SR. Payroll Business Analyst

Overview

The Lead Payroll Business Analyst is a strategic partner within the payroll organization, responsible for driving complex initiatives that support payroll operations, compliance, analytics, and continuous improvement. This role collaborates with Payroll, HR, Finance, Tax, Total Rewards, IT, and external partners to analyze processes and data, and deliver scalable solutions that improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, and audit readiness.

This position operates with enterprise-level scope, managing cross-functional priorities and influencing decision-making across Payroll, Benefits, HRIS, and Technology. It serves as a functional lead, owning the end-to-end lifecycle of business initiatives while ensuring alignment with organizational goals, compliance requirements, and operational standards.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the intake, prioritization, and delivery of payroll and cross-functional initiatives, ensuring alignment with enterprise priorities and strategic objectives
• Analyze payroll processes, systems, audit findings, ticket trends, and operational data to identify risks, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities; translate insights into actionable recommendations
• Lead cross-functional working sessions with Payroll, HR, Finance, Benefits, and Technology stakeholders to define requirements, align priorities, and drive solution design
• Manage and lead the end-to-end requirements lifecycle, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and alignment across systems and workflows
• Create and maintain business requirements, SOPs, process maps, workflows, control documentation, KPIs, dashboards, and reporting to support consistent, scalable, and audit-ready payroll operations; identify opportunities for automation, standardization, and control enhancements
• Conduct advanced data analysis and translate complex payroll and system data into actionable insights for operational and leadership decision-making
• Analyze data trends, anomalies, and root causes (e.g., overpayments, retroactivity, recurring errors) to drive process improvement and risk mitigation
• Drive development and use of dashboards, KPIs, and data storytelling to provide visibility into performance, compliance, and strategic opportunities
• Identify inefficiencies and lead automation and optimization efforts (e.g., Excel models, Power Automate) to improve scalability and reduce manual effort
• Act as a liaison between business, technology, and external partners to ensure solutions are scalable, compliant, and aligned with enterprise standards
• Manage cross-functional dependencies, timelines, and risks across multiple initiatives; proactively escalate issues and drive resolution
• Partner with project, system, and QA teams to support payroll initiatives and system changes, including UAT, deployment, adoption, training, job aids, communications, and audit support (documentation, testing, issue tracking, and remediation)
• Ensure deliverables are compliant with regulatory requirements, aligned with internal controls (SOX), and audit-ready
• Lead and support payroll transformation initiatives and strategic projects by coordinating cross-functional teams to deliver outcomes aligned with scope and timelines
• Serve as a subject matter expert and trusted advisor, influencing decisions and guiding stakeholders
• Provide guidance and support to analysts or stakeholders to promote best practices and adoption of tools, processes, and solutions
• Provide backup support for designated payroll functions, including select payroll processing activities and backup support for Payroll Tax Analyst responsibilities as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned and comply with all policies and standards

Requirements

• High School Diploma — Required
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or other related field — Preferred
• 4–6 years relevant experience in payroll, business analysis, operational analytics, or a related role, with demonstrated ownership of complex, cross-functional initiatives — Required
• 4–6 years experience supporting large-scale, enterprise-wide processes involving compliance, audits, and multi-system integrations — Preferred
• 4–6 years experience working with high volume and multi-state payroll environments — Preferred
• Proven ability to lead process improvement initiatives, identify risks and control gaps, and implement scalable, standardized solutions — Preferred
• Ability to manage and influence cross-functional stakeholders, aligning multiple priorities and driving business outcomes across Payroll, HR, Finance, Benefits, and IT
• Ability to serve as a functional lead and trusted advisor on enterprise-wide initiatives with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex payroll concepts to stakeholders and leadership
• Demonstrated commitment to maintaining confidentiality and security of sensitive payroll and employee data
• Advanced ability to analyze complex payroll, system, and operational challenges and deliver practical, compliant, and scalable solutions that support long-term business objectives

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive weekly pay and bonus opportunities
• Total job benefits valued at more than $10k*. Includes a 401(k) plan with company matching, medical coverage plans customized to suit your needs, and paid time off (PTO) programs, company holidays, and paid volunteer days
• Up to $5,250 in tuition reimbursement per year
• Benefit amounts are estimates only; actual values depend on benefit elections during enrollment

Location

• Expected work location: Remote
• You may be asked to travel, as needed, to the home office (7400 Safelite Way, Columbus, OH 43235), or to other location(s) as designated
• Changes to work location arrangements are subject to managerial approval and business needs