Payroll Analyst

GEMS; Alaska; On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

GEMS is seeking a Payroll Analyst I to perform full-cycle payroll for assigned populations, entities, or states, across multiple pay frequencies. You will support Tier 2 payroll activities, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with tax and wage laws.

The role requires 1–3 years’ experience, proficiency with major payroll systems, and strong Excel skills. You will contribute to process improvements and provide guidance to junior staff in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years payroll processing across states/countries.
• Knowledge of federal/state/local wage & hour law, payroll taxes, garnishments.
• Experience operating a major payroll platform end-to-end.
• Intermediate Excel skills: pivots, lookup, formulas, large data reconciliation.
• Experience reconciling payroll to GL and researching variances.
• Experience resolving escalated cases in ServiceNow.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end payroll processing for assigned populations/entities.
• Perform complex calculations (retroactive pay, prorations, severance, relocation).
• Reconcile payroll to GL, validate funding, research variances prior to close.
• Review tax filings and unemployment returns; coordinate with tax provider.
• Administer multi-state/local tax setup including remote work implications.
• Own Tier 2 ServiceNow queue and resolve escalated cases within SLA.

Skills

Tier 2 case ownership

Analytical skills

Reconciliation discipline

Prioritization under deadlines

Clear communication

Process improvement

Mentoring others

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business/HR

FPC or CPP designation

Tools

Oracle

ADP

UKG

Dayforce

SAP

Job description

The Payroll Analyst I is an entry-level individual contributor responsible for full-cycle payroll processing for assigned populations, entities, or states, and for providing Tier 2 payroll support. This role performs pay calculations, owns reconciliations, supports payroll tax compliance and reporting, and resolves employee and manager cases escalated from Tier 1 through the ServiceNow ticketing platform. The Payroll Analyst I works with limited supervision, serves as a subject matter resource for assigned areas, contributes to process improvement initiatives, and provides guidance and training to less experienced team members.

Key Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end payroll processing for assigned employee populations, legal entities, or states/countries across multiple pay frequencies.
• Perform complex calculations, including retroactive pay, prorations, severance, relocation, equity compensation, imputed income, gross-ups, and taxable fringe benefits.
• Reconcile payroll to the general ledger, validate funding requirements, and research and clear variances prior to close.
• Review and validate quarterly and annual tax filings and unemployment returns; partner with the tax service provider to resolve agency notices.
• Administer multi-state and local tax setup, including reciprocity agreements and remote-work tax implications; audit benefit deductions, retirement contributions, and leave accruals.
• Own the Tier 2 ServiceNow queue: resolve escalated pay, tax, garnishment, and deduction cases within SLA, with complete documentation.
• Determine and execute case resolution via off-cycle payment, adjustment, or upstream fix; identify recurring themes and recommend process improvements.
• Serve as subject matter resource for assigned states/entities; prepare payroll journal entries and support internal, external, and SOX audits.
• Participate in UAT for system releases; prepare payroll funding files and support Treasury with settlement confirmation.
• Process assignment-related pay elements for globally mobile employees; validate pay transparency and pay equity data extracts.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of progressive multi-state/country payroll processing experience.
• Solid knowledge of federal, state, and local wage and hour law, payroll taxation, garnishment administration, and year-end requirements.
• Demonstrated experience operating a major payroll platform through the full payroll cycle.
• Intermediate Excel skills, including pivot tables, advanced lookups, conditional formulas, and reconciliation of large data sets.
• Experience reconciling payroll to the general ledger and researching wage and tax variances.
• Experience resolving escalated cases in a service management platform (ServiceNow strongly preferred); proven track record maintaining confidentiality.

Key Skills

• Tier 2 case ownership in ServiceNow, including research, resolution documentation, and SLA management
• Analytical and research skills for resolving complex pay and tax discrepancies
• Reconciliation discipline and an audit-oriented mindset
• Ability to prioritize and deliver against competing deadlines
• Clear communication, including translating regulatory requirements into plain language
• Ownership, accountability, and process improvement orientation
• Cross-functional partnership and mentoring of less experienced colleagues

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.
• Hands-on experience with Oracle, ADP, UKG, Dayforce, SAP, or other leading payroll systems.
• Experience administering equity compensation (RSUs, options, ESPP) or mobility/expatriate payroll.
• Experience with union environments, collective bargaining agreements, or multi-EIN structures.
• Exposure to Germany and EMEA payrolls; ability to build custom reports or queries within a payroll or HCM system.
• Annual bonus: 10%
• Base salary can be higher depending on the candidate's experience

Ralliant, originally part of Fortive, now stands as a bold, independent public company driving innovation at the forefront of precision technology. With a global footprint and a legacy of excellence, we empower engineers to bring next-generation breakthroughs to life - faster, smarter, and more reliably. Our high-performance instruments, sensors, and subsystems fuel mission-critical advancements across industries, enabling real-world impact where it matters most. At Ralliant we're building the future, together with those driven to push boundaries, solve complex problems, and leave a lasting mark on the world.

We Are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ralliant Corporation and all Ralliant Companies are proud to be equal opportunity employers. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or other characteristics protected by law. Ralliant and all Ralliant Companies are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Individuals who need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment application process, please contact us at [e-mail].