Senior Payroll Tax and Accounting Specialist

ProDriven Global Brands•Itasca, IL

20h•$81,000 - $99,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Are you a payroll tax expert who thrives in complexity and takes pride in precision? We’re looking for a seasoned professional to own and elevate our payroll tax and accounting operations across the U.S. This is a high-impact role where your expertise directly ensures compliance, strengthens financial accuracy, and drives continuous improvement. If you enjoy solving complex payroll challenges, partnering cross-functionally, and making systems and processes better, this could be a great fit.

Requirements

Associate's degree in accounting, finance or related field preferred or equivalent work experience required
5 ~ 7 years of payroll tax and payroll accounting experience required including multi-state and Canadian payroll.
Strong Excel skills (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs, Business Intelligence, data validation, and analysis).
Strong understanding of payroll tax and accounting principles and general ledger reconciliation.
Experience leading quarter-end and year-end tax close activities.
Excellent attention to detail, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
0% ~ 10% travel domestically required

Responsibilities

Ensure timely and accurate payroll tax filings across federal, state, and local jurisdictions (941s, W-2s, W-3s, 1099s)
Stay current on U.S. payroll tax regulations and maintain ongoing compliance
Reconcile payroll tax withholdings and deposits to ensure accurate reporting and remittance
Lead quarter-end and year-end payroll tax activities, including filings, adjustments, and balancing
Own payroll-related GL activity within UKG Pro, including balancing and maintaining accounts after each payroll
Ensure payroll journals accurately reflect wages, taxes, and benefit liabilities
Reconcile payroll entries to the general ledger and partner with Finance to resolve discrepancies
Prepare and validate payroll accounting reports and maintain system structures (locations, departments, account mappings)
Prepare payroll tax and accounting reports for audits and regulatory filings
Support audits including 401(k) and workers’ compensation
Respond to auditor and agency inquiries with accurate, timely documentation
Perform reconciliations across payroll registers, tax filings, and financial statements
Investigate and resolve complex payroll tax discrepancies across multi-state jurisdictions
Manage escalations and high-risk compliance issues
Serve as a subject matter expert for payroll tax, multi-state compliance, and payroll adjustments
Lead guided and standard adjustment processes within UKG Pro
Analyze payroll and tax data to identify discrepancies, trends, and compliance risks
Lead process improvements and system enhancements focused on automation, accuracy, and scalability
Maintain documentation for payroll tax and accounting processes, including reconciliation procedures
Partner with Accounting and IT to strengthen payroll-to-GL integration and data accuracy
Partner with external vendors (UKG, Ceridian Dayforce) to ensure accurate tax filing and reporting
Manage relationships with tax authorities and auditors to resolve issues efficiently
Ensure proper setup and maintenance of tax codes and withholdings
Handle complex multi-state scenarios, including non-resident taxation and reciprocal agreements
Performs other duties as assigned within the scope of responsibilities and requirements of the job
Performs Essential Job Functions and Duties with or without reasonable accommodation