Payroll Tax Analyst

AWP Safety•Santa Ana, CA

4h•$75,000 - $85,000

About The Position

AWP Safety is a rapidly growing national safety services provider, America’s Traffic Control Leader, committed to protecting customers’ people, business, and time. Since its inception in 1993, AWP Safety has been the leading provider and innovator of traffic control solutions, aiming to improve processes by continually establishing best practices for productivity and cost effectiveness. The company drives added value through the talented execution of its employees and the pursuit of providing extraordinary service, building a national reputation for integrity. The Payroll Tax Analyst is responsible for ensuring accurate calculation, reporting, and remittance of payroll taxes in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This role involves close partnership with Payroll, Accounting, Finance, and external tax vendors to manage payroll tax operations, resolve tax issues, support audits, and maintain strong internal controls. The ideal candidate should possess deep payroll tax knowledge, strong analytical skills, and a proactive approach to compliance and process improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in payroll tax, payroll accounting, or a related payroll finance role.
Strong working knowledge of U.S. federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, including multi-state taxation.
Experience with payroll tax filings, amendments, and reconciliations.
Solid understanding of payroll tax accounting, accruals, liabilities, and general ledger integration.
Experience supporting mergers and acquisitions or payroll tax integrations.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, lookups, and data analysis.
Knowledge of SOX compliance, internal controls, and audit support practices.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and research skills with high attention to detail.
Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex tax issues to non-technical partners.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment while working independently and collaboratively.

Nice To Haves

CPP or FCP certification preferred but not required
Experience with payroll systems and tax vendor platforms (e.g., UKG, ADP, Workday, Ceridian) preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage end-to-end payroll tax activities, including calculation, withholding, remittance, and reporting of federal, state, and local payroll taxes.
Ensure compliance with payroll tax regulations, filing requirements, and payment deadlines.
Review, reconcile, and balance payroll tax liabilities and related general ledger accounts.
Prepare and review payroll tax filings, including Forms 941, 940, W-2, W-3, and applicable state and local filings; manage corrections and amendments as needed.
Monitor and resolve payroll tax notices, discrepancies, penalties, and interest, including coordination with tax agencies and vendors.
Maintain payroll tax setup and configuration within payroll systems to ensure accurate taxation.
Perform wage and tax reconciliations and analyze variances to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
Support internal, external, and government audits by providing documentation, reconciliations, and detailed explanations.
Ensure compliance with SOX and other internal control requirements related to payroll tax processes.
Collaborate with Accounting and Finance teams on payroll tax accruals, cash funding, and financial reporting.
Manage tax tracer submissions and oversee timely and accurate vendor responses.
Research payroll tax regulations and changes, assess impacts, and support implementation of required updates.
Contribute to process improvements, documentation, and standard operating procedures to enhance accuracy and efficiency.