| Location | Arvada, CO |
| Industry | Financial Services |
| Salary | $85,000–$90,000 Per Year |
| Company Size | 500 to 999 employees |
| Year Founded | 1994 |
| Website | http://www.cfstaffing.com/ |
Salary: $85,000–$90,000
Schedule: Full-Time | Onsite
We are partnering with a growing organization looking for an experienced Lead Payroll Specialist to take ownership of payroll processing for approximately 550 employees across four regions.
This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional who enjoys being the go-to resource for payroll, takes pride in accuracy, and is comfortable managing a high-volume weekly payroll. The Lead Payroll Specialist will work closely with HR, Accounting, and Operations while handling payroll processing, compliance, reporting, and problem-solving.
If you're looking for a senior-level payroll role where you can take ownership of the process without managing a team, this could be a great next step.
Competitive salary of $85,000–$90,000
Take ownership of an established payroll process
High-visibility position with the opportunity to make an immediate impact
Partner closely with HR, Accounting, and Operations
Opportunity to identify and implement payroll process improvements
Stable, growing organization with a comprehensive benefits package
As the Lead Payroll Specialist, you will:
Own weekly payroll processing for approximately 550 employees across four regions
Import, review, and validate employee timekeeping data
Audit earnings, deductions, benefits, classifications, and payroll information for accuracy
Administer prevailing wage and certified payroll requirements
Research and resolve payroll discrepancies and employee payroll questions
Maintain accurate payroll records, reports, and supporting documentation
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll and wage regulations
Partner with HR, Accounting, and Operations to ensure employee and payroll information is accurate
Identify opportunities to streamline payroll processes and improve efficiencies
Serve as a trusted internal resource for payroll-related questions and compliance
The ideal Lead Payroll Specialist will have:
5+ years of progressive payroll experience
Experience processing payroll for a mid-to-large employee population
Knowledge of prevailing wage and/or certified payroll
Strong understanding of payroll compliance, wage regulations, deductions, and reporting
Experience working with payroll and timekeeping systems
Strong Excel skills
Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
Ability to manage competing priorities and consistently meet payroll deadlines
Strong communication and problem-solving skills
Construction, contracting, or project-based payroll experience is a plus.
The Lead Payroll Specialist will work across multiple payroll and timekeeping systems. Experience with ADP, Spectrum, HCSS HeavyJob, or similar systems is preferred, but candidates do not need experience with every platform listed.
You may be a great fit if you're currently a Senior Payroll Specialist, Payroll Lead, Payroll Administrator, or experienced payroll professional who is ready for greater ownership.
The successful Lead Payroll Specialist will be someone who can work independently, troubleshoot payroll issues, maintain accuracy under tight deadlines, and confidently serve as a payroll subject matter expert.
If you're an experienced payroll professional looking for more ownership, visibility, and the opportunity to make an impact within a growing organization, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today to learn more about the Lead Payroll Specialist opportunity.
Founded by CPA firms in 1994, Creative Financial Staffing has spent over 30 years helping job seekers and employers succeed. In fall 2025, we rebranded as CFS—a name that reflects our full range of expertise while staying true to the trusted company you know.
CFS is the industry’s leading employee-owned staffing firm, connecting top talent in accounting, finance, technology, and human resources. We provide skilled professionals on both a temporary and permanent basis across diverse industries, leveraging our extensive network to match the right people with the right opportunities.
Our dedication to excellence extends to our award-winning culture, recognized repeatedly for growth, recruiting, workplace environment, and employee support. Honors include Forbes’ “America’s Best Recruiting and Temporary Staffing Firms,” Staffing Industry Analysts’ top U.S. staffing rankings, FlexJobs’ Top 100 Companies for Remote and Hybrid Work, Top Workplaces USA, Newsweek’s Best Practices awards, and more.


