Senior Payroll Analyst

Western Alliance Bank • Phoenix, AZ

23h • Onsite

About The Position

As a Senior Payroll Analyst, you will be responsible for completing all the tasks involved in the timely and accurate delivery of payroll in a multi-state environment. Your primary focus will be ensuring that payroll processing meets service level standards, customer service expectations, turnaround timelines, regulatory compliance, audit soundness, and data governance requirements. You will work closely with partners in Human Resources (HRIS Administration, Compensation, and Benefits), as well as Finance (Tax, Accounting, and Financial Reporting), to ensure payroll accuracy and integrity. This role serves all employees and must be highly responsive and focused on quality service. A key responsibility of this role is to analyze payroll data, validate system outputs, and identify discrepancies to ensure accurate gross-to-net calculations. You will also contribute to the enhancement of payroll processes, controls, and reporting capabilities to improve efficiency and mitigate risk.

Requirements

• 5+ years of payroll, accounting, finance, or related analytical experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field required
• Intermediate knowledge of payroll concepts, including multi-state tax regulations and compliance requirements
• Experience working in a regulated environment with strong understanding of controls and audit requirements
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, formulas, data analysis)
• Experience with payroll reporting tools or HRIS systems
• Knowledge of SOX controls and audit processes
• Strong interpersonal and partnering skills to collaborate across HR, Finance, and business units
• Ability to take initiative, manage multiple priorities, and meet established deadlines
• Effective written and verbal communication skills

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience with Workday Payroll strongly preferred
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification preferred

Responsibilities

• Administer the end-to-end payroll processing cycle, including validation of input data, review of payroll calculations, and reconciliation of payroll results prior to transmission
• Analyze payroll data for accuracy, including earnings, deductions, tax withholdings, and net pay calculations
• Respond to payroll-related inquiries and assist in resolving issues in a timely and accurate manner
• Perform variance analysis and investigate discrepancies between payroll cycles, identifying root causes and recommending corrective actions
• Identify, escalate, and resolve payroll risks or high-impact issues to ensure payroll accuracy and compliance
• Partner with HR, Finance, and other stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate payroll data inputs and outputs
• Partner with external payroll vendors and service providers to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing and service delivery
• Support vendor issue resolution and ongoing service delivery oversight, including adherence to service level agreements (SLAs)
• Assist in maintaining payroll records and documentation to support audit, regulatory, and internal control requirements
• Ensure confidentiality and security of employee payroll data in alignment with company policies and regulatory requirements
• Generate and analyze standard and ad-hoc payroll reports for management, audit, and regulatory purposes
• Support payroll tax jurisdiction set up and compliance activities, including research of federal, state, and local payroll regulations
• Administer and validate garnishments, levies, and other required withholdings
• Support the payroll manager in SOX control execution, documentation, and testing activities to ensure compliance with internal controls
• Partner with the payroll manager to identify opportunities for process improvements, automation, and system enhancements to improve efficiency and reduce manual effort
• Contribute to continuous improvement efforts focused on payroll accuracy, cycle time reduction, error mitigation, and SLA adherence
• Support the payroll manager in system testing, updates, and enhancements, including Workday payroll functionality and integrations
• Review and update Workday knowledgebase articles to reduce high-volume ticket drivers and improve employee self-service
• Participate in payroll-related projects, including system implementations, upgrades, and regulatory changes
• Support change management activities and communications related to payroll updates and process changes
• Support year-end payroll activities, including reconciliation and preparation of W-2 processing
• Support all areas within Total Rewards including Benefits, Compensation, and Incentives as needed

Benefits

• competitive salaries
• an ownership stake in the company
• medical and dental insurance
• time off
• a great 401k matching program
• tuition assistance program
• an employee volunteer program
• a wellness program
• opportunity to bolster business knowledge
• learning the ins and outs of how successful companies operate and manage their finances
• invaluable hands-on experience to help grow your career

What This Job Offers

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