Payroll Analyst

Job Title: Payroll Analyst (Workday | California Payroll & Tax Expertise)

Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Payroll Analyst with expertise in Workday Payroll, California payroll laws, and multi-state payroll tax compliance. This role is responsible for payroll processing, payroll tax compliance, and the configuration and maintenance of payroll tax jurisdictions, including setting up new state and local tax locations, withholding accounts, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist the Payroll Manager with the end-to-end processing of semi-monthly, and off-cycle payrolls, ensuring timely and accurate payroll execution.
• Support payroll review, validation, balancing, and reconciliation activities prior to payroll transmission.
• Partner with the Payroll Manager to resolve payroll discrepancies, employee inquiries, and tax-related issues.
• Assist with payroll close activities, reporting, and post-payroll audits to ensure compliance and accuracy.
• Serve as a backup to the Payroll Manager for payroll processing and critical payroll functions as needed.
• Configure and maintain state and local tax jurisdictions within Workday, including new tax locations, tax authorities, and withholding configurations.
• Set up and maintain state unemployment insurance (SUI) accounts, state withholding accounts, local tax jurisdictions, and employer tax registrations.
• Coordinate new state payroll tax registrations and ensure payroll systems are configured correctly before employees are hired in new jurisdictions.
• Maintain payroll tax mappings and validate tax calculations for federal, state, and local withholding requirements.
• Ensure compliance with California payroll laws, including wage and hour regulations, overtime, meal and rest break premiums, final pay requirements, wage statement compliance, and paid leave requirements.
• Research and resolve payroll tax discrepancies, tax notices, agency inquiries, and employee payroll issues.
• Perform payroll audits and reconciliations to ensure payroll accuracy and compliance.
• Support payroll system implementations, Workday enhancements, testing, and tax updates.
• Partner with HR, Finance, Benefits, Legal, and third-party tax vendors to ensure accurate payroll processing and tax compliance.
• Prepare payroll tax reports, reconciliations, and support internal and external audits.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, and system efficiencies.
• Maintain payroll documentation and support internal and external audits.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of payroll experience with multi-state payroll.
• 3+ years of Workday Payroll experience.
• Extensive knowledge of California payroll laws, payroll taxation, and wage and hour regulations.
• Experience setting up and maintaining:
  • State withholding accounts
  • State unemployment (SUI) accounts
  • Local tax jurisdictions
  • New tax locations
  • Employer tax registrations
  • Payroll tax configurations in Workday
• Experience working with payroll tax agencies and resolving tax notices.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.

Key Competencies

• Integrity and discretion
• Critical thinking and analytical skills
• Attention to detail
• Decision-making under pressure
• Strong communications skills