Ciara Smith

HRIS & HR Operations Leader | Driving Enterprise HR Technology, Automation & Workforce Analytics | UKG, PeopleSoft & Payroll Systems | Lean Six Sigma Green Belt | Supporting 1,400+ Employee Environments

New York, New York, United States

About

HRIS leader focused on transforming HR technology into a strategic driver of organizational performance, efficiency, and workforce decision-making. I lead enterprise HRIS operations supporting a 1,400+ employee workforce, aligning systems, data, and processes to improve accuracy, automation, and operational effectiveness. My experience spans HR technology strategy, workforce analytics, payroll, compensation, and data governance. I specialize in building scalable HRIS infrastructures, optimizing workflows, and delivering reporting and automation solutions that improve data integrity, strengthen compliance, and support executive decision-making across HR, Finance, and IT. I partner with senior leaders and cross-functional teams to modernize HR systems, implement enhancements, and redesign processes that improve efficiency across the employee lifecycle. My work includes system optimization, analytics dashboards, and compensation insights that directly support workforce planning and operational priorities. As a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, I apply structured process improvement methodologies to eliminate inefficiencies, strengthen governance, and enhance HRIS performance. Known for being collaborative and solutions-oriented, I focus on delivering practical, scalable improvements that strengthen HR operations and enable better business outcomes.

Experience

  • NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services (3 yrs 8 mos)
    • Director of HRIS & Operations
      Nov 2022 - Present · 3 yrs 8 mos

      Lead HRIS strategy and operations supporting 1,400+ employees, overseeing a team of 8 and aligning HR technology with organizational priorities. Deliver 60+ HRIS enhancements and integrations and manage a pipeline of 50+ additional updates, driving continuous improvements in system efficiency, data integrity, and user adoption. Partner with IT to prioritize and implement HRIS enhancements, reviewing system demos and ensuring solutions meet business requirements. Streamline HRIS workflows and approval processes, reducing transaction cycle times by ~30% and improving data accuracy and completion rates. Design and deploy HR dashboards and reporting solutions and present quarterly workforce analytics to leadership, informing workforce planning and operational decisions Lead data integrity and governance efforts, implementing audit controls and resolving system defects to improve accuracy and compliance.

    • Director System Operations
      Nov 2022 - Present · 3 yrs 8 mos

      Provide strategic leadership for HRIS operations supporting 1,400+ employees, overseeing a team of 8, and aligning HR technology, onboarding, credentialing, and workforce analytics with organizational priorities to enable data-driven decision-making. Lead delivery of 60+ HRIS enhancements and integrations, with a dynamic pipeline of 50+ additional enhancements, driving continuous improvements in system efficiency, data integrity, and user adoption. Manage HRIS enhancement pipeline in partnership with IT, defining priorities, reviewing system demos, and providing feedback to resolve issues and ensure successful implementation. Streamline HRIS workflows and approval processes, reducing transaction cycle times by ~30%, increasing completion rates, and improving overall efficiency and data accuracy. Lead optimization of a proprietary HRIS, redesigning workflows and automating processes across onboarding, credentialing, and reporting to improve data integrity and cross-functional efficiency across HR, IT, and Finance. Lead remediation of HRIS data integrity risks, including system defects and process gaps, and implement audit controls and governance practices to ensure accuracy, compliance, and operational reliability. Design and deploy HR dashboards and reporting solutions that deliver actionable insights and support workforce planning and operational decision-making. Develop and present quarterly workforce analytics to department leadership, delivering insights on headcount, vacancy trends, hiring timelines, approval cycles, and external dependencies to inform workforce planning and improve operational efficiency. Integrate credentialing into HRIS and automate license tracking, background checks, and compliance reporting, strengthening regulatory readiness and audit response.

  • Payroll Manager at Sollis Health
    Mar 2022 - Sep 2022 · 7 mos

  • Director of Payroll at NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services
    Jul 2018 - Mar 2022 · 3 yrs 9 mos

    Directed a 10-member payroll team processing bi-weekly payroll for 1,500+ employees across multiple entities using PeopleSoft, Paycom, and UKG. Led transition from paper timecards to UKG Workforce Central, reducing payroll processing time by 50%, decreasing overtime by 90%, and improving accuracy Administered UKG Workforce Central, optimizing system configuration and reporting to improve payroll efficiency and accuracy. Led payroll workstream for HR system implementation, transitioning from manual processes to automated employee change and tracking systems.

  • New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (New York, New York, United States)
    • Director of Compliance and Compensation Review Unit
      Apr 2017 - Jul 2018 · 1 yr 4 mos

      Led compliance and compensation review operations overseeing payroll audit processes for 6,000+ employees, ensuring alignment with agency-wide labor and union contract requirements. Directed cross-functional development of the Overtime Tracking System (OTS) in partnership with external consultants, replacing manual tracking processes and enabling departments to proactively manage overtime forecasting, staffing, and budget planning. Oversaw payroll audit operations and quality assurance processes, managing auditor caseload distribution and conducting second-level reviews to ensure accuracy, consistency, and timely completion of audit deliverables.

    • Payroll Compliance Supervisor
      Nov 2014 - Apr 2017 · 2 yrs 6 mos

      Led a team of five ensuring compliance with 24 union contracts governing compensation for 6,000+ employees. Partnered with IT to develop quarterly compensation discrepancy reporting aligned to union contract rules, identifying and correcting salary variances and improving pay accuracy. Implemented a transaction approval process between Compliance and Payroll Accounting, improving tracking, strengthening controls, and reducing payroll approval errors through enhanced cross-functional governance. Conducted agency-wide payroll audits, identifying compensation discrepancies and recovering over $250K in overpayments while securing over $425K in corrected underpayments. Developed payroll audit standards, documentation, and tracking systems, including audit manuals and QA processes, improving consistency, accuracy, and reducing future compensation errors through staff retraining and process controls. Promoted to Director of the newly created Compliance and Compensation Review Unit (April 2017)

  • New York City Campaign Finance Board (4 yrs 3 mos)
    • Auditor
      Sep 2011 - Nov 2014 · 3 yrs 3 mos

      Led audits for 30+ political campaigns with budgets up to $3M, identifying compliance violations resulting in $210K in penalties and $115K in repayments. Improved audit workflows by automating spreadsheet processes, standardizing checklists, and implementing risk-based review thresholds.

    • Auditor
      Sep 2011 - Nov 2014 · 3 yrs 3 mos

      Led audits for 30+ political campaigns with budgets up to $3M, uncovering mismanagement and compliance violations that resulted in $210K in penalties and $115K in public fund repayments. Improved audit workflows by automating spreadsheet processes, creating standardized checklists, and establishing risk thresholds to increase efficiency and accuracy.

    • Compliance Analyst
      Sep 2010 - Sep 2011 · 1 yr 1 mo

      Conducted financial and bank reconciliations for political campaigns with budgets ranging from $400K to $4M, ensuring accuracy of reported transactions and regulatory compliance. Reviewed campaign documentation and conducted stakeholder interviews to validate financial records and support compliance determinations. Drafted compliance review memos outlining findings, risk exposure, and potential post-election penalties, supporting enforcement and regulatory decision-making. Performed quality assurance reviews of audit reports, verifying accuracy of findings, supporting documentation, and exhibit integrity prior to final issuance.