Payroll Specialist

Overview

This role is for a Senior Payroll Tax Processor to join the Payroll Tax Operations team. The position focuses on accurately and timely resolving payroll tax issues, including Notices, Corrections, Amendments, and Pay & File processes. Work involves high-volume, independent case ownership across multiple jurisdictions.

Responsibilities

• Execute full-cycle payroll tax case work for assigned accounts, including:
  • Processing payroll runs with accuracy
  • Auditing pre- and post-payroll outputs
  • Managing tax filings and payments
  • Ensuring compliance across all active jurisdictions
• Independently research and resolve complex State and Federal payroll tax notices, managing each case from intake through confirmed closure.
• Prepare comprehensive written responses to tax agencies, including supporting documentation, and submit within required deadlines (confirming receipt and follow-up).
• Independently prepare amended payroll tax returns (Form 941-X and state equivalents) for complex amendments, maintaining ownership throughout the process.
• Support payroll correction workflows by identifying payroll errors, quantifying tax impacts, documenting audit trails, and ensuring resolution completion.
• Manage personal work-in-progress queues by prioritizing cases based on SLA deadlines, proactively flagging aging cases, and maintaining detailed documentation from case initiation to closure.
• Perform high-level trend analysis of customer data, system data, and agency correspondence to identify process or system deficiencies and recommend improvements.
• Contribute to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Knowledge Base (KB) updates by flagging outdated content, suggesting revisions, and documenting solutions for unresolved issues.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Corrections, Amendments, Pay & File, and Tax Notice teams, and serve as a role model for junior staff (including coaching and development support).

Requirements

• 2-3+ years of hands-on payroll tax experience, with a focus on:
  • Notice resolution
  • Amended return preparation
  • Payroll error correction across multiple states
• Strong knowledge of IRS and state agency notice types, including the ability to interpret notices, understand agency claims, and determine appropriate resolutions.
• Proven experience independently resolving State and Federal payroll tax notices such as:
  • Balance-due notices
  • Penalty assessments
  • SUI rate change notices
  • Deposit mismatch notices
• Comprehensive understanding of tax payment and filing regulations, including distinctions between employee and employer tax responsibilities at federal and state levels.
• Hands-on experience preparing and approving amended Federal (Form 941-X, W-2c) and State payroll tax returns, especially in complex jurisdictions like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and others.
• Deep knowledge of federal payroll tax laws including:
  • FICA
  • FUTA
  • FITW
  • Employment tax deposit schedules
  • Penalty and interest structures
• Expertise in multi-state payroll tax compliance, including reciprocal agreements, resident/nonresident taxation, and local tax management.
• Proficiency with payroll platforms and case management systems such as Salesforce, along with advanced Excel/Google Sheets skills including:
  • VLOOKUP
  • Pivot tables
  • Reconciliation auditing
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including professional interaction with tax agencies and thorough documentation of case activities.
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business, or Finance preferred; equivalent experience will also be considered.
• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) is required.
  • Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) is preferred for candidates with over four years of experience.
  • Active pursuit of CPP is advantageous.
• Experience working in payroll service bureaus, PEOs, or multi-client payroll environments is highly beneficial.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) (preferred for candidates with over four years of experience).

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive compensation package recognizing performance and dedication.
• Eligible benefits may include:
  • Health insurance
  • Retirement plans
  • Paid time off
  • Wellness programs
• Support for flexible work arrangements to promote work-life balance.
• Compensation varies based on experience, location, and job performance, with potential eligibility for bonuses, equity rewards, and other incentives aligned with organizational policies.

Location

Not specified in the provided description.

Equal Opportunity

The employer is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive environment and providing consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic.