Payroll Analyst

Kao USA, Inc.; Cincinnati (OH); Hybrid; USD 41,328 - 46,838; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Kao USA, Inc. is seeking a Payroll Analyst to ensure accurate, timely payroll across multi-state employees using Workday.

You will manage payroll processing, tax withholdings, and deductions, partnering with HR, Finance, and leadership to maintain payroll integrity and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This role offers a hybrid work environment, competitive hourly pay in the $30–$34 range, comprehensive benefits starting day one, and opportunities to improve processes,

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years of payroll processing experience (multi-state).
• Experience with Workday payroll is required.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations.
• Experience with payroll audits, reconciliations, garnishments, and payroll reporting.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP) for data analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with strong customer service orientation.

Responsibilities

• Process bi-weekly payroll for 1,700+ workers across multiple states on the Workday platform.
• Ensure payroll is processed with time verification and accuracy of pay, deductions, and taxes.
• Handle commissions, service awards, and ad-hoc imputed income.
• Collaborate with Leave of Absence Administrator for accurate payouts.

Skills

Workday payroll

Payroll tax compliance

Multi-state payroll

Excel (Pivot/XLOOKUP)

Audits & reconciliations

Data analysis

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Business/Finance or related field

Tools

ADP SmartCompliance

Job description

The role:

As a Payroll Analyst, you will ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing while supporting our Workday payroll system, reporting, audits, and regulatory requirements. Reporting to the Payroll Supervisor, you will analyze payroll data, resolve discrepancies, maintain payroll integrity, and improve payroll processes and controls. You will support employees, HR, Finance, and leadership by ensuring correct pay, tax withholding, deductions, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

At Kao, we offer amazing benefits that are available to you on your first day of employment (healthcare, 401(k) plus company match), 37 total days off (vacation + holidays + sick) and a competitive salary range of $30.00 - $34.000 per hour. We also offer a hybrid work environment.

What you will do:

Payroll Processing & Administration

• Review and process bi-weekly payroll for 1,700+ workers for multi-states on the Workday platform.
• Ensure Payroll processing is processed in a manner that provides time verification.
• Process commissions, service awards, and other imputed income on an ad-hoc basis.
• Partner with Leave of Absence Administrator for accurate payouts on a bi-weekly basis.
• Process garnishment, child support, and tax levy orders with current vendor, ADP.
• Run queries utilizing Workday researching and answering all payroll questions.

Payroll Audits, Reconciliation & Financial Controls

• Perform payroll audits and reconciliations to ensure accuracy of earnings, deductions, taxes, and benefit withholdings.
• Review and reconcile payroll general ledger entries in partnership with Accounting/Finance.
• Maintain payroll records and documentation in compliance with company policy and regulatory requirements.
• Generate and analyze payroll reports for leadership, Finance, and compliance reporting needs.

Payroll Tax & Regulatory Compliance

• Monitor the ADP SmartCompliance for wage payments, wage assignments, and taxes.
• Comply with all federal, state, and local regulatory requirements for the payment of compensation and related taxes.
• Assist with quarterly tax balancing and filing of tax returns in all jurisdictions across all FEINs to ensure the accuracy of both Workday and ADP.
• Ensure accurate taxation for remote employees, multi-state employees, expatriates, and relocations.
• Work closely with Human Resources to maintain compliance with company policy.

HRIS, Systems & Integrations

• Validate payroll data imports, integrations, and outbound interfaces between HRIS, benefits, timekeeping, and payroll vendors.
• Participate in testing and validation of payroll system updates, patches, and enhancements within Workday.
• Resolve problems related to Payroll processing; identify system improvements.
• Collaborate with HRIS and IT teams on system configuration, security roles, and workflow improvements.

Benefits & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work in collaboration with Benefits team to assist with Employee Benefit setup and rules.
• Assist the Payroll Lead on various requests.
• Work closely with Human Resources to maintain compliance with company policy.

Process Improvement & Documentation

• Assist in the development and documentation of various Payroll initiatives designed to streamline the process and scale with the organization.
• Maintain and update payroll procedures, job aids, and standard operating procedures.

Mergers & Acquisitions Support

• Assist the Payroll Lead with payroll-related actions during mergers & acquisitions.
• Support payroll integration activities during acquisitions, divestitures, and organizational restructures.

Professionalism & Customer Service

• Conduct all business professionally and ethically to serve customers and increase goodwill.
• Maintain confidentiality of employee payroll and personal information in accordance with company policies.

What you will need:

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in payroll processing, including multi-state payroll administration and payroll tax compliance.
• Experience processing payroll in Workday required.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations and wage and hour compliance requirements.
• Experience with payroll audits, reconciliations, garnishments, and payroll reporting.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and data analysis.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills with high attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict payroll deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong customer service orientation.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resources, Finance, or related field; equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

How we work:

Having been selected among the World's Most Ethical Companies for 19 consecutive years, we are a company with a purpose and strong corporate values. We never compromise on quality and create our products with care for the consumer and the environment. At Kao, each employee can shape their job and their career. We work collaboratively to achieve our common goals, always aiming to deliver the best for our customers.

What we offer:

A friendly and flexible work environment with great compensation packages, benefits package, ongoing development and the opportunity to enhance your skills and deliver tangible results. At Kao your voice will be heard. Your opinion really counts. We believe that change comes from taking opportunities into your own hands, so we value and reward entrepreneurial thinking and new ideas.

Hiring Process:

Kao embraces the diversity and the individual personalities of its people because we believe it is diversity that makes us strong. This is why we welcome applications from all areas of the global community.

Want to learn more:

If you feel you are as unique as our products and want to find out why 33,000 people across the globe opted for a career with us please visit our Americas website (https://www.kao.com/americas/en/).

Kao is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.

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