Remote Payroll Operations Specialist

Overview

This role supports Payroll Tax Operations as a payroll tax professional responsible for the 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, delivering high-quality work with meaningful independence across a high-volume case workload.

The position is detail-oriented and customer-focused, with hands-on responsibility for resolving tax notices, correcting payroll errors, and preparing amended returns. The role also includes mentoring and serving as a role model for colleagues while continuing to build technical expertise.

Responsibilities

• Execute full-cycle payroll tax case work for assigned accounts: process payroll runs accurately, audit pre- and post-payroll output, manage tax filings and payments, and 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, 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: identify the source of a payroll error, quantify tax impact across affected quarters, document the correction audit trail, and see the resolution through to completion.
• Manage personal WIP queue with discipline: prioritize cases by SLA date, flag aging cases before they breach SLA, and 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• Contribute to SOP and KB updates: flag outdated content, suggest revisions, and document solutions to previously unresolved issues.
• Collaborate across 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, including the 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 understanding 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; 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 (if available/eligible based on experience)
• Experience in a payroll service bureau, PEO, or multi-client payroll tax environment

Compensation & Benefits

This position includes a competitive compensation package with pay for performance rewards. The expected base pay range for this position is:

• 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

This role is eligible for remote/flexible work within the listed U.S. locations: California (Bay Area), Southern California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

Schedule

SelectTime employees provide virtual expert services directly to customers and work year-round with flexible hours and schedules. Minimum availability 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.