Alyssa runs one of the most demanding parts of Xenium, and she does it with steadiness, care, and a good sense of humor about the unexpected path that got her here. I’ve had the chance to work alongside her for the past couple of years, and what stands out every time is how grounded she stays under pressure. In this spotlight, she shares the Craigslist ad that kicked off her career, the client story that reminds her why this work matters, and what she’s most excited to build with her team.
Tell us about your role and the path that led you to Xenium.
I’m the Director of Payroll and Tax at Xenium HR, where I’ve spent the past two and a half years helping lead the direction of our payroll and tax department. My role centers around ensuring compliance, staying ahead of regulatory changes, and maintaining accuracy in what is arguably the most important part of any employee’s job: getting paid.
Our team supports the livelihoods of roughly 13,000 employees each year. It’s work that carries real responsibility, and I’m incredibly proud to be part of a team that shows up every day to get it right, not just operationally but with a strong sense of accountability and care for the people behind each paycheck.
What makes my journey here even more meaningful is how unexpected it was. I stumbled into this field in 2014 after responding to a Craigslist ad for an intake coordinator role, without really knowing what that meant. Nearly 13 years later, that one application turned into a career I’m deeply passionate about.
What shift in HR or payroll has surprised or shaped you most?
The COVID-19 pandemic created a significant shift in the U.S. workforce, especially in roles we once assumed had to be done in an office. Almost overnight, we went from sitting side by side with our peers to connecting through screens.
As a leader, this was something I had to actively learn and adapt to. I’ve always thrived on personal connection, the quick conversations, reading the room, and building relationships in real time. Transitioning to a virtual environment challenged that, but it also pushed me to grow.
It’s made me far more intentional in how I connect with others. I now prioritize meaningful check-ins, create space for real conversations, and put more thought into how I build relationships across a distributed team. While the format has changed, the importance of connection hasn’t. If anything, it matters even more now.
What trends or challenges should clients watch now and in the years ahead?
Clients should continue to be open-minded about where they source their workforce. If a role can be done remotely, it dramatically expands the talent and applicant pool, often leading to stronger, more diverse hires.
This shift isn’t going away anytime soon. Because of that, the compliance landscape is becoming more complex than ever. Employers now have to navigate multi-state requirements, including final pay rules, varying tax laws, and an increasing number of paid leave programs being introduced across states.
As this environment continues to evolve, our clients need us now more than ever to help them stay compliant, informed, and ahead of change. There’s a real opportunity here to lead with confidence in a rapidly shifting workforce, not just adapt to it.
What’s a milestone you’re especially proud of?
Continuing to navigate the intricacies of multi-state payroll is incredibly important to me. As the landscape grows more complex, we’re constantly looking for new ways to streamline processes while keeping our clients at the center of everything we do.
Payroll tax and compliance are not easy, especially with states like Oregon introducing new taxes and regulations at a rapid pace. But that’s where our team shines. We take on those challenges head-on, breaking them down, solving them, and delivering solutions that feel seamless to our clients.
At the end of the day, it’s about turning something inherently complex into something manageable, reliable, and done right.
What advice would you give someone joining this industry today?
Ask questions. Then keep asking. There is no such thing as a dumb question in this work. When it comes to payroll and tax, clarity is everything.
Always remember: you are handling people’s livelihoods. This is how individuals pay their bills, support their families, and create stability in their lives. We only get one chance to get it right each pay cycle, which is why it’s critical to ask questions, seek clarity, and lean on your team for support whenever needed.
At the same time, approach this work with kindness and grace. Payroll can be complex and high-pressure, but leading with empathy makes a meaningful difference for both your team and the employees we serve.
Can you share a meaningful client experience that’s stuck with you?
A quick story from my first week at Xenium HR really stuck with me.
We had a client call come in that felt like a major emergency. An employee hadn’t been paid and needed that paycheck to cover their rent. It was a Friday afternoon, and being brand new, I thought, no problem. I’ll just cut a check, print it, and get it out the door.
What I quickly learned is that payroll doesn’t always work that simply. I couldn’t just print a check from the office, and the situation wasn’t as easy to fix as I initially thought.
Not wanting to go back to the client without a solution, I offered to meet them the next morning, after my daughter’s soccer game, with cash in hand so they could get it to the employee.
What surprised me most was the reaction. Both the client and my new team were shocked that I was willing to go that far. But to me, it didn’t feel extraordinary. It felt like the right thing to do. Someone needed to be paid, and it was our responsibility to make sure that happened.
That moment has stayed with me. It’s a reminder that behind every payroll is a real person, and the work we do truly matters.
What are you most excited about as you look ahead?
We have an incredible team in the payroll and tax department at Xenium HR. My goal is to continue investing in their growth by helping them refine their skills, build confidence, and ultimately make their day-to-day work more manageable and sustainable.
This is not easy work. It’s high-pressure, detail-driven, and often behind the scenes, but it carries a huge impact. So much so that when it’s done well, it can look effortless. In reality, it takes a tremendous amount of expertise and focus to deliver that level of consistency.
That’s why it’s so important to recognize and support payroll and tax teams. A little understanding and kindness go a long way in a role where expectations are high and the margin for error is small.
I’m truly excited for the opportunity to continue developing this team and supporting them as they grow.
What’s something your coworkers would be surprised to learn about you?
I’m pretty much an open book. There’s not a lot left to surprise people about me. One of the more unexpected parts of my story is that I actually went to school for International Relations, with a focus on Latin American Studies.
Needless to say, that’s a long way from payroll and tax, which makes the path here feel a little comical at times. But in many ways, it’s also what shaped how I think: understanding systems, navigating complexity, and working across different perspectives. Those skills ended up translating more than I ever expected.
Describe your work style in three words.
Intentional, accountable, and people-centered.