Job Summary:  

The Payroll Tax Manager is responsible for leading the organization's payroll tax function, ensuring compliance with federal, state, local, and Puerto Rico payroll tax regulations across more than 160 FEINs. This role oversees payroll tax operations, quarterly and annual filings, tax adjustments, year-end reporting, legislative compliance, and continuous process improvements while providing leadership, coaching, and technical expertise to the Payroll Tax team. The Payroll Tax Manager partners closely with Payroll Operations, Finance, HR, third-party vendors, and government agencies to ensure accurate tax reporting and minimize organizational risk. 

Responsibilities: 

Payroll Tax Operations & Compliance 

• Lead payroll tax operations across all federal, state, local, and Puerto Rico jurisdictions.  

• Oversee payroll tax compliance for more than 160 FEINs.  

• Ensure accurate quarterly and annual tax filings, including Forms 941, 940, W-2s, W-2Cs, and applicable state and local filings.  

• Oversee balancing activities prior to tax filing submission.  

• Ensure compliance with tax deposit schedules and filing deadlines. 

Payroll Tax Adjustments & Issue Resolution 

• Own governance and approval of payroll tax adjustments. 

• Review and approve complex payroll tax corrections and amended filing recommendations. 

• Serve as the escalation point for complex tax notices, audits, and agency inquiries. 

• Partner with third-party tax vendors to resolve significant payroll tax issues. 

Legislative & Regulatory Compliance 

• Monitor federal, state, and local legislative and regulatory changes impacting payroll taxation. 

• Evaluate business impacts and implement required payroll tax changes. 

• Ensure payroll tax procedures, system configurations, and team processes remain compliant. 

• Communicate legislative updates and provide guidance to Payroll and cross-functional partners.

Team Leadership 

• Lead, coach, develop, and mentor Payroll Tax team members. 

• Provide technical guidance and serve as the team's escalation resource. 

• Oversee workload distribution, training, and performance development. 

• Promote continuous learning and knowledge sharing across the team. 

Year-End & Vendor Oversight 

• Oversee year-end payroll tax activities including W-2 balancing, validation, corrections, and distribution. 

• Maintain strategic partnership with ADP Tax Services (or third-party vendor).

• Review vendor performance and drive issue resolution. 

Process Improvement

• Lead initiatives that improve payroll tax accuracy, efficiency, and compliance. 

• Establish and maintain internal controls. 

• Identify automation opportunities and reduce manual processes.

Requirements 

Required Qualifications 

• Experience leading payroll tax operations within a large, multi-state organization 

• Expert knowledge of federal, state, local, and Puerto Rico payroll tax regulations  

• Experience overseeing payroll tax compliance across multiple legal entities and FEINs  

• Experience managing quarterly and annual payroll tax filings, including Forms 941, 940, W-2, W-2C, and applicable state and local filings  

• Experience overseeing payroll tax adjustments, reconciliations, audits, and agency correspondence  

• Experience managing third-party payroll tax vendors such as ADP SmartCompliance  

• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, project management, and process improvement experience  

• Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience supporting organizations with 100+ legal entities and complex payroll structures  

• Experience implementing legislative or regulatory payroll tax changes  

• Experience supporting payroll tax integration activities for mergers and acquisitions  

• Experience with Workday Payroll 

• Experience leading cross-functional payroll tax initiatives and process improvements

Education and Experience: 

Required Qualifications 

• 7 – 10 years of progressive payroll tax experience, including leadership responsibilities 

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience)