Payroll Analyst or Senior Payroll Analyst

Duke Energy Corporation; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Duke Energy Corporation in the United States seeks a Payroll Analyst to guarantee accurate payroll, regulatory compliance, and a positive employee experience. You will partner with HR, Finance, Tax, IT, and our payroll service provider to support payroll processes for a large, diverse workforce.

The hiring manager may elect to fill this position as a Payroll Analyst or Senior Payroll Analyst, depending on experience. Hybrid work with three days in the office after onboarding.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, HR, or closely related field.
• Experience with payroll processing and payroll tax requirements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables and lookups.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.

Responsibilities

• Support accurate and timely payroll processing for multiple employee populations and pay cycles.
• Review payroll results, investigate variances, and resolve discrepancies.
• Analyze payroll transactions to ensure compliance with company policies and applicable regulations.
• Provide payroll expertise for corrections, special payments, and complex employee scenarios.
• Assist with year-end payroll activities, including W-2 review, validation, and reporting.
• Support SOX controls and payroll compliance reviews through documentation, testing, and audit support.
• Collaborate with Duke Energy's payroll vendor and service partners to ensure accurate and timely payroll execution.
• Prepare and analyze payroll reports for management, finance, and regulatory purposes.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, and employee experience.

Skills

Payroll data analysis

Advanced Excel

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, HR, or related field

Tools

Workday Payroll

Job description

More than a career - a chance to make a difference in people's lives.
Build an exciting, rewarding career with us – help us make a difference for millions of people every day. Consider joining the Duke Energy team, where you'll find a friendly work environment, opportunities for growth and development, recognition for your work, and competitive pay and benefits.
The hiring manager may elect to fill this position as a Payroll Analyst or one level higher as a Senior Payroll Analyst, dependent upon the experience of the selected candidate.
Duke Energy is seeking a highly analytical and customer-focused Payroll Analyst to support payroll operations for one of the nation's largest energy companies. This role is responsible for ensuring payroll accuracy, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and a positive employee experience.
The Payroll Analyst partners with HR, Finance, Tax, Information Technology, and Duke Energy's payroll service provider to support payroll processes impacting a large and diverse workforce. The position requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, payroll tax expertise, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
The successful candidate will serve as a trusted payroll subject matter expert, helping drive compliance, operational efficiency, and process modernization initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Operations

• Support accurate and timely payroll processing for multiple employee populations and pay cycles.
• Review payroll results, investigate variances, and resolve discrepancies.
• Analyze payroll transactions to ensure compliance with company policies and applicable regulations.
• Provide payroll expertise for pay corrections, special payments, and complex employee scenarios.

Compliance and Controls

• Support compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations.
• Assist with year-end payroll activities, including W-2 review, validation, and reporting.
• Support SOX controls and payroll compliance reviews through documentation, testing, and audit support.
• Research payroll tax issues and provide recommendations for resolution.
• Coordinate responses to internal and external audit requests.

Vendor Partnership Management

• Collaborate with Duke Energy's payroll vendor and service partners to ensure accurate and timely payroll execution.
• Monitor service delivery and assist in resolving escalated payroll issues.
• Participate in regular operational reviews and process improvement discussions with vendor partners.

Analytics and Reporting

• Prepare and analyze payroll reports for management, finance, and regulatory purposes.
• Conduct data analysis to identify trends, exceptions, and opportunities for process improvements.
• Utilize Workday and Microsoft Excel to support payroll reporting and decision making.
• Develop recommendations based on data-driven insights.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, and employee experience.
• Participate in system implementations, enhancements, and testing activities.
• Assist in documenting payroll procedures and maintaining process documentation.
• Support strategic payroll initiatives and cross-functional projects.

Key Skills And Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or closely related field.
• Experience with payroll processing, payroll compliance requirements, payroll tax or closely related.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, and data analysis.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Required Qualifications - Payroll Analyst

• Bachelor's degree
• In addition to required degree, one (1) or more years related work experience
• In lieu of Bachelor's degree(s) AND 1 plus years' related work experience listed above, High School/GED AND five (5) or more years related work experience

Required Qualifications - Senior Payroll Analyst

• Bachelor’s degree
• In addition to required degree, three (3) or more years related work experience
• In lieu of Bachelor's degree(s) AND three (3) or more years related work experience listed above, High School/GED AND seven (7) or more years related work experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC).
• Experience supporting large multi-state payroll operations.
• Experience with Workday Payroll.
• Experience working with third-party payroll providers.
• Knowledge of payroll tax reporting and compliance requirements.
• Experience supporting SOX controls, audits, or compliance programs.
• Experience with reporting and analytics tools.
• Utility, energy, or large enterprise payroll experience preferred.

What Sets This Opportunity Apart

• Opportunity to support payroll operations for a Fortune 500 energy company.
• Exposure to complex, multi-state payroll and tax environments.
• Significant partnership with HR, Finance, Tax, and external providers.
• Ability to influence process improvements and modernization efforts.
• Meaningful impact on employee experience and payroll compliance.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid – Work will be performed from both remote and onsite locations after the onboarding period. However, hybrid employees should live within a reasonable commute to Duke Energy location.
• 3 days per week in the office requirement

Travel Requirements

Not required

Relocation Assistance Provided (as applicable)

No

Represented/Union Position

No

Visa Sponsored Position

No. This is not a Visa Sponsored Position. This role requires the ability to work lawfully in the U.S. without employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future.

Please note that in order to be considered for this position, you must possess all of the basic/required qualifications.

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