opportunities

Remote work flexibility

Job summary

A global HR solutions provider seeks a Senior Payroll Specialist to handle multi-state payroll operations in a remote setting. The ideal candidate should have 5+ years of US payroll experience and a strong background in managing payroll for multiple clients. Responsibilities include ensuring payroll compliance, managing federal and state tax registrations, and acting as a payroll subject-matter expert. This role offers a competitive salary, a flexible startup culture, and opportunities for long-term growth within the company.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of US payroll experience required.
• Experience with multi-state payroll operations.
• Background in PEO, payroll provider, or payroll SaaS preferred.

Responsibilities

• Process end-to-end payroll for multiple US clients.
• Ensure accuracy across federal, state, and local taxation.
• Set up and manage federal and state tax accounts.

Skills

US payroll experience

Multi-state payroll

Tax compliance

Problem-solving

Education

CPP or FPC certification

Tools

ADP

Paychex

Rippling

UKG

Job description

Senior Payroll Specialist (US Multi-State, Remote)

This range is provided by Sailglobal. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$90,000.00/yr - $120,000.00/yr

About Sailglobal

Sailglobal is a global HR and payroll solutions platform supporting fast-growing companies with EOR, global payroll, compliance, mobility, and HR operations. We serve companies expanding globally, managing complex, multi-country payroll and employment structures across the US, Canada, Mexico, EMEA, and APAC.

Role Overview

We are hiring a US-based, remote Senior Payroll Specialist to own multi-state, multi-client US payroll operations end to end.

This role covers payroll system implementation, payroll processing accuracy, tax and statutory account setup, and client advisory support. The ideal candidate comes from a PEO, payroll service provider, or payroll SaaS environment and is comfortable operating in a fast-paced, client-facing setup.

Key Responsibilities

US Payroll Operations

• Process end-to-end payroll for multiple US clients across multiple states
• Ensure payroll accuracy across:
• Federal, state, and local taxation
• Multiple pay frequencies (weekly / bi-weekly / semi-monthly)
• Bonuses, off-cycle payrolls, retro adjustments, garnishments
• Support payroll compliance including:
• IRS and state filings
• W-2, 941, 940, and amended filings
• Payroll corrections and notice handling

Payroll Accounts & Registrations

• Set up and manage:
• Federal and state withholding tax accounts
• Local tax registrations where applicable
• Support clients expanding into new US states

Payroll Systems & Implementation

• Participate in payroll software selection, setup, and implementation
• Configure earnings, deductions, tax mappings, and payroll rules
• Support data migration, parallel runs, and go-live execution
• Collaborate with internal product and operations teams

Client Advisory & Support

• Act as a payroll subject-matter expert for client inquiries
• Explain payroll, tax, and compliance matters clearly to clients
• Support audits, IRS/state notices, and compliance reviews
• Work cross-functionally with HR, finance, and compliance teams

Requirements

• 5+ years of US payroll experience
• Proven experience with multi-state, multi-client payroll
• Background in PEO, payroll provider, or payroll SaaS strongly preferred
• Hands-on experience with platforms such as ADP, Paychex, Rippling, or UKG
• Strong understanding of US payroll tax and compliance
• Experience with Canada payroll is a strong plus
• Experience with other countries' payroll operations and working with global payroll vendors is a plus
• CPP or FPC certification is a plus

What We Offer

• Hands-on ownership of US payroll in a startup environment
• You will fully own multi-state, multi-client US payroll in a fast-growing startup, with real responsibility for accuracy, compliance, and delivery quality—not a narrow or siloed role.
• The opportunity to shape payroll processes and products
• Beyond daily payroll operations, you will help design, improve, and standardize payroll workflows, contributing directly to how our payroll products, systems, and client processes are built.
• Exposure to Canada and Mexico payroll (as a plus)
• While the core focus is US payroll, you will have opportunities to support Canada payroll and coordinate LATAM payroll through local vendors, depending on client needs.
• US-based, fully remote role
• Work remotely anywhere in the United States with a distributed, international team.
• A professional yet flexible startup culture
• Join a team that values accuracy, ownership, clear documentation, and practical problem-solving, while moving fast and continuously improving.
• Competitive compensation with upside
• Market-aligned base salary plus a performance-based bonus, with stock option opportunities for high-impact contributors as the company grows.
• Long-term growth and expanded scope
• As the business scales, you will have the chance to take on broader responsibilities, more complex client cases, and regional ownership.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Accounting/Auditing and Human Resources

Industries

• Human Resources Services, Accounting, and Professional Services