Senior Payroll Tax Accountant

Unifi•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

Unifi is seeking a Senior Payroll Tax Accountant with strong multi-state payroll tax expertise and hands-on experience managing payroll tax systems, reconciliations, compliance, and audits. The role serves as a subject-matter expert on payroll tax, with particular emphasis on UKG configuration and administration, tax reporting, complex tax research, and federal, state, and local payroll tax audits. The Senior Payroll Tax Accountant partners with Payroll, Accounting, Human Resources, tax authorities, and internal and external auditors to support accurate and timely payroll tax compliance. The role involves analyzing and resolving discrepancies, identifying root causes, and developing sustainable processes for complex payroll tax scenarios. It also supports month-end and year-end payroll accounting and leads year-end tax activities in preparation for W-2 reporting.

Requirements

At least 3 years of comprehensive multi-state payroll and payroll tax experience, preferably in a complex, multi-jurisdictional environment.
At least 3 years of month-end and year-end close experience, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and analysis.
Demonstrated experience with payroll tax audits, including managing requests, researching discrepancies, preparing supporting documentation, communicating with tax authorities, and driving issues through resolution.
Strong hands-on experience with UKG payroll and tax functionality, including tax code configuration, troubleshooting, reporting, and resolution of complex tax scenarios.
Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements, withholding, unemployment taxes, tax reporting, and payroll tax administration.
Experience researching and resolving payroll tax discrepancies and reconciling payroll tax liabilities and accounts.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including identifying root causes, collecting and analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and implementing solutions.
Ability to develop, document, and improve payroll tax processes and system controls.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, audits, and projects in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively with Payroll, Accounting, HR, Management, auditors, and tax authorities.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field preferred.
Advanced UKG payroll tax configuration and troubleshooting experience.
Experience managing multi-state payroll tax audits from initial notice through final resolution.
Experience with payroll tax notices, assessments, unemployment tax rates, and agency correspondence.
Experience supporting or leading W-2 and year-end payroll tax processes.
Experience developing standardized processes for complex or unique payroll tax scenarios.
Strong understanding of the relationship between payroll systems, tax engines, general ledger accounting, and payroll tax reporting.

Responsibilities

Audit payroll balance sheets, year-to-date earnings, tax liabilities, and payroll tax accounts for accuracy and compliance.
Prepare, generate, and review weekly, monthly, and quarterly payroll tax reports and reconciliations.
Research, investigate, and resolve payroll tax discrepancies, reconciliation issues, and compliance matters.
Manage and coordinate payroll tax audits by gathering documentation, researching tax authority inquiries, responding to audit requests, identifying discrepancies, and working with stakeholders and tax agencies through resolution.
Serve as the primary liaison with federal, state, and local tax authorities, internal auditors, and external auditors on payroll tax matters.
Research complex payroll tax issues and recommend resolutions, including for multi-state and local tax requirements.
Reconcile impounded tax accounts to payroll weekly and investigate variances.
Review and maintain state and local tax codes and configurations in UKG, making adjustments and corrections as needed.
Develop, document, and maintain payroll tax processes within UKG, including solutions for unique, complex, and non-standard tax scenarios.
Use payroll and tax systems to identify compliance risks, improve reporting accuracy, automate processes, and strengthen payroll tax controls.
Perform month-end and year-end payroll accounting activities, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting documentation.
Lead year-end payroll tax activities in preparation for W-2 reporting, including analysis and validation of tax data.
Review assessed value notices, research discrepancies, and communicate findings and recommendations to Management.
Assist the Payroll Director with monitoring and managing state unemployment tax rates and related compliance activities.
Identify root causes of payroll tax issues and develop corrective actions and process improvements to prevent recurrence.
Maintain accurate documentation of payroll tax processes, system configurations, audit findings, reconciliations, and resolutions.