The Senior Payroll Analyst is an experienced individual contributor responsible for executing and supporting complex payroll operations across multiple jurisdictions and pay cycles. This role applies advanced judgment to resolve escalated payroll, tax, and compliance issues; supports audits and yearend activities; and contributes to payroll system enhancements and process improvements.
The Senior Payroll Analyst partners closely with HR, Finance, and the Lead Payroll Analyst to ensure payroll is accurate, compliant, and wellcontrolled, while mentoring lessexperienced analysts and delivering advanced operational analytics.
Minimum Education
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field (required)
Equivalent experience may be considered (required)
Minimum Work Experience
5 years ofย payrollย experience, including complex, offcycle, or multistate processing (required)
Advanced experience supportingย payrollย operations within Workday, UKG, or equivalent enterpriseย payrollย platforms
Required Certifications
Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) - preferred
Certified Payroll Professional Preferred - Preferred
Required Skills/Knowledge
Advancedย payrollย administration and tax compliance knowledge
Ability to interpret and applyย payrollย laws across multistate environments
Strong experience with audits, reconciliations, and risk mitigation activities
Experience supportingย payrollย system testing, upgrades, and enhancements
Ability to analyzeย payrollย trends and identify control gaps or improvement opportunities
Proficiency in Excel andย payrollrelated analytics
Capability to coach and supportย payrollย staff through knowledge sharing
Functional Accountabilities
Advancedย Payrollย Administration
Execute and support endtoend processing of regular, bonus, retroactive, equity, and offcycleย payrolls
Perform detailed reviews ofย payrollย results to ensure accuracy, compliance, and adherence to internal controls
Configure and validate complex earnings, deductions, and taxation scenarios based on established frameworks
Investigate and resolve escalatedย payrollย discrepancies and employee inquiries, escalating highrisk issues as appropriate
Tax & Compliance Support
Supportย payrollย tax activities including reconciliations, filings, amendments, and issue resolution
Apply federal, state, and local wagehour, tax, and reporting requirements across jurisdictions
Monitor regulatory changes and assist with the implementation of compliantย payrollย practices
Identify potential compliance risks and collaborate with the Leadย Payrollย Analyst on mitigation actions
Support yearendย payrollย activities, including W2 preparation, reconciliations, and reporting
Systems & Process Enablement
Participate inย payrollย system implementations, upgrades, integrations, and testing initiatives
Documentย payrollย requirements and assist with system configuration and validation
Supportย payrollย process improvements focused on efficiency, accuracy, and data integrity
Assist in evaluating automation or optimization opportunities withinย payrollย operations
Payroll Data & Analysis
Prepareย payrollย analytics and reports to support operational and compliance decisionmaking
Analyzeย payrollย trends, variances, and anomalies across pay periods
Maintainย payrollย KPIs, control metrics, and compliance tracking tools
Summarize findings and provide insights to the Leadย Payrollย Analyst and stakeholders
Knowledge Sharing & Collaboration
Provide daytoday guidance and support to juniorย payrollย analysts
Share best practices, documentation, and procedural knowledge
Partner with HR, Finance, Compensation, Benefits, and Tax teams onย payrollrelated initiatives
Support communications withย payrollย vendors and agencies under the guidance of seniorย payrollย leadership