Senior Payroll Accountant

Heritage Pointe•Des Moines, IA

4h•$58,000 - $72,000

About The Position

The Senior Payroll Accountant independently processes payroll for LCS-managed communities while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. The role supports complex payroll matters, performs reconciliations, assists with client billing and reporting, and mentors and trains Payroll Accountants. It also identifies process-improvement opportunities and partners with internal departments to support accurate and efficient payroll administration. LCS describes its culture as progressive, collaborative, and focused on making a positive difference in the lives of seniors. Employees may participate in volunteer activities and committees, and the organization offers opportunities for professional growth and community involvement. The position has a stated travel frequency of 0–10%.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
4–6 years of payroll experience in a complex multi-state organization.
Advanced knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll regulations, tax reporting requirements, and payroll compliance practices.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and 10-key.
Strong understanding of payroll controls, auditing concepts, and process documentation.
Demonstrated ability to research and resolve complex payroll issues.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and consistently meet deadlines.
Ability to maintain confidentiality with sensitive employee and financial information.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and lead initiatives.

Nice To Haves

Associate's degree.
Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.
Experience with Oracle HCM Cloud or similar enterprise payroll systems.

Responsibilities

Process and review bi-weekly retirement community payrolls for accuracy, completeness, and regulatory compliance.
Act as a subject matter expert on payroll, taxation, garnishments, benefits, earnings, deductions, PTO plans, and payroll system functionality.
Review and validate payroll transactions and employee data changes, including taxation updates, compensation changes, deductions, benefits, and wage garnishments in Oracle.
Maintain and oversee federal, state, and local payroll tax accounts and records.
Partner with the Compliance team to reconcile tax accounts, resolve discrepancies, review annual tax filings, and support W-2 processing.
Research, analyze, and resolve complex payroll, tax, and accounting issues.
Perform and review payroll account reconciliations to the general ledger and investigate reconciling items.
Analyze payroll-related financial data and prepare complex payroll reports for management, clients, auditors, and other stakeholders.
Maintain employee assignment costing and review payroll allocation reports used for client invoicing.
Assist with and review client billing information related to payroll and benefit expenses.
Serve as a primary contact for escalated payroll inquiries from employees, community clients, and internal business partners.
Monitor compliance with company policies, payroll regulations, and client-specific requirements.
Assist with payroll audits, internal controls, and compliance reviews.
Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, procedures, controls, and reporting capabilities.
Develop and maintain payroll procedures, documentation, and training materials.
Provide training, guidance, and day-to-day support to Payroll Accountants and other payroll team members.
Participate in payroll system implementations, upgrades, testing, and special projects.
Provide backup support for Payroll Manager functions as assigned.