HR Generalist - Payroll & People Operations

CyKor is a fast-growing Technology Solutions Provider to both federal and commercial clients. We attribute our continued growth to our core values, our professional team, and the valuable relationships with our clients. Our small and growing team fosters an environment in which each team member is respected, valued, and appreciated for their contributions.

CyKor is seeking an experienced, highly organized Human Resources Generalist, Payroll & People Operations to join our growing Human Resources team. 

Role & Responsibilities

This role will serve as a key operational partner to the Director of Human Resources and will own several critical components of the employee lifecycle, with primary responsibility for payroll administration and new hire onboarding. 

The ideal candidate is a self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced, growing environment and is equally comfortable working at both the strategic and tactical level. We are looking for someone who can see the big picture while confidently working in the details, someone who understands how accurate payroll, thoughtful onboarding, responsive employee support, and strong HR processes all contribute to the overall employee experience. 

This position requires exceptional attention to detail, sound judgment, discretion, follow-through, and the ability to independently manage multiple priorities. 

Payroll Administration 

• Own the preparation, review, processing, and reconciliation of CyKor’s semi-monthly payroll. 
• Review employees pay, deductions, benefits, taxes, commissions, and other payroll inputs for accuracy prior to processing. 
• Maintain accurate payroll and employee records related to new hires, terminations, promotions, compensation changes, transfers, tax elections, and benefit deductions. 
• Partner closely with Finance and HR to validate payroll data and reconcile payroll-related reporting. 
• Research and resolve employee payroll questions and discrepancies in a timely and professional manner. 
• Support payroll-related compliance, reporting, garnishments, wage orders, and year-end activities, including W-2 reconciliation. 
• Support administration and auditing of commission payments in accordance with established compensation plans. 
• Audit and cross-reference applicable CRM and compensation data prior to commission payout. 

New Hire Onboarding & Employee Lifecycle 

• Own the administrative execution of the new hire onboarding process from accepted offer through successful onboarding. 
• Coordinate pre-employment requirements, employee documentation, HRIS onboarding tasks and required employment forms. 
• Ensure new hire records are complete, accurate, and ready for payroll and benefits enrollment. 
• Support New Hire Orientation and provide employees with a welcoming, organized onboarding experience. 
• Partner with hiring managers and internal teams to ensure employees have the information, access, resources, and support needed for a successful start. 
• Monitor onboarding completion and proactively follow up on outstanding requirements. 
• Support employee changes throughout the lifecycle, including promotions, transfers, compensation changes, leave administration, and offboarding. 

HR Operations & Employee Support 

• Serve as a responsive point of contact for employee questions regarding payroll, policies, benefits, leave, HR systems, and general HR processes. 
• Maintain accurate and confidential employee records within the HRIS. 
• Prepare and process personnel actions, employee documentation, and HR correspondence. 
• Support benefits administration and employee enrollment activities. 
• Assist with HR reporting, audits, compliance requirements, and data integrity initiatives. 
• Identify opportunities to streamline, document, automate, and improve HR processes. 
• Support the Director of Human Resources with ongoing HR initiatives, projects, employee programs, and organizational priorities. 
• Develop and maintain HR processes, checklists, SOPs, and documentation that allow the HR function to scale effectively as the company grows. 

• 5+ years of progressive Human Resources experience, ideally in an HR Generalist, HR Operations, or similar role. 
• Demonstrated hands-on payroll processing experience; experience independently managing payroll is strongly preferred. 
• Experience working within an HRIS (Paylocity, is a plus) 
• Experience using CRM software, salesforce is highly preferred. 
• Working knowledge of payroll practices, wage and hour requirements, employment regulations, and HR compliance. 
• Experience supporting employees across multiple states is preferred. 
• Strong Excel skills and comfort reviewing, reconciling, and auditing employee and payroll data. 
• Experience with commission-based compensation or sales payroll is a plus. 

How to Thrive in This Role 

• You are a self-starter. You identify what needs to be done, take ownership, and move work forward without requiring constant direction. 
• Details matter to you. You understand that small errors in payroll, onboarding, or employee records can have a significant impact, and you take pride in getting things right. 
• You think ahead. You don't just complete a task, you look for gaps, anticipate the next step, and identify ways to make the process better. 
• You're comfortable with growth and change. Processes will continue to evolve as CyKor grows, and you are energized by helping build structure rather than needing everything to already be established. 
• You are highly trustworthy. You will regularly handle sensitive employee, compensation, and business information and understand the importance of discretion. 
• You follow through. When something is yours, people don't have to wonder whether it will get done.