Senior Payroll Analyst

Overview

Full-time position

This role is responsible for running and safeguarding payroll for a rapidly growing workers’ compensation and liability third-party administrator (TPA). Payroll is processed across multiple states and several legal entities, and the organization continues to grow through acquisition—bringing each acquired business onto the payroll platform without missed or incorrect pay.

A major acquisition is being consolidated onto the organization’s payroll effective January 2027, which will substantially increase payroll size and complexity. This is a senior individual-contributor position, acting as the principal partner and backup to the Payroll Manager. The role operates with a high degree of independence and reports to the Payroll Manager.

Remote based in Rocklin, CA.

Responsibilities

• Process biweekly and off-cycle payrolls in Paylocity for multiple legal entities and divisions, including importing and reviewing time, earnings, and deductions; resolving exceptions before cutoff; and delivering payroll on the published calendar.
• Review each payroll register before approval by comparing to the prior cycle, investigating unusual hours/earnings/net pay, and confirming documented approval for bonuses, commissions, retroactive pay, and other one-time payments.
• Own multi-state payroll tax compliance, including federal, state, and local withholding, unemployment insurance, and local taxes; register new state and local tax accounts before an employee’s first pay date in a new jurisdiction.
• Review quarterly and annual payroll tax filings, W-2s, and amendments prepared by the payroll provider; reconcile them to payroll records and resolve agency notices.
• Lead payroll integration work for acquisitions by inventorying acquired payroll components (pay codes, deductions, benefit plans, tax registrations, calendars, year-to-date balances), mapping them into Paylocity, running parallel payrolls, and confirming the first combined payroll ties to the prior provider before go-live.
• Reconcile payroll to the general ledger in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central each cycle and each month, including payroll clearing, tax, benefit, and 401(k) liability accounts, accrued payroll, and intercompany funding by entity; resolve differences at the source.
• Prepare each cycle’s funding schedule by entity (gross pay plus employer taxes) for Treasury and for affiliated or acquired entities that fund their own payroll.
• Reconcile benefit and 401(k) deductions to carrier and recordkeeper invoices and remittances; follow up on enrollment, arrears, and plan-limit issues with HR.
• Administer garnishments, levies, and child support orders; ensure taxable fringe benefits and imputed income are correctly coded and taxed.
• Partner with HR on new hires, status changes, terminations, and final pay to ensure approvals are completed before changes reach payroll and final pay meets each state’s timing rules.
• Maintain payroll controls, including approval evidence; separation between entering and approving changes; Paylocity user access reviews; and documented procedures for each recurring task.
• Support the annual external audit, SOC reporting, workers’ compensation premium audits, and benefit plan audits with payroll schedules and documentation.
• Respond promptly and confidentially to employee payroll and tax questions; provide full backup for the Payroll Manager.

Requirements

• Hands-on multi-state payroll processing and tax compliance experience, including state and local registrations, reciprocity, and multi-state employees.
• Experience converting or consolidating payrolls from another provider, including pay-code mapping, year-to-date balance loads, and parallel testing.
• Working knowledge of FLSA and state wage-and-hour rules, including overtime, final pay, and pay statement requirements, with particular attention to California.
• Paylocity experience strongly preferred; experience with another enterprise payroll platform (ADP, UKG, Workday, Paycom, iiPay, or similar) considered.
• Understanding of how payroll posts to the general ledger and ability to reconcile a payroll register to it; Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or a comparable ERP is a plus.
• Advanced Excel skills (complex formulas, pivot tables, lookups, and large-data cleanup).
• Strong control mindset to ensure every payment is approved and every difference is explained; resolve exceptions before payroll closes rather than after.
• Strict confidentiality and sound judgment with compensation and personal data.
• Ability to manage overlapping deadlines across multiple entities and pay calendars.
• Multi-entity or acquisitive company experience preferred; insurance, TPA, or professional services experience is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) is a plus.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (or comparable ERP).

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related discipline, or equivalent payroll experience.
• Approximately 5+ years of progressive payroll experience, including at least 3 years processing multi-state payroll for 500 or more employees.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary

• Salary Range: $72,500-$85,000 annually
• Salary is an estimate. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, skill set, and work location.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Company contributions to HSA and FSA plans
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off (PTO) and company-paid holidays
• Employee assistance resources and supportive culture that values balance and wellbeing

Location

Remote based in Rocklin, CA.

Equal Opportunity

Qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. Pursuant to the Los Angeles and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.