Jobs › Baker Tilly

Senior Outsourced Payroll Specialist

Baker Tilly · IL · Remote available · $55,000–$91,500 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 30, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you caught a payroll error before it went out. How did you spot it?

What they are checking: Whether they review their own work with real care, since one missed error can reach a whole workforce.

Which payroll platforms have you used, and how quickly do you get up to speed on a new one?

What they are checking: Comfort moving between client systems, which is normal work for outsourced payroll.

Tell me about a time you trained or helped a less experienced payroll teammate.

What they are checking: Whether a senior specialist lifts the team, not just their own client list.

What would you do

A client employee says their paycheck is short the morning of payday. What do you do first?

What they are checking: Calm triage under pressure and knowing when an off-cycle check is the right fix.

You support many clients at once and two have payroll on the same day with late changes. How do you prioritize?

What they are checking: How they manage competing deadlines across clients without letting accuracy slip on either one.

A client's HR manager keeps sending changes after the cutoff. How do you handle that relationship?

What they are checking: Whether they can hold a boundary politely and explain the risk instead of absorbing every late request.

About the work

Walk me through how you run a payroll for a client from receiving hours to confirming direct deposits went out.

What they are checking: Whether they have a clear, repeatable process with checks built in rather than relying on memory.

How do you handle an employee who lives in one state and works in another?

What they are checking: Real knowledge of multistate withholding and reciprocity, a common source of payroll errors.

How do you reconcile quarterly 941s and state unemployment filings against the payroll register?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how tax filings tie back to payroll data and can find gaps before an agency does.

How would you set up a new client's payroll so the first run goes smoothly?

What they are checking: Whether they know what to collect up front, like prior quarter totals, deductions and tax account numbers.

How do you protect employee data like Social Security numbers and bank details in your daily work?

What they are checking: Whether they treat privacy as a habit, since payroll holds some of the most sensitive data a client has.

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The full job description

As published by Baker Tilly.

Overview Baker Tilly is a leading advisory, tax and assurance firm, providing clients with a genuine coast-to-coast and global advantage in major regions of the U.S. and in many of the world’s leading financial centers – New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) provide professional services through an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable laws, regulations and professional standards. Baker Tilly US, LLP is a licensed independent CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities provide tax and business advisory services to their clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities are not licensed CPA firms. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP, trading as Baker Tilly, are independent members of Baker Tilly International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in 141 territories, with 43,000 professionals and a combined worldwide revenue of $5.2 billion. Visit bakertilly.com or join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Please discuss the work location status with your Baker Tilly talent acquisition professional to understand the requirements for an opportunity you are exploring. Baker Tilly is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable federal, state or local law. Any unsolicited resumes submitted through our website or to Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, employee e-mail accounts are considered property of Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorized recruitment agency ("search firm") for Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by Baker Tilly's Talent Attraction team, to submit candidates for review via our applicant tracking system. Job Description: Responsibilities: Client Service & Deliverables • Ensure client payroll information is accurate within their specific payroll system and resolve any discrepancies • Review and/or process payrolls in a timely manner to meet client deadlines to include updating employee records, calculating/paying bonuses or severance, reviewing accuracy of federal and state income related tax calculations, and reconciling payroll deposits, tax withholdings, wage garnishments, etc. • Prepare reports of employee earnings, taxes, deductions, and employer’s contribution for social security and unemployment Client Service • Establish strong and trusted client relationships by effectively consulting with clients on all payroll related matters • Maintain confidence of employee data by keeping all information confidential • Accurately convey detailed information in both written and verbal format • Provide technical software support to clients • Identify and accurately capture out of scope work • Identify new opportunities to expand services to clients Implementation & Technology • Be an additional resource to the implementation team when needed • Interview clients to gain understanding of payroll needs • Manage new client implementation projects, ensuring timely completion and client satisfaction • Train clients on payroll processes as necessary Individual and Team Development • Be a resource to new hires and/or less experienced staff as it relates to clients, software, payroll, and/or processes • Provide honest feedback to new hires/less experienced staff in a timely manner • Help build team capabilities and knowledge by sharing insights and lessons learned • Research and maintain product knowledge on ADP software platforms • Maintain current knowledge of local, state, and federal practices and laws Qualifications: • 3 yrs relevant payroll experience required • Bachelor’s degree or experience in lieu of degree • CPP preferred • Experience with ADP RUN software and implementation experience • Working knowledge of Outlook and Microsoft Office Suite • Highly detail oriented and focused on accuracy • Strong organization and time management skills • Strong adaptability and multi-tasking skills • Ability to effectively work in a deadline driven environment serving multiple clients • Ability to provide exceptional client service • Strong written and verbal communication skills; appropriately and professionally communicates with all levels • Ability to learn new technology and processes quickly • Ability to learn from experiences and integrate new knowledge and skills into daily work and share with colleagues as appropriate The pay range for this position is $55,000 to $91,500. This range represents a good-faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation the firm expects to pay for this position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will depend on a variety of relevant factors, including an applicant’s skills, experience, qualifications, professional certifications, work arrangements, geographic location, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range, and compensation decisions depend on the facts and circumstances of each case. Baker Tilly offers a compensation and benefits package to eligible employees.

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