Sr. Payroll Analyst

Woodward, Inc.•Fort Collins, CO

7d•$85,000 - $136,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Woodward is seeking a Sr. Payroll Analyst to provide advanced expertise in payroll tax compliance and oversee accurate, timely payroll operations. The role focuses on federal, state, and local payroll taxation, tax reconciliation, complex discrepancy resolution, and compliance across the United States and Canada. The analyst will use Workday, OSV, and ADP Workforce Now to manage payroll workflows, data, and reporting, and will work with internal teams and external payroll-tax vendors to resolve issues and implement corrective actions. The position also includes training and mentoring junior payroll staff and improving payroll processes and systems. The estimated annual base pay range is $85,000 to $136,000, with a midpoint of $110,000. Woodward states that compensation depends on factors including education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity, market data, and location. The position requires applicants to be U.S. Persons under ITAR/EAR definitions or eligible to obtain required authorizations. The application window is anticipated to close seven days after the original posting date.

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.
Knowledge of international tax treaties, expatriate payroll, and local labor laws.
Experience conducting payroll audits, reconciliations, and variance analyses.
Ability to manage multiple payroll cycles and deadlines across regions.
Advanced analytical skills, including the ability to trace complex discrepancies across payroll transactions, tax filings, tax deposits, accounting records, and tax agency accounts.
Strong ability to analyze payroll data, identify trends, and generate actionable insights.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills to explain complex payroll policies and procedures to employees at all levels.

Nice To Haves

Proven ability to identify payroll process inefficiencies and implement automation or streamlined workflows.
Experience leading payroll system implementations, migrations, or upgrades and coordinating cross-functional teams.
Experience conducting training sessions or workshops on payroll policies and compliance.

Responsibilities

Serve as a subject matter expert on federal, state, and local payroll tax compliance and provide advanced technical guidance on withholding, employer taxes, taxable wages, reporting, and jurisdictional requirements.
Lead quarterly and year-end payroll tax reconciliations, ensuring payroll registers, taxable wage bases, employee and employer tax calculations, general ledger balances, tax deposits, and tax filings are accurate and complete.
Research and resolve complex payroll tax discrepancies across current and prior periods, including issues involving taxable wages, withholding, employer taxes, deposits, quarterly returns, W-2 reporting, and tax agency account balances.
Analyze complex tax scenarios, including 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 in accordance with company policies, applicable regulations, and tax laws.
Use Workday, OSV, and ADP Workforce Now to manage payroll workflows, data input, and reporting.
Manage payroll across multiple countries, including the United States and Canada, while ensuring compliance with international payroll regulations.
Train and mentor junior payroll staff on tax and compliance requirements and share expertise in payroll systems.
Conduct payroll audits, reconciliations, and variance analyses to ensure data accuracy and resolve discrepancies.
Analyze payroll data, identify trends, and generate actionable insights.
Identify payroll process inefficiencies and implement improvements, including automation tools or streamlined workflows.
Lead payroll system implementations, migrations, or upgrades, coordinating cross-functional teams and supporting project success.
Communicate complex payroll policies and procedures to employees at all levels and conduct training sessions or workshops.

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.
Optional spouse and child life insurance, optional AD&D, and 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.