Sr. Payroll Analyst

This position is designated as a hybrid role based out of our headquarters near Portland, Oregon. The current expectation is for employees to work onsite four days per week, subject to change based on business needs.

About the role

Columbia Sportswear Company's Payroll team plays a critical role in ensuring thousands of employees across stores, distribution centers, corporate offices, and field locations are paid accurately and on time. Supporting a large, multi-state workforce, our team partners across Human Resources, Finance, Benefits, and Compliance to deliver a seamless payroll experience while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and regulatory compliance. As a Sr. Payroll Analyst, you'll serve as a subject matter expert responsible for processing complex, high-volume payrolls and resolving payroll issues that require advanced analysis and judgment. You'll help ensure payroll operations run smoothly, identify opportunities for process improvement, and serve as a trusted partner to stakeholders across the organization. This is an opportunity to join a highly visible team where your expertise directly impacts employee experience and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Process complex multi-state payrolls for a large U.S. employee population, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and on-time delivery.
• Review, audit, and reconcile payroll data including earnings, deductions, taxes, garnishments, leave transactions, and timekeeping records.
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, partnering with HR, Benefits, Finance, and employees to identify root causes and implement solutions.
• Perform payroll validations and detailed audits to ensure employees are paid accurately and in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Support payroll activities associated with bonuses, equity transactions, leave programs, off-cycle payments, and other specialized payroll events.
• Maintain expert knowledge of payroll regulations, wage and hour requirements, and company policies to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, reporting, and system efficiencies.
• Serve as a payroll resource for cross-functional partners, providing guidance, expertise, and support on complex payroll matters.

Requirements

• Exceptionally detail-oriented and take pride in getting the details right.
• Calm under pressure and able to manage multiple priorities in a high-volume environment.
• Naturally curious and enjoy investigating issues to identify root causes.
• A collaborative partner who builds strong relationships across teams.
• Accountable, proactive, and committed to delivering outstanding employee experiences.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience supporting complex U.S. payroll operations.
• Experience processing high-volume, multi-state payrolls in a large organization.
• Strong working knowledge of payroll regulations, wage and hour laws, payroll taxation, garnishments, and leave-related pay practices.
• Experience utilizing payroll systems such as ADP Workforce Now or similar enterprise payroll platforms.
• Advanced analytical and auditing skills with the ability to identify discrepancies and resolve payroll issues independently.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting payrolls for publicly traded or similarly complex organizations.
• Experience processing payroll for large distributed workforces across multiple states and locations.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC).
• Advanced Excel skills and experience working with payroll reporting and analysis.

Benefits

Columbia Sportswear is proud to offer regular full-time employees a benefits package that includes a variety of services and products to help make your life and work more rewarding. Our benefit programs contribute to overall employee well-being by aligning those programs with the fundamental elements of well-being: physical, social/emotional, financial, career, and community.

• 401k plan with a generous company match to help protect your family’s financial future and save money.
• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability coverage.
• Flexible spending accounts and health savings account.
• Assortment of voluntary benefit offerings (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and legal services).
• Free and confidential 24/7/365 counseling services through EAP+.
• Extensive wellness benefits and employee discounts.
• Generous time off program.

Schedule

Hybrid role based out of our headquarters near Portland, Oregon. The current expectation is for employees to work onsite four days per week, subject to change based on business needs.