Overview
This role is part of Payroll Tax Operations, supporting accurate and timely resolution of payroll tax issues across Notices, Corrections, Amendments, and Pay & File. The Senior Payroll Tax Processor is a key production contributor handling a high-volume case workload with meaningful independence.
The work focuses on resolving tax notices, correcting payroll errors, and preparing amended returns. The role 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, and 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 while retaining ownership.
- Support payroll correction workflows by identifying the source of payroll error, quantifying tax impact across affected quarters, documenting the correction audit trail, and seeing resolutions through to completion.
- Manage a personal WIP queue with discipline by prioritizing cases by SLA date, flagging aging cases before SLA breaches, and maintaining 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- Contribute to SOP and KB updates by flagging outdated content, suggesting revisions, and documenting solutions for previously unresolved issues.
- Collaborate across Corrections, Amendments, Pay & File, and Tax Notice teams; serve as a role model for TP1 staff and actively seek coaching and development from Staff Payroll Tax Processor and managers.
Qualifications
- 2–3+ years of hands-on payroll tax experience with strong focus on notice resolution, amended return preparation, and payroll error correction across multiple states (not general payroll administration only).
- Working knowledge of IRS and state agency notice types; ability to read a notice, identify the 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 associated 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: VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and reconciliation auditing, with the ability 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.
Preferred Qualifications
- CPP (with 4+ years of experience) or active pursuit of CPP.
- Experience in a payroll service bureau, PEO, or multi-client payroll tax environment.
Compensation & Benefits
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Expected base pay range depends on work location (hourly):
- 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
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This position will be eligible for a cash bonus, equity rewards, and benefits in accordance with applicable plans and programs.
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Pay offered is based on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and work location.
Location
This is a virtual role.
The expected minimum schedule is 20 hours per week, with the option to flex up to 40 hours per week based on business need. This is an hourly, non-exempt position eligible for overtime pay.