Payroll Consultant

CFS

Portland, OR

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Accounting, Analysis Skills, Automation, Best Practices, Communication Skills, Consulting, Continuous Improvement, Documentation, Employee Terminations, Finance, Knowledge Transfer, Leadership, Operational Audit, Operational Improvement, Organizational Skills, Payroll Administration, Payroll Software/Services, Payroll Tax, People Management, Process Improvement, Professional Services, Risk Analysis, Risk Management, Tax Accounting, Tax Regulations, Team Player, Time Management Software
LOCATION
Portland, OR
POSTED
6 days ago

Payroll Consultant



About the Opportunity


Our client is looking for an experienced Payroll Consultant to help evaluate and improve their payroll and timekeeping processes during an upcoming team transition. In this role, you'll take a deep dive into how payroll operates today, identify opportunities to strengthen controls, improve efficiency, and reduce manual work, and provide recommendations that will help set the team up for long-term success.


This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys understanding how things work, asking thoughtful questions, and finding practical ways to improve processes. You'll partner closely with Finance and leadership to assess the current state and provide recommendations.



Responsibilities



  • Document current payroll and timekeeping processes from start to finish, including employee setup and terminations, timesheets, payroll processing, adjustments, benefit deductions, payroll taxes, and partner distributions.

  • Meet with key stakeholders to understand current workflows, roles, responsibilities, and system interactions.

  • Review payroll processes and internal controls to identify risks, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.

  • Evaluate payroll tax setup and compliance for employees across multiple U.S. states and Canada.

  • Assess how payroll and timekeeping systems work together and identify opportunities for automation and better system utilization.

  • Recommend improvements to payroll processes, documentation, internal controls, and workflow efficiency.

  • Provide guidance on payroll team structure, roles, and responsibilities to support future staffing plans.

  • Assist with knowledge transfer planning during the payroll leadership transition, if needed.

  • Prepare clear process documentation, workflow diagrams, findings, and recommendations for leadership.



Qualifications



  • Significant experience leading or consulting on multi-state payroll operations.

  • Experience documenting payroll processes and evaluating internal controls.

  • Strong knowledge of payroll tax compliance and payroll best practices.

  • Experience with payroll process improvement, operational assessments, or organizational transitions.

  • Strong communication skills with the ability to build trust, ask thoughtful questions, and work collaboratively with employees at all levels.

  • Excellent analytical, organizational, and documentation skills.



Preferred Experience



  • Experience supporting professional services or other project-based organizations.

  • Familiarity with project-based timekeeping and job costing.

  • Experience reviewing payroll team structures and making staffing recommendations.

  • Background identifying automation opportunities and improving payroll processes.



Why You'll Love This Opportunity



  • Make a lasting impact during an important payroll transition.

  • Work directly with Finance leadership on a high-visibility project.

  • Use your payroll expertise to improve processes, strengthen controls, and recommend best practices.

  • Join a collaborative, people-focused organization that values continuous improvement and innovation.



Please email your resume for immediate consideration.


Tia McKeen, Senior Managing Director - Staffing



Timing is everything. Whether you are aggressively in a job search or simply passive for the ideal position, we would like to have the chance to share our opportunities with you. We specialize in placement for accounting and finance professionals. Many of our positions are not posted on the internet. Please contact me for more information about this role as well as other opportunities.



#INJUL2026


#LI-TM6


About the Company

C

CFS

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.

COMPANY SIZE
500 to 999 employees
INDUSTRY
Financial Services
FOUNDED
1994
WEBSITE
http://www.cfstaffing.com/