Payroll Specialist II

Job Description:

At Remitly, our vision is to transform lives with trusted financial services that transcend borders. We are building the most trusted financial services platform for immigrants and their families, helping them achieve their financial goals wherever life takes them. Since 2011, we have been dedicated to delivering on our promises to customers sending their hard-earned money home. Today, we are expanding beyond international money transfers to create deeper, more meaningful relationships through innovative financial products and services that empower customers around the world. Join more than 2,800 employees across 10 global offices who are growing their careers while making a lasting impact on millions of lives every day.

The Payroll Specialist II is a key contributor to the People Operations and Finance teams, responsible for ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for Remitly employees across multiple countries. This role combines hands-on payroll execution with analytical thinking and cross-functional collaboration to enhance the employee experience. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment and demonstrates ownership, curiosity, and operational excellence.

What You Will Do

Payroll Processing & Accuracy

• Process end-to-end payroll for all assigned employees (full-time and part-time), including earnings, deductions, overtime adjustments, and taxes, ensuring accuracy on every cycle.

• Verify and reconcile payroll data, identify discrepancies, and take timely corrective action.

• Review, validate, and audit payroll-related documents and reports in compliance with data privacy and internal control standards.

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date payroll records for all employees.

• Partner with external payroll vendors, auditors, and government agencies to ensure timely submissions and reporting.

Compliance & Regulatory

• Ensure compliance with federal, state/local labor laws, tax regulations, and company policies across all assigned regions.

• Apply internal controls and company policies consistently and equitably.

• Uphold the highest standards of confidentiality and data integrity in handling employee and company information.

• Report any payroll discrepancies, compliance issues, or ethical concerns to the direct supervisor or HR immediately.

Reporting & Accounting

• Prepare and assist with payroll-related financial statements and management reports.

• Perform balance sheet reconciliations and create and post journal entries.

• Generate detailed payroll data reports for leadership, audits, and cross-functional teams.

Continuous Improvement & Collaboration

• Analyze payroll data to identify trends, anomalies, and opportunities for process optimization.

• Support automation and standardization initiatives within payroll systems and reporting tools.

• Partner closely with HRIS, Finance, and People Operations to ensure seamless payroll integration with other systems.

• Contribute to best practices documentation, ensuring consistency and scalability across payroll operations.

• Proactively communicate payroll issues or trends to improve employee satisfaction and reduce organizational risk.

Employee Experience

• Provide outstanding support to employees by addressing payroll inquiries with empathy, accuracy, and confidentiality.

• Maintain a service mindset focused on delivering peace of mind and building trust through reliable, timely payroll execution.

What You Have

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.

• 2–3 years of hands-on experience in payroll processing and/or payroll accounting, preferably in a multinational or fast-growing organization.

• Demonstrated experience calculating payroll with a high degree of accuracy.

• Strong working knowledge of payroll systems and tools (e.g., Workday, ADP, SAP, or similar).

• Proven experience with payroll accounting, including journal entries and balance sheet reconciliations.

• Solid understanding of global/international payroll processes and local labor regulations.

• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills with the ability to meet tight deadlines.

• High level of integrity and discretion when handling sensitive employee and financial information.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving mindset with a continuous improvement orientation.

• Effective communication skills for partnering with cross-functional teams and external vendors.

Nice to Have

• Familiarity with international payroll for other LATAM countries.

• Experience supporting payroll system implementations or migrations.

• Certifications in payroll (e.g., CPP, FPC) or accounting are a plus

Our Benefits

• On-site Subsidized Meals & Transportation

• Birthday Program

• Employee Discount Catalog (Eyewear, Entertainment, Lodging, Food, Beauty, Shipping)

• Annual Salary Review

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

• Private Life Insurance

• Remitly Wellness Program (Modern Health App, Lactation Room, Nutritionist, Psychologist, On-site Clinic and Remitly Doctor)

• Continuous Learning Tools & Certification Programs

• Two consecutive days off

• Benefits established by law (13th Month, Vacations, Seniority, INSS, Paid Leave for Marriage, Bereavement, Paternity, Maternity, Lactation, etc.)

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are committed to nondiscrimination across our global organization and in all of our business operations. Employment is determined based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identification and expression, marital status, military status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age (40 and over), national origin, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, physical, mental, or sensory disability, HIV/AIDS or hepatitis C status, genetic information, status as an actual or perceived victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other protected class as established by law.

Remitly is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.