Sr. Payroll Analyst - Denver, CO

Wilbur-Ellis • Denver, CO

1d

About The Position

The Senior Payroll Analyst is responsible for ensuring accurate, compliant, and efficient payroll operations for the U.S. and Canada (outside Québec), with a strong focus on Workday Payroll configuration, testing, reporting, and data integrity. This position plays a key role in maintaining payroll compliance, supporting tax and year-end activities, strengthening internal controls, and driving process improvements. The Senior Payroll Analyst also provides strategic oversight of the outsourced payroll provider, serving as the primary escalation point and partnering to improve accuracy, responsiveness, and overall service delivery.

Requirements

• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience with significant Workday Payroll configuration, testing, and reporting experience.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. federal/state/local and Canadian (non-Québec) payroll tax regulations and year-end requirements (W-2/W-2c, T4).
• Experience managing or overseeing outsourced payroll vendors, including escalations, performance monitoring, and process improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain complex Workday reports, including calculated fields and composite reports.
• Strong analytical skills with expertise in payroll reconciliations, tax issue resolution, and data validation.
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, formulas; Power Query preferred).
• Excellent communication, documentation, and organizational skills; ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, HR/Information Systems, or related field
• Advanced Workday Payroll configuration and testing (with documented testing steps)
• SOP development and maintenance
• Payroll tax compliance (U.S. & Canada)
• Vendor oversight and accountability
• Analytical problem-solving and root-cause investigation
• Strong documentation, communication, and cross-functional partnership skills
• High attention to detail and accuracy in payroll and tax processing

Nice To Haves

• CPP or equivalent certification strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Workday / HRIS (Configuration, Testing & Reporting)
• Serve as the Workday Payroll (US & Canada) subject matter expert, managing configuration for earnings, deductions, garnishments, tax setup, retro rules, and pay group requirements.
• Lead Workday regression testing and release validation, including documenting testing steps, analyzing outcomes, and ensuring accurate deployment of changes.
• Maintain Workday payroll configuration documentation, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and related process materials to ensure consistency and compliance.
• Develop and maintain advanced Workday payroll reports and dashboards (calculated fields, composite reports) to support operational monitoring, reconciliations, and leadership insights.
• Implement and monitor audit controls, validation checks, and data quality routines to ensure payroll accuracy and compliance with internal standards.
• Partner with HRIS and internal stakeholders to identify and deliver system enhancements, automation opportunities, and improvements to overall payroll processes.
• Outsourced Payroll Vendor Oversight (Strategic)
• Partner with the outsourced payroll provider to ensure payroll is processed accurately, timely, and in accordance with company standards and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for payroll vendor issues requiring technical analysis, investigation, or troubleshooting.
• Monitor vendor performance, accuracy, and responsiveness; hold the vendor accountable to service expectations and documented standards.
• Participate in vendor performance reviews, audit discussions, and issue-resolution meetings; ensure clear tracking, ownership, and closure of open items.
• Work collaboratively with the vendor and HRIS to identify root causes, strengthen controls, and implement process and system improvements.
• Payroll Processing, Compliance & Tax (U.S. & Canada)
• Support payroll activities involving multi‑state U.S. and Canadian (non‑Québec) pay practices, supplemental/off‑cycle processing, taxable fringe benefits, retroactive adjustments, leave‑related pay scenarios, supplemental pay calculations for LOA, and Canadian vacation pay true‑ups.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, and Canadian federal/provincial payroll tax regulations; research and resolve complex tax questions, including jurisdictional issues, reciprocity rules, and state/provincial workers’ compensation reporting and premium payment requirements.
• Lead year‑end activities, ensuring accurate preparation and reconciliation of W‑2/W‑2c and T4 tax forms; validate taxable wages, imputed income, deferred compensation, benefit‑related reporting, and WC audit support data.
• Manage payroll tax account maintenance (registrations, updates, closures) and respond to tax notices; provide documentation and partner with Finance and the vendor on adjustments.
• Support internal and external audits by providing payroll data, reconciliations, SOPs, and system documentation.
• Cross-Functional Partnership & Support
• Collaborate with HRIS, Finance, Legal, Risk, Benefits, and Shared Services to ensure payroll configuration, compliance, and system changes align with business needs.
• Serve as a technical escalation point for complex payroll inquiries, conducting root-cause analysis, and updating SOPs to strengthen future processes.
• Communicate payroll impacts on regulatory changes, enhancements, and system updates to relevant stakeholders.

Benefits

• This position is eligible for an annual discretionary bonus and vacation, holidays, health, dental, vision, mental health, and retirement plan participation, including an employer contribution of up to 7% into your 401(k).
• Employee Benefits: Take home a competitive salary and benefits you and your family deserve – from 401(K) matching, medical, dental and vision coverage, paid vacation, work-life balance and more.

What This Job Offers

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