Ops & Payroll Specialist

People Ops & Payroll Specialist

Applause is raising the bar for digital quality and employee experience. Recognized as a Top Workplace, Applause provides award‑winning software testing and UX research solutions to top brands. Our fully managed services leverage a global team and the world’s largest independent testing community. We improve digital experiences for global innovators like Google, Microsoft, Pay Pal, Starbucks, Vodafone, and BMW.

We’re looking for an enthusiastic, smart, and motivated People Operations & Payroll Specialist to join our dynamic People team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone early in their HR career who is eager to learn, grow, and make an impact. You’ll work across the People Operations function with a particular focus on HRIS/ADP, payroll support, and administrative operations.

This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced environment, is highly organized, a self‑starter, and loves problem‑solving. You’ll have exposure to multiple areas of the People function, making this an ideal role to build a strong HR foundation.

• Support the administration and maintenance of our HRIS (ADP) including employee records, job data, and reporting.
• Ensure data accuracy and consistency across systems.
• Assist in optimizing workflows and processes within the HRIS platform.
• Assist with system implementations, upgrades and integrations.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly reports.

• Partner with the Payroll team to help ensure timely and accurate payroll processing for U.S. and international employees.
• Assist with payroll audits, data entry, and reconciliations.
• Support compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations.

• Own and execute a variety of day‑to‑day administrative tasks across the People team.
• Support onboarding and offboarding processes to ensure a seamless employee experience.
• Assist with compliance tracking, employee verifications, and reporting.

• Collaborate with internal teams such as Finance, IT, and Legal to support employee‑related processes.
• Jump in where needed to support broader People initiatives and projects.

• You have a strong sense of ownership and pride in your work – once you start something, you see it through to completion and follow up when necessary.
• You are highly organized, detail‑oriented, and thrive on making systems and processes run smoothly.
• You are a self‑starter who enjoys taking initiative and solving problems proactively.
• You’re energized by juggling multiple priorities and can maintain accuracy even during high‑volume or time‑sensitive periods.
• You can flex between structured tasks and ambiguous situations with ease.
• You’re comfortable handling sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• You are excited to be part of a collaborative, fast‑paced, and people‑first culture.

• 1–3 years of experience in People Operations, HR, or payroll (internships and early career experience welcome).
• Familiarity with HRIS systems (ADP experience strongly preferred).
• Basic understanding of payroll processes and compliance.
• Analytic mindset with strong problem‑solving skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and Google Slides, with the ability to create professional‑level reports, spreadsheets, and presentations.

We’re proud to cultivate an inspiring, engaging employee culture that’s consistently reflected in high employee retention rates and satisfaction. Our talented team – known as Applause Nation – is set up for success with the latest collaboration and learning tools, opportunities for career advancement, and more.

• We have a flexible work environment with top talent from across the globe
• Collaborate with an international team of 450+ passionate, talented co‑workers
• Expand your portfolio with exciting, hands‑on projects providing exposure to well‑known, global brands
• Learn and grow through structured onboarding, in‑house knowledge…