Overview
This role is responsible for 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 handling a high-volume case workload with strong technical competence and meaningful independence.
The position also serves as a mentor and role model for colleagues while continuing to build technical depth.
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 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
- Support payroll correction workflows by:
- Identifying the source of a 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- Flagging outdated content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
- Documenting solutions for previously unresolved issues
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Corrections, Amendments, Pay & File, and Tax Notice teams; serve as a role model for TP1 staff and seek coaching and development from Staff Payroll Tax Processor and managers
Qualifications
- 2–3+ years of hands-on payroll tax experience with a 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; understanding of 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, pivot tables, and reconciliation auditing; ability to trace a tax discrepancy through a spreadsheet independently
- Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability 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 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):
- 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 offered is based on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and work location.
Location
- California (Bay Area)
- Southern California
- Colorado
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
Work Schedule
- Minimum of 20 hours per week
- Option to flex up to 40 hours per week based on business need
- Hourly, non-exempt position eligible for overtime pay
Certifications
- Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) required
- CPP preferred (and may lead to accelerated development for CPP holders)