We recently sat down with Kristy Roberts, a cornerstone of Xenium HR, who brings over three decades of expertise as a Senior Payroll Specialist. Kristy’s journey from her initial role as a receptionist to her current position showcases her personal growth and the evolution of payroll practices over the years. In our conversation, she shared insights from her remarkable career, including the challenges and advancements in payroll technology, her favorite aspects of working in an outsourced HR and payroll firm, and the valuable lessons she’s learned along the way. Read on as we explore Kristy’s dedication to her role, her impact on the team and clients, and her advice for those embarking on a career in payroll.
What is your role at Xenium? And how long have you worked here?
I am a Senior Payroll Specialist and have worked here for 33 Years.
Tell me about your career progression and what led you to work at Xenium?
I started in 1991 as a Receptionist working for Xenium’s sister company, Express Employment Professionals. It was in this position that I learned the fundamentals of Payroll and progressed to be a Payroll Specialist and Payroll Leader for the Corporate Headquarters of Express. In the year 2000, Xenium was formed. I was asked to join Xenium on their new adventure and became the first and only Payroll Specialist working for Xenium. We now have a Payroll Team of 17!
I’ve had many career development opportunities with Xenium and have held several Payroll-related positions, such as Payroll Specialist, Training Lead, Payroll Supervisor, Payroll Manager, and Director of Payroll. Throughout this journey, I have grown and was given the opportunity to learn more about myself. I’ve learned I’m happiest being a producer. I thrive when processing payrolls, helping people, coaching/training, and being a resource.
What is your favorite part of working for an outsourced HR and payroll firm?
The variety of companies I get to work with. I’ve learned so much about different industries. No payroll process is the same and I never get bored. I currently process payroll for 33 different companies and can’t imagine what it would be like if I processed for only 1. Boring?
What has changed over the years in your experience in this field?
The evolution of payroll systems. Payroll is ever-changing, whether in technology or compliance. From a technology standpoint, I remember when we would hand-stuff paychecks (thank you, check stuffer machine). We would physically hand them out on payday (thank you, remote workers). While some companies still like this personal touch, direct deposits, and web access to pay stubs have allowed for more efficiency. I remember physical timecards (thank you, timekeeping systems). If we want to go way back, I remember typewriters and dot matrix printers – Haha…wait…. Let’s not go there. While we do still enter new hire paperwork, I’m grateful for our electronic onboarding feature. Onboarding is more efficient and saves time.
What are the challenges facing our industry in the near and long term?
Payroll regulations are constantly changing, and they are different in all states. The Paid Family Medical Leave program for Oregon started in 2023 and was quite challenging to set up. 13 states have passed paid family and medical leave laws. The plans are comprehensive and on trend.
Can you tell me about a project or accomplishment you are particularly proud of?
Many of the tools that our team uses today, I helped to create. Items such as the out-of-cycle check request form and payroll audit and delivery checklist. I’ve created and documented many processes throughout the years, such as PTO Plan Set Up, Voiding and Reissuing Checks, and Leave of Absence Deduction Payment Processing. I have been involved in moving those processes to our Knowledge Management Software. Wasting time digging for information and interrupting co-workers for answers is sure to be a thing of the past. This was a group effort and a team WIN we can all be proud of. My proudest accomplishment is my tenure with our company.
What advice would you give to someone just starting in this field?
I have a lot of advice to give and love sharing tools on how to stay organized. Keep records of everything! Emails, attachments, documents, etc., stay on top of them. They will come in very handy when it’s time to audit the payroll. Also, I hope you like puzzles. Cause payroll is a big one. The feeling you get when you overcome is priceless!
Can you tell us about your best memory working with a client?
It’s a rare occasion in the world of payroll, but nothing compares to meeting with my clients in person. I once surprised a payroll contact with a “Client of the Year” award. I showed up at their office with a basket full of goodies. One of the items in the basket was a homemade CD containing a song I wrote all about him (my husband and brother-in-law were the musicians). It was a funny and entertaining song, and the whole office got to hear how much I loved working with him.
How do you see your role evolving in the future, and what are your goals?
Since I’ve been in all payroll roles, I can genuinely say I love where I am. Senior Payroll Specialist is the perfect fit for me. My goals revolve around succession planning. I love supporting our team. I will continue focusing on mentoring and transitioning knowledge and learning. In Payroll, we always have the opportunity to learn something new.
What do you wish more people knew about working in our industry?
It is important for everyone to understand working in payroll is not pushing a button that will do the work and transfer the pay to the employee’s account. It’s not an easy job where you type and go. It combines hard work, complex processes, and skilled people.
In payroll, you need drive, determination, stamina, a good sense of humor, thick skin, accuracy, and a lot of patience. Everything is urgent with strict deadlines. Oh and…. Just a reminder to submit and approve those timecards on time. 😊