Overview
This role is part of Payroll Tax Operations (PTO). The Senior Payroll Tax Processor is responsible for accurately and timely resolving payroll tax issues across Notices, Corrections, Amendments, and Pay & File. You’ll manage a high-volume case workload with strong technical competence and meaningful independence, including resolving complex tax notices, correcting payroll errors, and preparing amended returns.
The position also serves as a mentor and role model for colleagues while continuing to build technical expertise.
Responsibilities
- Execute full-cycle payroll tax case work for assigned accounts, including:
- Processing payroll runs accurately
- Auditing pre- and post-payroll output
- Managing tax filings and payments
- Maintaining compliance across all active jurisdictions
- Independently research and resolve complex State and Federal payroll tax notices (including balance-due notices, deposit discrepancies, SUI rate change notices, and account mismatch notices), owning each case from intake through confirmed closure
- Prepare written agency responses with complete supporting documentation; submit within agency-required deadlines and confirm receipt
- Prepare amended payroll tax returns (Form 941-X and state equivalents) independently on complex amendments, maintaining ownership
- Support payroll correction workflows by:
- Identifying the source of the payroll error
- Quantifying tax impact across affected quarters
- Documenting the correction audit trail
- Seeing the resolution through to completion
- Manage a personal WIP queue with discipline:
- Prioritize cases by SLA date
- Flag aging cases before they breach SLA
- Maintain thorough case documentation from first touch to closure
- Perform high-level trend analysis of customer data, system data, and agency correspondence to identify process or system deficiencies
- Contribute to SOP and KB updates by flagging outdated content, suggesting revisions, and documenting solutions to previously unresolved issues
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Corrections, Amendments, Pay & File, and Tax Notice teams; serve as a role model for TP1 staff and actively seek coaching and development
Qualifications
- 2–3+ years of hands-on payroll tax experience focused on notice resolution, amended return preparation, and payroll error correction across multiple states (not just general payroll administration)
- Working knowledge of IRS and state agency notice types, including the ability to read a notice, identify its type, understand the agency’s claim, and determine the appropriate resolution path
- Demonstrated experience resolving State and Federal payroll tax notices independently, including balance-due notices, penalty assessments, SUI rate change notices, and deposit mismatch notices
- Comprehensive knowledge of tax payment and filing regulations, including the distinction between employee and employer tax responsibilities across federal and state jurisdictions
- Hands-on experience preparing and approving amended Federal (Form 941-X, W-2c) and State payroll tax returns across all states, including jurisdictions with complex local requirements such as PA, OH, and more
- Deep knowledge of federal payroll tax law: FICA, FUTA, FITW, employment tax deposit schedules, and related penalty and interest structures
- Multi-state payroll tax expertise including reciprocal agreements, resident and nonresident taxation, SUI account management, and local tax compliance across multiple jurisdictions
- Proficiency with at least one payroll platform and comfort navigating case management systems such as Salesforce
- Excel/Google Sheets skills required, including VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and reconciliation auditing; able to trace a tax discrepancy through a spreadsheet independently
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including professional interaction with state and federal tax agencies and clear, complete documentation of case activity
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business, or Finance preferred; equivalent experience accepted
- Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) required; CPP preferred for candidates with 4+ years of experience. Active pursuit of CPP is viewed favorably. CPP holders will be evaluated for accelerated development
- Experience at a payroll service bureau, PEO, or multi-client payroll tax environment is a significant advantage
Compensation & Benefits
- Expected base pay range (hourly) varies by location:
- California (Bay Area): $36.00 - $49.00
- Southern California: $36.00 - $49.00
- Colorado: $27.00 - $36.50
- District of Columbia: $27.00 - $36.50
- Hawaii: $28.50 - $38.50
- Illinois: $27.00 - $36.50
- Maine: $25.00 - $33.50
- Maryland: $27.00 - $36.50
- Massachusetts: $28.50 - $38.50
- Minnesota: $25.00 - $33.50
- New Jersey: $28.50 - $38.50
- New York: $29.50 - $34.47
- Ohio: $25.00 - $33.50
- Vermont: $27.00 - $36.50
- Virginia: $27.00 - $36.50
- Washington: $28.50 - $38.50
- This position may be eligible for a cash bonus, equity rewards, and benefits in accordance with applicable plans and programs.
- Pay is based on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and work location.
Location
Virtual role.
This position is an hourly, non-exempt role eligible for overtime pay. Minimum hours are 20 hours per week, with the option to flex up to 40 hours per week based on business need.