Payroll Tax Team Lead - Remote

Overview

This role is a Lead Tax Processor and Subject Matter Expert (Level X5) within Payroll Tax Operations. The position provides technical leadership for complex, high-stakes, and ambiguous escalations, including ownership of approvals and operational governance.

SelectTime employees provide virtual expert services directly to the employer’s customers, working year-round with flexible hours and schedules. This is an hourly, non-exempt role eligible for overtime pay, with a minimum of 20 hours per week and the option to flex up to 40 hours per week based on business need.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary, real-time technical go-to resource for TP1, TP2, and TP3 staff by answering complex questions and teaching resolution paths that build team capability.
• Author, technically review, and formally approve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Knowledge Base (KB) articles across core operations.
• Conduct structured, formal coaching sessions at least once per quarter with assigned team members using the SBIC feedback model to proactively close skill gaps.
• Lead or contribute to team huddles, group QA sessions, and performance board updates, including serving as the primary backup facilitator for Daily Stand-Ups when the M1 manager is unavailable.
• Maintain mastery of the daily business landscape by independently overseeing team WIP management, backlog reduction, and aging reports to recommend staffing adjustments to the M1 manager.
• Resolve the most severe State and Federal payroll tax notices, including multi-quarter IRS discrepancies, state audit inquiries, and cross-jurisdictional penalty assessments.
• Approve highly complex amended Federal (Form 941-X, W-2c) and State returns across all states, ensuring complete audit trails and ledger reconciliation.
• Identify systemic trends, emerging compliance risks, and Known Issues (KIs), and communicate findings with data-driven recommended responses to the M1 manager and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Represent the team in cross-functional meetings and provide risk-informed alternatives under pressure while maintaining compliance integrity.

Required Qualifications

• 4+ years of payroll tax experience with a demonstrated focus on complex tax defect resolution, notice response, and multi-state amendment filings.
• Prior experience formally functioning as a lead, senior specialist, or SME, with specific examples of coaching, mentoring, or training junior staff through nuanced resolution scenarios.
• Expert knowledge of tax payment and filing regulations across all US jurisdictions, including extensive experience with local municipal tax systems (e.g., PA, OH) and state-level programs (e.g., PFML, SDI).
• Advanced writing skills used to create, review, and approve Standard Operating Procedures and technical documents for a tax processor audience without requiring revision.
• Demonstrated extreme ownership of team Service Level Agreements by consistently identifying “red flags” and resolving workflow barriers before they impact the business.
• A validation-first mindset, bringing fully vetted potential solutions and technical alternatives to leadership rather than only identifying problems.
• 5+ years of experience independently handling highly sensitive customer and internal peer escalations with minimal leadership guidance.
• 4+ years of experience in contact center, customer service, or back-office operations enabling the navigation of high-volume, service-related business needs.
• Comfortable leveraging and testing AI (artificial intelligence) tools to complete daily tasks and drive continuous improvement across team workflows.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation is highly preferred, or expected within 18 months of placement (Enrolled Agent designation is a strong differentiator).
• High proficiency in driving Lean management practices, including consistent execution of Daily Huddles, Gemba Walks, and use of Daily Management boards to resolve operational bottlenecks.
• History of exceeding standard metrics while maintaining a personal quality accuracy rate of 95% or higher.

Compensation & Benefits

The organization provides a competitive compensation package with pay for performance rewards.

Expected base pay range by location:

• California (Bay Area): $46.00 - $62.00
• Southern California: $46.00 - $62.00
• Colorado: $38.00 - $51.00
• District of Columbia: $38.00 - $51.00
• Hawaii: $39.50 - $53.50
• Illinois: $38.00 - $51.00
• Maine: $34.50 - $46.50
• Maryland: $38.00 - $51.00
• Massachusetts: $39.50 - $53.50
• Minnesota: $34.50 - $46.50
• New Jersey: $39.50 - $53.50
• New York: $46.00 - $62.00
• Ohio: $34.50 - $46.50
• Vermont: $38.00 - $51.00
• Virginia: $38.00 - $51.00
• Washington: $39.50 - $53.50

This position will be eligible for a cash bonus, equity rewards, and benefits, in accordance with applicable plans and programs. Pay offered is based on factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and work location. Regular comparisons are conducted to help drive fair pay across categories of ethnicity and gender.

Location

SelectTime employees provide virtual expert services directly to the employer’s customers. Base pay ranges are listed for the following locations: California (Bay Area) and Southern California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.