Sr. Analyst - Payroll Tax

Nationwide•Columbus, OH

23h•$69,500 - $103,500•Hybrid

About The Position

The Payroll Tax Analyst supports the functional manager in overseeing the accurate and timely remittance and filing of payroll taxes across 48 state withholding and unemployment jurisdictions and approximately 1,800 municipal authorities on a bi‑weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis. Responsibilities include validating tax payments, resolving tax notices and special assessments, and ensuring full compliance with all regulatory requirements. In addition to core operational duties, this role serves as the primary point of contact for projects, representing the team in discussions with business partners, and leading the research and resolution of payroll accounting reconciliation items. The specialist partners closely with system teams to implement configuration updates and resolve system-related issues, while also driving continuous improvement initiatives across the department. The role performs monthly balancing and analytical reviews to confirm that taxable wages and tax liabilities are accurately reflected across Workday, MasterTax, and associated platforms. Success in this position requires strong problem‑solving skills, sound judgment, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment. The Payroll Tax Specialist contributes to both operational excellence and strategic initiatives, supporting scalable and efficient payroll tax operations. This position will be hired on a SuccessFlex basis. The hired associate must reside within 35 miles of the following location(s): 1 Nationwide Plaza Work schedule: 2 days in office, 3 days remote. This role does not qualify for employer sponsored work authorization. Nationwide does not participate in the STEM OPT extension program.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree with studies in accounting, tax or other related field.
Minimum of two years of tax or accounting experience in a corporate or public accounting setting.
Federal, state and local tax law.
Statutory and/or GAAP accounting.
Ability to learn tax systems and apply technology to continually improve and manage risks.
Self-starter who is able to prioritize work through team collaboration and with little day-to-day supervision.
Inquisitive nature and desire to learn general and insurance tax concepts; asks questions and challenge answers.
Self reviews own work for accuracy.
Must develop decision-making skills for problem identification and solution recommendation.
Can apply technology and tax rules to calculations.
Excellent interpersonal skills in a diverse and fast paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Progress toward CPA certification, Master's degree in tax or law degree a plus
Insurance or financial services background a plus.

Responsibilities

Prepares and analyzes federal, state and local income tax calculations, returns and estimates, including consolidations.
Prepares quarterly and annual tax provision calculations.
Reviews output from tax software and uses analytics to identify areas of focus.
Prepares statutory deferred tax asset admittance calculations and participates in preparation of GAAP and statutory financials statements and external audit support.
Supports Specialist and state audit Coordinator to research and prepare response to IRS and/or state information requests affecting assigned entities and tax adjustments.
Approaches work and assignments with a broad view and seeks opportunities to improve tax positions and reduce risk.
Communicates these ideas clearly and concisely to reviewers.
Supports planning projects and leans into new opportunities.
Champions technology and operational improvement culture.
Active participant in Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt/ Black Belt projects when expertise is needed.
Uses technology in our fast paced and highly automated environment.
In-depth tax systems knowledge and data management required for continued success.
Asks questions, seeks knowledge and demonstrates a desire to learn tax.
Actively participate in department lunch and learns and other technical development projects.
May perform other responsibilities as assigned.