Sr. Payroll Analyst

Woodward L'Orange•Fort Collins, CO

6d•$85,000 - $136,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Woodward is hiring a Sr. Payroll Analyst to oversee payroll administration and provide advanced expertise in payroll tax compliance. The role includes managing payroll activities across the United States and Canada, ensuring accurate and timely processing, and complying with applicable company policies, regulations, and tax laws. The analyst will use Workday, OSV, and ADP Workforce Now to manage workflows, enter data, and produce reports. The analyst serves as a subject matter expert on federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements, including withholding, employer taxes, taxable wages, reporting, and jurisdictional rules. The role leads quarterly and year-end reconciliations, investigates complex tax discrepancies across current and prior periods, analyzes specialized taxation situations, and works with internal teams and external vendors to resolve issues and implement corrective actions. The position also trains and mentors junior payroll staff and contributes to process improvements, analytics, and payroll system projects. Woodward describes a workplace grounded in integrity, respect, accountability, humility, and professional and ethical standards. Estimated annual base pay is $85,000 minimum, $110,000 midpoint, and $136,000 maximum; the offer may vary based on education, experience, skills, location, and other job-related factors. The position requires applicants to be U.S. Persons under ITAR/EAR or eligible to obtain required authorizations.

Requirements

Advanced knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll taxation, including withholding, taxable wages, unemployment taxes, deposits, quarterly filings, and year-end reporting.
Advanced knowledge of Workday, OSV, and ADP Workforce Now for payroll management and reporting.
Experience managing payroll operations across multiple countries, including knowledge of international tax treaties, expatriate payroll, and local labor laws.
Experience conducting payroll audits, reconciliations, and variance analyses to ensure accuracy and resolve discrepancies.
Ability to manage multiple payroll cycles and deadlines across various regions.
Advanced analytical skills, including the ability to trace discrepancies across payroll transactions, tax filings, tax deposits, accounting records, and tax agency accounts.
Ability to analyze payroll data, identify trends, and generate actionable insights.
Ability to identify payroll process inefficiencies and implement improvements, including automation tools or streamlined workflows.
Experience leading payroll system implementations, migrations, or upgrades, including coordinating cross-functional teams.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills to explain complex payroll policies and procedures to employees at all levels and conduct training sessions or workshops.
Applicants must be U.S. Persons within the meaning of ITAR/EAR or eligible to obtain all required authorizations.

Responsibilities

Serve as a subject matter expert on federal, state, and local payroll tax compliance and provide advanced technical guidance.
Lead quarterly and year-end payroll tax reconciliations, verifying payroll registers, taxable wage bases, employee and employer tax calculations, general ledger balances, tax deposits, and tax filings.
Research and resolve complex payroll tax discrepancies involving current and prior periods, including taxable wages, withholding, employer taxes, deposits, returns, W-2 reporting, and agency account balances.
Analyze complex tax scenarios involving multi-state employees, work locations, reciprocity, resident and nonresident taxation, supplemental wages, fringe benefits, third-party sick pay, and other special wage and tax situations.
Partner with HRIS, Accounting, Finance, Benefits, Legal/Tax, and external payroll-tax vendors to resolve complex tax issues and implement corrective actions.
Oversee and process accurate and timely payroll, ensuring compliance with company policies, applicable regulations, and tax laws.
Use Workday, OSV, and ADP Workforce Now to manage payroll workflows, data input, and reporting.
Administer payroll across multiple countries, including the United States and Canada, in compliance with international payroll regulations.
Train and mentor junior payroll staff on tax and compliance requirements.
Share expertise in Workday, OSV, and ADP Workforce Now to enhance team capabilities.

Benefits

Annual cash bonus opportunity for all members.
401(k) match of 4.5%.
Annual Woodward stock contribution of 5%.
Tuition reimbursement and training/professional development opportunities.
12 paid holidays, including floating holidays.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance upon date of hire.
Vacation, sick time, vacation buy-up, short-term disability, and bereavement leave.
Paid parental leave.
Adoption assistance.
Employee Assistance Program, including mental health benefits.
Member life and AD&D, long-term disability, and optional life insurance.
Member referral bonus.
Spouse/child optional life and optional AD&D insurance.
Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
Voluntary benefits, including home and auto insurance discounts, whole life insurance, critical illness insurance, legal assistance, and military leave.