Senior Payroll Analyst
About The Position
The Senior Payroll Analyst is responsible for end-to-end payroll processing, advanced payroll analysis, and payroll system optimization. The role supports payroll system implementations and enhancements, including hands-on Workday Payroll implementation, parallel testing, and data validation. The analyst partners with HRIS, Finance, IT, and external vendors to support payroll accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency. The position leads weekly and biweekly multi-state payroll processing, reviews complex payroll transactions, completes payroll reconciliations and reporting, and supports compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. It also contributes to Workday implementations and upgrades by preparing and validating payroll data, analyzing parallel test results, documenting issues, and supporting configuration validation. Additional responsibilities include improving processes and controls, maintaining documentation, and responding to audit and reporting needs.
Requirements
- 5–8+ years of progressive payroll experience.
- Direct hands-on experience with Workday Payroll implementation.
- Strong experience with ADP payroll systems, such as Workforce Now, Vantage, or Enterprise.
- Proven experience conducting payroll parallel testing and variance analysis.
- Deep understanding of payroll tax regulations and compliance requirements.
- Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, data analysis, and reconciliation modeling.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage confidential and sensitive data with discretion.
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field preferred.
Nice To Haves
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.
- Experience with equity compensation payroll reporting.
- Experience supporting multi-entity or global payroll environments.
- Strong knowledge of payroll accounting and general ledger interfaces.
- Experience partnering with HRIS and IT teams on system integrations.
Responsibilities
- Lead processing of weekly and biweekly multi-state payroll.
- Review and validate complex payroll transactions, including bonuses, commissions, equity compensation, executive payroll, and off-cycle payments.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
- Perform pre- and post-payroll audits, tax reconciliations, and quarter- and year-end processing.
- Partner with Accounting on payroll-related general ledger reconciliations and accruals.
- Serve as a key payroll lead in Workday Payroll implementations and system upgrades.
- Extract and analyze payroll data from ADP for migration into Workday.
- Build, validate, and reconcile parallel payroll test files between ADP and Workday.
- Conduct variance analysis during parallel testing and identify root causes of discrepancies.
- Document findings and partner with HRIS and implementation teams to resolve configuration or calculation issues.
- Assist with validation of payroll configuration, including earnings, deductions, taxes, and integrations.
- Develop and maintain payroll process documentation and controls.
- Generate complex payroll reports from ADP and Workday for audits, Finance, and leadership.
- Analyze payroll trends, discrepancies, and compliance risks.
- Support data requests for internal and external audits.
- Develop ad hoc reporting and dashboards as needed.
- Identify automation opportunities and process improvements.
- Strengthen payroll controls and ensure data integrity across systems.
- Assist in developing payroll standard operating procedures and best practices.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
