Payroll & State Tax Registration Consultant (Contract)
Position Summary
Our client is seeking an experienced Payroll & State Tax Registration Consultant to support businesses with multi-state payroll setup, employer tax registrations, payroll and benefit compliance, and onboarding into payroll systems. This consultant will work closely with HR, finance, accounting, and operations teams to ensure accurate and compliant payroll tax registrations and filings across various states and local jurisdictions.
The ideal candidate has strong knowledge of payroll processing, state employer tax accounts, unemployment insurance registrations, withholding tax requirements, and payroll platform implementation.
Key Responsibilities
Payroll & Tax Registration
- Register businesses for state payroll tax accounts including:
- State withholding tax
- Local payroll tax accounts where applicable
- Manage multi-state employer registrations and compliance requirements
- Coordinate account setup with payroll providers and state agencies
- Maintain accurate employer tax account records and login credentials
- Monitor registration status and resolve agency issues or delays
Payroll Support
- Assist with payroll system setup and configuration
- Support onboarding onto the payroll platform:
- ADP
- Review employee tax setup and state withholding configurations
- Ensure payroll tax compliance with federal, state, and local requirements
- Support quarterly and annual payroll tax filing processes
Compliance & Reporting
- Research into changing payroll tax laws and registration requirements
- Assist with notices from state tax agencies and unemployment departments
- Maintain compliance calendars and registration tracking reports
- Support audits and payroll tax reconciliations
- Document processes and maintain compliance procedures
Client & Internal Support
- Serve as a liaison between clients, payroll providers, and state agencies
- Provide guidance on state nexus and employer registration requirements
- Respond to payroll tax questions from internal teams and clients
- Train staff on payroll registration processes and compliance best practices
Qualifications
- 3+ years of payroll tax, payroll operations, or state tax registration experience
- Strong understanding of:
- Multi-state payroll compliance
- SUI and withholding accounts
- Experience working with payroll software platforms
- Knowledge of federal payroll tax regulations and state labor laws
- Strong organizational and project management skills
- Ability to manage multiple registrations and deadlines simultaneously
- Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities
Preferred Qualifications
- CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification preferred
- Experience in a PEO, staffing agency, CPA firm, or payroll services environment
- Familiarity with onboarding remote employees across multiple states
- Experience handling payroll notices and agency correspondence