The Standard

Payroll and Accounting Analyst

The Standard • $66K — $96K *
Legal & Accounting
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • High School Diploma required; Associate degree or higher preferred.
  • 6 years of payroll experience, ideally with a multi-state workforce of 1,000+ employees.
  • Proven expertise in multi-state payroll processing and payroll tax compliance.
  • Experience in payroll reconciliations and variance analysis.
  • Strong knowledge of federal and state wage and hour laws and payroll regulations.
  • Proficient in large ERP and payroll systems; Workday Payroll experience preferred.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel skills for data analysis and reporting.

Responsibilities

  • Analyze and audit payroll data for accuracy and compliance.
  • Perform payroll reconciliations and variance analysis for payroll accounts.
  • Research and resolve complex payroll and payroll tax issues.
  • Collaborate with HR, Finance, and vendors to address payroll inquiries.
  • Identify and implement process improvements and strengthen payroll controls.

Benefits

  • Eligibility to participate in an incentive program based on performance.
  • Employee-focused benefits that support work-life balance.
Full Job Description
Job Summary

The Payroll and Accounting Analyst is responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity, compliance, and timely delivery of payroll processing through detailed analysis, auditing, reconciliation, and payroll tax activities. This role performs payroll accounting, reporting, payroll tax administration, payroll-related data management, and employee deduction administration while supporting employees and business partners with complex payroll inquiries. The Payroll and Accounting Analyst serves as a key resource for payroll compliance, payroll tax research, payroll reconciliations, and issue resolution. This role partners closely with Human Resources, Benefits, Compensation, Finance, Accounting, HRIS, and third-party vendors to maintain payroll accuracy, strengthen internal controls, support audits, and drive continuous process improvements. Success in this role requires strong analytical skills, payroll tax expertise, attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering exceptional customer service.

* *This role requires the ability to travel once per year.

Key Responsibilities

  • Analyze and audit payroll data to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing.
  • Perform payroll reconciliations, variance analysis, and balancing activities for earnings, deductions, taxes, and payroll-related accounts.
  • Research and resolve complex payroll and payroll tax issues, including supporting payroll tax compliance, tax notices, and year-end activities.
  • Partner with employees, managers, HR, Benefits, Finance, HRIS, and vendors to resolve payroll inquiries and ensure payroll data integrity.
  • Identify and implement process improvements, strengthen payroll controls, support audits, and participate in testing and validation of payroll system enhancements.


Skills and Background You'll Need

Education: High School Diploma required. Associate degree or higher preferred.

Experience: 6 years of payroll experience, preferably supporting a multi-state workforce of 1,000+ employees across multiple legal entities.
  • Demonstrated experience with multi-state payroll processing and payroll tax compliance, including federal, state, and local tax requirements.
  • Experience performing payroll reconciliations, variance analysis, balancing activities, and payroll-related accounting support.
  • Experience researching and resolving complex payroll issues, payroll tax discrepancies, and tax notices.
  • Strong understanding of federal and state wage and hour laws, payroll regulations, and compliance requirements.
  • Experience using large ERP and payroll systems to process payroll, conduct analysis, support testing activities, and resolve payroll issues; Workday Payroll experience preferred.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including data analysis, reconciliations, formulas, reporting, and data validation.
  • Demonstrated ability to leverage technology, automation, analytics, and AI-enabled tools to improve payroll processes, strengthen controls, increase efficiency, and support data-driven decision making.


Key Behaviors of a Successful Candidate

  • Improvement Mindset: Continually seeks new ways to create business/ customer value by identifying and implementing opportunities for improved efficiency, effectiveness and innovation.
  • Customer Focus: Understands and anticipates both internal and external customer needs and develops customer-inspired solutions that exceed expectations.
  • Winning Together: Actively engages colleagues to achieve shared outcomes by developing trust, inviting diverse perspectives and pushing to bring the best ideas forward.




In addition to the competitive salary range below, our employee-focused benefits support work-life balance. Learn more about working at The Standard.
  • Eligibility to participate in an incentive program is subject to the rules governing the program and plan. Any award depends on a variety of factors including individual and organizational performance.


The actual compensation for this role will be based on a combination of education and experience, knowledge and skills, position budget, internal equity, and market data.

Salary Range:
$66,000.00 - $96,250.00

Positions will be posted for at least 5 days from original posting date.

About The Standard

The Standard is a financial services company that provides insurance, retirement, and investment products to individuals and businesses. The company's insurance products include life, disability, and dental insurance. The Standard also offers retirement plans, such as 401(k) and pension plans, and investment products, including mutual funds and annuities. The company was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. The Standard has over 3,000 employees and serves customers across the United States.
Learn more about The Standard
Size
3,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1998

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