The Senior Payroll Analyst is an experienced individual contributor responsible for executing and supporting complex payroll operations across multiple jurisdictions and pay cycles. This role applies advanced judgment to resolve escalated payroll, tax, and compliance issues; supports audits and year-end activities; and contributes to payroll system enhancements and process improvements.
The Senior Payroll Analyst partners closely with HR, Finance, and the Lead Payroll Analyst to ensure payroll is accurate, compliant, and well-controlled, while mentoring less-experienced analysts and delivering advanced operational analytics.
Qualifications:
Minimum Education
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field (required)
Equivalent experience may be considered (required)
Minimum Work Experience
5 years of payroll experience, including complex, off-cycle, or multi-state processing (required)
Advanced experience supporting payroll operations within Workday, UKG, or equivalent enterprise payroll platforms
Required Certifications
Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) - preferred
Certified Payroll Professional Preferred - Preferred
Required Skills/Knowledge
Advanced payroll administration and tax compliance knowledge
Ability to interpret and apply payroll laws across multi-state environments
Strong experience with audits, reconciliations, and risk mitigation activities
Experience supporting payroll system testing, upgrades, and enhancements
Ability to analyze payroll trends and identify control gaps or improvement opportunities
Proficiency in Excel and payroll-related analytics
Capability to coach and support payroll staff through knowledge sharing
Functional Accountabilities
Advanced Payroll Administration
Execute and support end-to-end processing of regular, bonus, retroactive, equity, and off-cycle payrolls
Perform detailed reviews of payroll results to ensure accuracy, compliance, and adherence to internal controls
Configure and validate complex earnings, deductions, and taxation scenarios based on established frameworks
Investigate and resolve escalated payroll discrepancies and employee inquiries, escalating high-risk issues as appropriate
Tax & Compliance Support
Support payroll tax activities including reconciliations, filings, amendments, and issue resolution
Apply federal, state, and local wage-hour, tax, and reporting requirements across jurisdictions
Monitor regulatory changes and assist with the implementation of compliant payroll practices
Identify potential compliance risks and collaborate with the Lead Payroll Analyst on mitigation actions
Support year-end payroll activities, including W-2 preparation, reconciliations, and reporting
Systems & Process Enablement
Participate in payroll system implementations, upgrades, integrations, and testing initiatives
Document payroll requirements and assist with system configuration and validation
Support payroll process improvements focused on efficiency, accuracy, and data integrity
Assist in evaluating automation or optimization opportunities within payroll operations
Payroll Data & Analysis
Prepare payroll analytics and reports to support operational and compliance decision-making
Analyze payroll trends, variances, and anomalies across pay periods
Maintain payroll KPIs, control metrics, and compliance tracking tools
Summarize findings and provide insights to the Lead Payroll Analyst and stakeholders
Knowledge Sharing & Collaboration
Provide day-to-day guidance and support to junior payroll analysts
Share best practices, documentation, and procedural knowledge
Partner with HR, Finance, Compensation, Benefits, and Tax teams on payroll-related initiatives
Support communications with payroll vendors and agencies under the guidance of senior payroll leadership
