Payroll Tax Operations and Services Specialist - SelectTime

Overview

This role is part of Payroll Tax Operations (PTO), supporting accurate and timely resolution of payroll tax issues across Notices, Corrections, Amendments, and Pay & File. The Senior Payroll Tax Processor is a core production contributor on a high-volume case workload, applying strong technical skills with meaningful independence.

The organization is seeking a detail-oriented, customer-focused payroll tax professional with hands-on experience resolving tax notices, correcting payroll errors, and preparing amended returns. The role also includes serving as a mentor and role model for colleagues while continuing to deepen technical expertise.

Responsibilities

• Execute full-cycle payroll tax case work for assigned accounts, including:
  • Process payroll runs accurately
  • Audit pre- and post-payroll output
  • Manage tax filings and payments
  • Maintain 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
  • Account mismatch notices
  • Own each case from intake through confirmed closure
• Prepare written responses to agencies with complete supporting documentation; submit within agency-required deadlines and confirm receipt.
• Prepare amended payroll tax returns (Form 941-X and state equivalents) independently for complex amendments while retaining ownership.
• Support payroll correction workflows by:
  • Identifying the source of a payroll error
  • Quantifying tax impact across affected quarters
  • Documenting the correction audit trail
  • Seeing resolutions through to completion
• Manage a personal WIP queue with discipline by:
  • Prioritizing cases by SLA date
  • Flagging aging cases before they breach SLA
  • Maintaining thorough case documentation from first touch to closure
• Conduct 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  • Flagging outdated content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
  • 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 from Staff Payroll Tax Processor and managers.

Requirements

• 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 just general payroll administration).
• 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
  • 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
  • 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 and pivot tables; able to perform reconciliation auditing and trace a tax discrepancy through a spreadsheet independently.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to interact professionally with state and federal tax agencies and document case activity clearly and completely.
• 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 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):
  • 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 role may be eligible for a cash bonus, equity rewards, and benefits, in accordance with applicable plans and programs.
• Pay offered is based on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and work location.

Location

Virtual role providing expert services year-round with flexible hours and schedules. Minimum 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 and is eligible for overtime pay.