Senior Payroll Tax and Accounting Specialist

About the Role

This position is responsible for managing and ensuring the accuracy of all payroll tax and payroll accounting activities, including compliance with federal, state, local, and Canadian tax regulations. The role involves preparing, analyzing, and reconciling payroll tax reports, balancing general ledger (GL) accounts in JD Edwards and UKG Pro, handling complex payroll tax issues, and supporting the company’s overall payroll tax and accounting strategy. Presently, this position is in a hybrid status with a minimum of 1 day per month in the office for collaboration, teamwork, and business needs. The status and minimum in-office requirements are subject to change based on evolving business needs.

Responsibilities

• Tax Compliance & Filings
  • Ensure timely and accurate payroll tax filings across federal, state, and local jurisdictions
  • Stay current on U.S. payroll tax regulations and maintain ongoing compliance
  • Reconcile payroll tax withholdings and deposits to ensure accurate reporting and remittance
  • Lead quarter-end and year-end payroll tax activities, including filings, adjustments, and balancing
• Payroll Accounting & General Ledger
  • Own payroll-related GL activity within UKG Pro, including balancing and maintaining accounts after each payroll
  • Ensure payroll journals accurately reflect wages, taxes, and benefit liabilities
  • Reconcile payroll entries to the general ledger and partner with Finance to resolve discrepancies
  • Prepare and validate payroll accounting reports and maintain system structures (locations, account mappings)
• Audit, Reporting & Controls
  • Prepare payroll tax and accounting reports for audits and regulatory filings
  • Support audits including 401(k) and workers’ compensation
  • Respond to auditor and agency inquiries with accurate, timely documentation
  • Perform reconciliations across payroll registers, tax filings, and financial statements
• Issue Resolution & Expertise
  • Investigate and resolve complex payroll tax discrepancies across multi-state jurisdictions
  • Manage escalations and high-risk compliance issues
  • Serve as a subject matter expert for payroll tax, multi-state compliance, and payroll adjustments
  • Lead guided and standard adjustment processes within UKG Pro
• Analysis, Systems & Process Improvement
  • Analyze payroll and tax data to identify discrepancies, trends, and compliance risks
  • Lead process improvements and system enhancements focused on automation, accuracy, and scalability
  • Maintain documentation for payroll tax and accounting processes, including reconciliation procedures
  • Partner with Accounting and IT to strengthen payroll-to-GL integration and data accuracy
• Vendor Management & Multi-State Compliance
  • Partner with external vendors (UKG, Ceridian Dayforce) to ensure accurate tax filing and reporting
  • Manage relationships with tax authorities and auditors to resolve issues efficiently
  • Ensure proper setup and maintenance of tax codes and withholdings
  • Handle complex multi-state scenarios, including non-resident taxation and reciprocal agreements
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of responsibilities and requirements of the job

Requirements

• 5–7 years of payroll tax and payroll accounting experience, including multi-state and Canadian payroll
• Associate's degree in accounting, finance, or related field preferred or equivalent work experience

Skills

• Strong Excel skills (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs, Business Intelligence, data validation, and analysis)
• Strong understanding of payroll tax and accounting principles and general ledger reconciliation
• Experience leading quarter-end and year-end tax close activities
• Excellent attention to detail, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Schedule

Hybrid status with a minimum of 1 day per month in the office for collaboration, teamwork, and business needs. The status and minimum in-office requirements are subject to change based on evolving business needs.

Travel

0%–10% domestic travel required.