Sr. Payroll & Compensation Specialist

Employment Type - Full-Time 

Work Location: Hybrid, ¼ time to be worked from Bellevue Office 

Pay Range: $70,000 - $78,000 

Location - Bellevue, Washington 

Position Summary 

We are seeking a highly detail-oriented Sr Payroll & Compensation Specialist to support end-to-end payroll operations across the United States and Canada while managing a variety of complex commission, draw, and bonus calculations. This role plays a critical part in ensuring payroll accuracy, compliance, internal controls, and an exceptional employee experience. 

The ideal candidate is extremely comfortable working in spreadsheets, understands the importance of cross-referencing data and building checks and balances, and thrives in a collaborative, cross-functional environment. Experience with Canadian payroll is a significant advantage. 

Key Responsibilities 

Payroll Operations (US & Canada) 

• Process accurate and timely payroll for U.S. and Canadian employees 

• Manage payroll-related compliance at the federal, state/provincial, and local levels 

• Register the business in new U.S. states as  for employment and payroll purposes 

• Process final pay for terminated employees in accordance with applicable laws 

• Participate in quarterly and year-end payroll reconciliations 

• Maintain strong internal controls and audit-ready payroll documentation 

• Ensure payroll data integrity through cross-checks, reconciliations, and validation processes 

Commission, Draw, and Bonus Calculations 

• Calculate, track, and reconcile multiple commission structures and bonus plans 

• Manage commission draw calculations and ongoing draw balances 

• Ensure commission and bonus payments align with plan documents and employment agreements 

• Build and maintain spreadsheet models to support complex calculations 

• Implement checks and balances to prevent errors and ensure transparency 

• Partner with Sales, Finance, and HR to validate inputs and resolve discrepancies 

Employee Support & Collaboration 

• Serve as a trusted resource for employee payroll, commission, and compensation-related questions 

• Collaborate closely with HR, Finance, Sales Operations, and People Leaders across the company 

• Communicate clearly and professionally regarding payroll timing, calculations, and corrections 

• Support a positive employee experience by responding promptly and accurately to inquiries 

Compliance & Controls 

• Monitor and manage state and provincial payroll compliance requirements 

• Maintain proper segregation of duties, approvals, and documentation 

• Assist with internal and external audits related to payroll and compensation 

• Ensure adherence to company policies and applicable employment regulations 

Total Rewards Support 

• Support ongoing total rewards management initiatives for team members 

• Assist with routine compensation benchmarking and market analysis 

• Participate in evaluating compensation programs, incentive plans, and select employee benefits 

• Help maintain compensation data, documentation, and reporting accuracy 

Required Skills & Qualifications 

• Proven experience in payroll processing (U.S. required; Canada strongly preferred) 

• Advanced proficiency in spreadsheets (Excel or Google Sheets), including complex formulas and reconciliations 

• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy 

• Strong understanding of internal controls, cross-referencing, and audit-ready processes 

• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and integrity 

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities 

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience managing multi-state payroll compliance 

• Experience with commission-heavy or sales-driven compensation environments 

• Familiarity with payroll systems and HRIS platforms 

• Background in Finance, Accounting, Payroll, or Human Resources 

• Experience supporting fast-growing or multi-jurisdiction organizations 

Additional / Optional Responsibilities (Scope-Expandable) 

The following responsibilities may be included depending on organizational needs and candidate experience: 

• Supporting payroll system implementations or upgrades 

• Documenting payroll and commission calculation procedures and controls 

• Assisting with compensation plan design analysis and modeling 

• Supporting benefits administration activities in partnership with HR 

• Creating recurring payroll, commission, and compensation reports for leadership 

• Participating in process improvement initiatives to increase efficiency and accuracy 

Why This Role Matters 

This position is critical to ensuring employees are paid accurately, compliantly, and on time—while also supporting transparent and trustworthy commission and compensation practices across the organization. 

CPRS is an equal opportunity employer.

CPRS does not provide sponsorship.