We are seeking a Senior Business Process Consultant to lead a comprehensive assessment of payroll processes, cost allocation methodologies, and supporting systems for a large public sector transportation agency. This role will focus on identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, enhance compliance, and support modernization through actionable recommendations and a phased implementation roadmap.
The ideal candidate brings a strong combination of public sector experience, payroll and cost accounting expertise, and process improvement consulting skills, along with the ability to engage stakeholders and deliver executive-ready recommendations.
Key Responsibilities
Payroll Process Assessment
- Evaluate end-to-end payroll processes, including time entry, validation, payroll calculations, and reconciliation controls
- Identify inefficiencies, redundancies, and risks impacting payroll accuracy and timeliness
- Assess audit, compliance, and error-handling practices
Cost Allocation Review
- Analyze current approaches for allocating labor costs to projects, grants, and cost centers
- Evaluate alignment with federal funding and compliance requirements (e.g., FHWA, FTA)
- Identify opportunities to streamline manual processes and improve automation
Systems & Integration Analysis
- Assess systems architecture supporting payroll and cost allocation, including HRMS, timekeeping, payroll, and financial systems
- Evaluate data flows, validation processes, integrations, and legacy components
- Identify opportunities to standardize, simplify, and modernize system interactions
Recommendations & Roadmap Development
- Develop actionable recommendations for process improvements, policy updates, and technology changes
- Create a phased implementation roadmap that includes timelines, dependencies, and resource considerations
- Prioritize both short-term improvements and long-term modernization strategies
Stakeholder Engagement
- Facilitate workshops, working sessions, and stakeholder interviews across payroll, accounting, and leadership teams
- Communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Provide regular updates on progress, risks, and key insights
Deliverables & Documentation
- Produce a comprehensive assessment report and supporting analysis
- Develop executive-level presentations and materials
- Deliver clear, structured documentation in editable formats
Knowledge Transfer
- Provide knowledge transfer sessions to support client adoption of recommendations
- Identify opportunities for ongoing process optimization and performance measurement
Required Qualifications
- 10+ years of consulting or industry experience, with a focus on payroll, finance, or business process analysis
- Demonstrated experience working with public sector organizations, preferably state Departments of Transportation (DOTs)
- Strong understanding of:
- End-to-end payroll operations and controls
- Labor cost allocation methodologies
- Compliance requirements tied to federally funded programs
- Experience leading process assessments and transformation initiatives
- Proven ability to develop roadmaps, recommendations, and executive-level deliverables
- Experience facilitating stakeholder sessions and working across cross-functional teams
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with transportation agencies (e.g., WSDOT or other state DOTs)
- Familiarity with HR, payroll, and financial systems (e.g., Workday, PeopleSoft, SAP, Oracle, or similar)
- Background in process improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent)
- Experience supporting system modernization or digital transformation initiatives
Key Competencies
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to translate complex topics into clear, actionable insights
- Client-facing consulting presence and stakeholder management
- Ability to work independently and lead engagements
Why This Role
This Engagement Provides The Opportunity To
- Influence modernization efforts within a large public sector organization
- Deliver high-impact recommendations that improve operational efficiency and compliance
- Partner closely with stakeholders across business and technology functions
Why Guidacent
Guidacent is a consulting firm trusted by enterprise clients to solve complex technology and organizational challenges. Our consultants are empowered to shape outcomes, influence strategy, and leave systems better than they found them. This engagement offers a rare opportunity to design a resilience engineering function from the ground up at meaningful enterprise scale.
