Payroll Administrator - Tax Specialist

Stifel; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Stifel is seeking a Payroll Administrator - Tax Specialist to ensure accurate payroll tax withholding, reporting, compliance, and reconciliation for all employees. This role acts as the subject matter expert for federal, state, and local taxes and supports payroll processing activities.

You will collaborate with HR, Benefits, Finance, and other teams to maintain systems, respond to notices, and drive process improvements while ensuring regulatory compliance across jurisdictions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration or related field is required.
• 3+ years of payroll/tax experience or related field.
• FPC and CPP credentials preferred.

Responsibilities

• Administer federal, state, and local payroll tax withholding, reporting, filings, and payments.
• Prepare, review, reconcile, and file quarterly and annual payroll tax returns and related reports.
• Coordinate year-end payroll tax activities, including forms W-2 and W-2c filings.
• Maintain payroll tax accounts, registrations, and system configurations.
• Monitor notices and audits; respond to tax authorities as needed.
• Resolve payroll tax issues and discrepancies; address employee questions.
• Analyze tax treatments for payroll transactions and multi-state taxation matters.
• Support payroll processing by reviewing calculations, withholdings, and off-cycle payments.
• Perform payroll tax reconciliations and ensure data accuracy.
• Collaborate with HR, Benefits, Finance, and other stakeholders on tax administration.
• Maintain payroll records and procedures per policies and regulations.
• Identify improvement opportunities and contribute to efficiency projects.

Skills

Payroll tax regs

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Excel proficiency

Multi-tasking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration or related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

What You'll Be Doing

The Payroll Administrator - Tax Specialist is responsible for ensuring accurate payroll tax withholding, reporting, compliance, and reconciliation for all employees. This role serves as the subject matter expert for federal, state, and local payroll taxes, supports payroll processing activities, researches and resolves tax issues, and ensures compliance with applicable tax regulations.

What We're Looking For

• Administer federal, state, and local payroll tax withholding, reporting, filings, and payments, ensuring compliance with all applicable tax laws and regulations.
• Prepare, review, reconcile, and file quarterly and annual payroll tax returns and related tax reports.
• Coordinate year-end payroll tax activities, including Forms W-2, W-2c, and other required tax reporting.
• Maintain payroll tax accounts, registrations, jurisdictional setups, and related system configurations.
• Monitor, research, and respond to payroll tax notices, agency correspondence, audits, and government inquiries.
• Research and resolve payroll tax issues, discrepancies, amended filings, and employee tax-related questions.
• Analyze and apply appropriate tax treatment for payroll transactions, including supplemental wages, relocation benefits, fringe benefits, and multi-state taxation matters.
• Support payroll processing activities by reviewing payroll calculations, earnings, deductions, tax withholdings, adjustments, reversals, and off-cycle payments.
• Perform payroll tax account reconciliations and validate the accuracy and completeness of payroll tax data and reporting.
• Collaborate with Human Resources, Benefits, Compensation, Finance, and other stakeholders to ensure accurate payroll and tax administration.
• Maintain payroll records, documentation, and procedures in accordance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities for process improvement; develop metrics and management reporting to support decision-making.
• Recommend, document, and implement payroll tax process improvements, automation initiatives, system upgrades, testing activities, and compliance-related projects.

What You'll Bring

• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations.
• Understanding of wage and hour laws and payroll compliance requirements.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.

Education & Experience

• Minimum Required: Bachelors degree in Accounting, Business Administration or related field required.
• Minimum Required :3+ years of related experience required.

Licenses & Credentials

• Preferred - Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) and Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)

Systems & Technology

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook #LI-JK1

About Stifel

Stifel is more than 130 years old and still thinking like a start-up. We are a global wealth management and investment banking firm serious about innovation and fresh ideas. Built on a simple premise of safeguarding our clients’ money as if it were our own, coined by our namesake, Herman Stifel, our success is intimately tied to our commitment to helping families, companies, and municipalities find their own success.

While our headquarters is in St. Louis, we have offices in New York, San Francisco, Baltimore, London, Frankfurt, Toronto, and more than 400 other locations. Stifel is home to approximately 9,000 individuals who are currently building their careers as financial advisors, research analysts, project managers, marketing specialists, developers, bankers, operations associates, among hundreds more. Let's talk about how you can find your place here at Stifel, where success meets success.

At Stifel we offer an entrepreneurial environment, comprehensive benefits package to include health, dental and vision care, 401k, wellness initiatives, life insurance, and paid time off.

Stifel is an Equal Opportunity Employer.