Sr. Corporate Accountant, Compensation & Payroll

Job Summary

The Sr. Corporate Accountant, Compensation & Payroll is responsible for payroll processing, equity compensation accounting, general ledger activity, budgeting and forecasting support, and audit coordination for corporate compensation and benefit-related programs. This role partners closely with Human Resources, Tax, Treasury, External Reporting, and internal and external auditors to ensure accurate payroll processing, timely accounting close activities, compliance with applicable requirements, and reliable financial reporting.

Key Responsibilities

• Payroll Processing and Administration:
  • Prepare, process, and manage monthly corporate payroll in partnership with HR, including employee changes, special payments, stock compensation activity, deferred compensation entries, payroll previews, post-payroll reporting, 401(k) funding support, year-end W-2 activities, payroll tax inquiries, and coordination of payroll-related projects with ADP and HR.
  • Manage special payroll projects and initiatives as needed.
• Equity Compensation Accounting:
  • Maintain and review equity compensation activity in Certent, including grant updates, vesting and termination activity, forfeiture rate calculations, fair value uploads, performance factor updates, share-based compensation reporting, quarterly reconciliations, and support for Tax and External Reporting requirements.
  • Support the preparation of equity compensation expense in the general ledger and prepare related journal entries.
• General Ledger Accounting and Close:
  • Prepare journal entries and reconciliations for payroll, benefits, intercompany activity, annual incentive plans, deferred compensation, stock-based compensation, and related accruals.
  • Utilize payroll automation tools, resolve balancing issues, and prepare reclassification or adjustment entries as needed.
  • Prepare and analyze variance reports and provide insights to improve financial performance.
• Budgeting, Forecasting, and Financial Analysis:
  • Prepare annual budget and quarterly forecast files for corporate salary, payroll tax, welfare, retirement, incentive, and long-term incentive plan accounts.
  • Partner with HR and department leaders to maintain accurate headcount and compensation assumptions and communicate material variances through forecast and flash reporting.
  • Support the preparation of annual and quarterly financial statements and provide analysis to support decision-making.
• Audit and Compliance Support:
  • Support annual retirement plan audits, Form 5500 filing activities, quarterly and annual external audit requests, internal audit walkthroughs, payroll sing, worker compensation audits, and required accounting workpapers and reconciliations.
  • Collaborate with internal and external auditors to ensure compliance with GAAP and SEC regulations.
• Other Compensation and Benefit Support:
  • Maintain corporate headcount reporting, coordinate Board of Director fee payments and related tax reporting support, assist with workers’ compensation analysis and renewals, respond to payroll and compensation-related inquiries, and provide monthly metrics related to payroll and share-based compensation activity.
  • Support the preparation of compensation-related reports and presentations for senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business or accounting required.
• Minimum of 4 years of related accounting experience.
• Experience processing or managing payroll required.
• Experience with incentive compensation, share-based compensation, 401(k) administration, actuarial valuations, and fair value calculations preferred.
• Experience with ADP, Microsoft Office suite, equity management software, and general ledger software required.
• Experience with OneStream, Certent, and JD Edwards preferred.
• Strong attention to detail, analytical ability, organizational skills, and ability to meet recurring deadlines in a monthly close environment.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across HR, Tax, Treasury, Accounting, External Reporting, auditors, and all levels of the organization.

Core Competencies

• Payroll and compensation accounting knowledge
• General ledger accounting and reconciliation expertise
• Equity compensation and benefit plan accounting support
• Financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting capability
• Audit readiness and compliance orientation
• Cross-functional collaboration and customer-service mindset
• Process improvement and problem-solving skills

Stoneridge is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.