Principal Payroll Accountant

Surescripts • Arlington, VA

24d • Hybrid

About The Position

Surescripts serves the nation through simpler, trusted health intelligence sharing, in order to increase patient safety, lower costs and ensure quality care . We deliver insights at critical points of care for better decisions — from streamlining prior authorizations to delivering comprehensive medication histories to facilitating messages between providers. Job Summary: The Principal Payroll Accountant serves as a senior individual contributor and subject‑matter expert responsible for the integrity, accuracy, and optimization of the company’s payroll accounting and related financial processes. The Principal Payroll Accountant manages end‑to-end payroll accounting activities, provides own ership over complex accounting analyses, and plays a key role in system design, controls, and continuous improvement. In addition to overseeing payroll processing through Workday Payroll and OneSource Virtual (OSV), they will partner closely with Finance, HR, and external vendors to ensure compliance with US GAAP, regulatory requirements, and internal control standards. The Principal Payroll Accountant is also responsible for reviewing and assessing the current Workday Payroll configuration, identifying opportunities for process and system improvements, and leading enhancements that strengthen accuracy, efficiency, and scalability. This team member will also be responsible for other supporting activities within the accounting ecosystem.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree in Accounting or related field or equivalent experience
• 8+ years using technical accounting principles under US GAAP
• 8+ years of experience using advanced functions in Microsoft Excel
• 6+ years of experience with payroll processing
• 3+ years of experience with general ledger accounting systems
• 2+ years of experience with Workday Payroll / OneSource Virtual (OSV)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent customer service, attention to detail and follow up skills
• Ability to work independently and escalate issues appropriately

Nice To Haves

• Experience with variety of financial reporting tools
• Experience with NetSuite ERP
• Workday U.S. Payroll Certification

Responsibilities

• Process payroll semi-monthly timely and accurately in collaboration with benefits team, including funding of 401k accounts
• Reconcile benefit accounts after each payroll to ensure money properly credited into account holders' accounts
• Prepare benefits account reconciliations including payroll, 401k and HSAs, flexible spending accounts
• Prepare year-ended W2s and manage preparation and filing of all other quarterly and annual tax returns in conjunction with OSV to ensure compliance with all state and local payroll laws.
• Review current Workday Payroll configuration to increase effectiveness and efficiency
• Prepare and post a wide variety of journal entries including inter-company funds transfers, monthly pre-approved ACHs, and all other cash disbursements in NetSuite
• Prepare logical and accurate analyses and documentation supporting journal entries and any other accounting records
• Prepare and post journal entries to accrue for bonuses and other payroll related expenses
• Prepare various account reconciliations including PTO accrual, wage garnishment, medical, dependent care, transit pass, parking, HSAs and all other payroll related expense accounts
• Prepare and review expense analysis for month over month and actual versus budget fluctuations.
• Import bi-weekly AP check files to BOA thru BOA portal for positive pay and resolve any checks with exception issues with BOA
• Manage ACH “whitelist” to ensure appropriate ACHs are processed for taxation purposes.
• Manage processing of Concur weekly expense report payments
• Assist employees with any Concur issues (submit expense reports, login Concur issues, etc).
• Prepare audit schedules and documentations for annual financial audit
• Play key role in annual 401k audit
• Work closely with Financial Planning & Analysis group with variance analysis
• Handle quarterly electronic payments to Federal and States for corporate income taxes
• Setup new vendors as requested
• Initiate wire transfers as requested
• Clerk Purchase Orders in NetSuite and serve as stakeholder resource for common questions
• Serve as back-up for Procure – To – Pay function team members
• Special projects as assigned

Benefits

• Benefits include, but are not limited to, comprehensive healthcare (including infertility coverage), generous paid time off including paid childbirth and parental leave and mental health days , pet insurance, and 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior