Lead Payroll Analyst

Jobtailor; Memphis (TN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentoring

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

St. Jude is seeking an experienced payroll accounting professional in Memphis, TN to support payroll operations, audits, and financial reporting.

This role focuses on compliance, analytics, and process improvements across multi‑state environments. You will coordinate internal control activities, prepare schedules and statements, and partner with cross‑functional teams to deliver timely reports and dashboards for senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, auditing, finance, or related field required.
• 5+ years of accounting experience with general ledger systems.
• Experience supporting payroll operations, compliance reporting, auditing, and payroll‑related analysis.

Responsibilities

• Support payroll operations through compliance reporting, auditing, analytics, and process improvement initiatives
• Coordinate annual Internal Controls and Financial Statement audits performed by external auditors
• Prepare audit schedules, supporting documentation, and financial statements
• Reconcile and analyze complex accounts while meeting established deadlines
• Coordinate with cross‑functional teams to prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual reports
• Track key metrics, oversee reporting and dashboards, and highlight issues or gaps to senior management
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to improve efficiency
• Mentor team members through advice, coaching, and training opportunities when applicable
• Prepare federal, state, and local payroll filings and manage payroll-related legal requests
• Evaluate tax implications and support audits, recoveries, and risk mitigation activities
• Monitor payroll variances, research and resolve discrepancies, coordinate audits, and support financial reconciliations
• Drive payroll metrics, dashboards, workflow enhancements, employee self-service initiatives, benchmarking, and cross-functional projects
• Develop and analyze payroll audit reports and assist accountants with key account reconciliations in BlackLine
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Participate in performance management processes, including Check In milestones and the Annual Performance Review

Skills

Payroll Operations

Compliance Reporting

Advanced Excel

Workday Payroll Experience

Accounting Standards Knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting, auditing, finance, or related field of study

Tools

Workday

BlackLine

Dashboards

HRIS platforms

Employee self-service tools

Job description

• Support payroll operations through compliance reporting, auditing, analytics, and process improvement initiatives
• Coordinate annual Internal Controls and Financial Statement audits performed by external auditors
• Prepare audit schedules, supporting documentation, and financial statements
• Reconcile and analyze complex accounts while meeting established deadlines
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual reports
• Track key metrics, oversee reporting and dashboards, and highlight issues or gaps to senior management
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to improve efficiency
• Mentor team members through advice, coaching, and training opportunities when applicable
• Prepare federal, state, and local payroll filings and manage payroll-related legal requests
• Evaluate tax implications and support audits, recoveries, and risk mitigation activities
• Monitor payroll variances, research and resolve discrepancies, coordinate audits, and support financial reconciliations
• Drive payroll metrics, dashboards, workflow enhancements, employee self-service initiatives, benchmarking, and cross-functional projects
• Develop and analyze payroll audit reports and assist accountants with key account reconciliations in BlackLine
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Participate in performance management processes, including Check In milestones and the Annual Performance Review

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, auditing, finance, or related field of study required
• 5+ years of accounting experience working with a general ledger and related financial information systems
• Experience with accounting standards and regulations (e.g., IRS, US GAAP, Uniform Guidance, hospital regulations) within specific area
• Experience working with cross-functional teams
• Proven performance in earlier role
• Experience supporting payroll operations, compliance reporting, auditing, and payroll-related analysis
• Strong knowledge of payroll regulations and reporting requirements
• Advanced Excel and payroll reporting skills
• Experience with payroll systems, HRIS platforms, dashboards, KPIs, and operational reporting tools
• Experience working in complex payroll environments
• Workday Payroll/Time Tracking experience and ability to handle confidential information preferred
• Experience in healthcare, charitable organizations, higher education, or other complex, multi-state payroll environments strongly preferred
• Familiarity with leave administration, employee self-service tools, and payroll-related process improvement initiatives desired
• Professional certification such as FPC or CPP preferred
• Maintains regular and predictable attendance
• Ability to adhere to policies and deliver quality work while applying St. Jude values and principles

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in payroll operations, compliance reporting, and auditing, with a strong focus on process improvement and cross-functional collaboration. Proficient in payroll systems and regulations, with advanced analytical skills to support financial reconciliations and reporting.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Payroll Operations Support
• Compliance Reporting
• Advanced Excel Skills
• Workday Payroll Experience
• Accounting Standards Knowledge

Hard Skills

• Accounting
• Auditing
• Financial Analysis
• Payroll Reporting
• General Ledger Management
• Tax Implications Evaluation
• Process Improvement
• KPI Tracking
• Financial Statement Preparation
• Account Reconciliation

Soft Skills

• Mentoring
• Coaching
• Collaboration
• Problem-Solving
• Communication

Certifications & Qualifications

• FPC
• CPP

Industry Keywords

• IRS Regulations
• US GAAP
• Uniform Guidance
• Healthcare Payroll
• Multi-State Payroll

Tools & Technologies

• HRIS Platforms
• Dashboards
• Operational Reporting Tools
• BlackLine
• Employee Self-Service Tools