HR Companies & HR Consultants in New Orleans, LA

HR NOLA, LLC is a human resources consulting and outsourcing firm based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Its founder and CEO, Amy Bakay, holds the SHRM-SCP credential. The firm works with small employers and with larger companies that are expanding. In January 2026 it was acquired by Skillcloud HCM Solutions, a national company focused on managed HR, recruiting and HR technology services. The combined business still serves clients in the New Orleans area and also takes on work across the country.

Ongoing managed services

Some employers want an outside team to handle recurring workforce tasks, either because they have no HR staff or because a small internal team needs more help. For them, HR NOLA offers several ongoing services:

• HR managed services: employee relations, compliance work, keeping policies up to date and routine HR administration
• Managed payroll: processing, payroll tax handling, reporting and help with audits
• Benefits administration: eligibility, enrollment, data feeds to insurance carriers and Affordable Care Act obligations
• Managed talent support: coordinating recruiting, onboarding new hires and related hiring operations
• Optimization package: ten hours each month set aside for steady process improvement

Project-based consulting

Companies with a specific problem can hire the firm by the hour or by the project, with no long-term contract. A common first step is an HR assessment that looks at a company's people practices, payroll setup and regulatory exposure. On the technology side, the firm launches HRIS, payroll, benefits and timekeeping systems.

It also improves systems already in use by reviewing processes, building better reports and helping staff adopt the tools. Other technology projects include moving applicant tracking systems and transferring employee files from one platform to another.

Compliance projects include Form I-9 audits that record what was found and fix the problems, and help with open enrollment and ACA planning, employee communication, filings and audit preparation. The firm also handles pay benchmarking and pay structure design, writes employee handbooks and policies, and runs workplace investigations.

For hiring, it runs recruiting searches, adds capacity during hiring surges and provides interim recruiting staff.

Solutions organized around client problems

Clients can also start from the problem they are facing, and the firm matches it to the right kind of help. Examples include part-time senior HR leadership in place of a full-time executive hire, and temporary cover when an HR employee resigns or goes on leave.

The firm also takes on payroll errors, compliance concerns such as handbook updates and ACA questions, and outdated HR technology. For fast-growing companies or those going through a merger or acquisition, it helps scale processes and manage the transition.

Background and differentiators

HR NOLA built its name on staff engagement, workplace policy and compliance, making good use of talent, and developing leaders. It shapes its approach to fit each client rather than using one fixed model.

The Skillcloud acquisition added national reach and deeper technical skills in workforce strategy, system implementation and recruiting, while the local team and its founder stay in place. The website also offers an interactive workforce risk assessment tool and a blog on outsourcing, payroll and compliance.

For buyers, the main appeal is a New Orleans firm with national backing that offers both ongoing outsourced services and short, commitment-free projects.