Lead Payroll Specialist
SST Direct • Austin, Texas • Full Time
Posted on Tue, Jun 9, 2026
Location: Onsite - Austin, TX
Compensation: $68,000–$75,000 annually, with potential bonus eligibility
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:30 PM
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
- 2+ years of closely related experience.
- Experience in a multi-state temporary staffing environment preferred.
- Extensive knowledge of the payroll function, including preparation, calculation, and audit.
- Strong communication, analytical, mathematical, and problem-solving skills.
- Experience working in a high-volume, deadline-driven payroll or timekeeping environment.
- Ability to lead, support, and coach a team while remaining hands-on in daily work.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to audit payroll/timekeeping data accurately.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
- Ability to identify discrepancies, troubleshoot issues, and follow through to resolution.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and payroll/timekeeping reports.
- Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends based on payroll needs.
- Highly ethical team player who communications effectively with internal and external site staff.
- Experience supporting payroll or timekeeping for 1,000+ employees.
- Prior lead, senior payroll specialist, payroll coordinator, or payroll supervisor experience.
- Experience in staffing, construction, industrial services, or high-volume hourly workforce environments.
- Experience with Fieldglass, Timerack, or similar VMS/timekeeping platforms.
- Experience creating, improving, or documenting payroll/timekeeping SOPs.
- Strong process improvement mindset with the ability to identify inefficiencies and recommend solutions.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus.
Core Responsibilities
- Support weekly payroll and timekeeping operations for approximately 1,500–2,000+ employees.
- Serve as a hands-on, working Lead for a team of 6+ payroll/timekeeping personnel.
- Assist with daily workload management, task prioritization, issue escalation, and team support.
- Prepare, review, adjust, and finalize reports throughout the week.
- Coordinate with managers and internal stakeholders to confirm hours and resolve discrepancies.
- Audit payroll batches and timekeeping records for accuracy.
- Help ensure payroll deadlines, billing deadlines, and reporting expectations are met.
- Identify recurring payroll/timekeeping issues and help drive process improvements.
- Assist with documenting, improving, and standardizing payroll and timekeeping procedures.
- Provide coaching, guidance, and training support to team members.
- Support evening or weekend work when required in order to meet payroll deadlines or business needs.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll, wage and hour, and best practices, including prevailing wage and per diem where applicable.