Senior Payroll Analyst

State of Utah Office of the Governor • Taylorsville, UT

7d • $35 - $45 • Hybrid

About The Position

Do you have experience with payroll tax and knowledge of laws and regulations that affect federal and state taxes and the ability to analyze related statues. Do you enjoy working in a fast paced, collaborative environment where no two days are the same? Join the Division of Finance as a Senior Payroll Analyst!

This job posting may close at any time after the minimum advertising period of three (3) business days has passed, should a sufficient applicant pool be received. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Requirements

• 5+ years of payroll experience in a large-scale entity (10,000+ employees), with a heavy emphasis on benefits administration within payroll.
• The demonstrated ability to read, understand, and apply complex policies and procedures.
• The ability to spot errors, inconsistencies, or deviations from policy in large sets of data or documents.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills are critical. You must be able to articulate complex issues clearly to non-financial audiences.
• The ability to accept constructive feedback on your work and use it to grow professionally.
• A collaborative spirit and the ability to work well with others in a diverse environment.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business; CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or CEBS (Certified Employee Benefit Specialist).
• Deep understanding of the payroll lifecycle, including the impact of pre-tax/post-tax benefits, retirement plan limits, and leave-of-absence pay.
• Experience with third party audits and 401k administration.
• Advanced proficiency in large-scale ERP systems (e.g., Workday, SAP, Oracle) and Excel skills for data reconciliation or analysis.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead expert on how benefits, retirement contributions, and voluntary deductions impact the gross-to-net payroll calculation.
• Act as the primary Finance partner to Central HR, collaborating closely with the Benefits and Employee Resource teams to ensure that leaves of absence (FMLA/STD/LTD) and benefit enrollment changes are accurately reflected in pay.
• Provide guidance to Agency Payroll Coordinators on complicated payroll questions that require deep policy interpretation and technical calculation.
• Understand the end-to-end payroll cycle, performing reconciliations, troubleshooting issues, etc. to maintain the integrity of the State’s payroll for 24,000+ employees.
• Lead the resolution of the most difficult payroll issues, such as intricate retroactive benefit adjustments, overpayment recoveries, and complex final pay calculations.
• Ensure all benefit-related payroll actions comply with federal and state regulations and internal organizational policies.

Benefits

• Mentorship
• Work-Life Balance
• Predictable schedules
• Generous leave
• Competitive total compensation package
• Comprehensive benefits plan with a retirement contribution (for eligible employees)
• 401(k) match
• Affordable health/dental/vision insurance
• Paid time off
• Job Stability
• Career Growth
• Opportunities for leadership
• Meaningful Work
• Supportive Work Environment
• Cooperation
• Strong work ethics
• Mutual support

What This Job Offers

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