Payroll Tax Accountant

Aqua, Inc.; Bryn Mawr (PA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Essential Utilities, Inc. is seeking a Payroll Tax Accountant to manage tax filings and tax compliance within the Corporate Payroll Department across multiple states. You will maintain tax tables in the payroll system and support auditors as needed.

The role requires processing payroll, ensuring proper state tax setup for each associate, and producing required reports. Collaboration with payroll leadership and vendors is essential for accurate, timely filings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business, Economics, or related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of working knowledge of federal, state, and local tax concepts in a multi‑state environment.
• Minimum of five (5) years of working knowledge of accounting, spreadsheet, and planning software packages in a payroll environment.
• Familiarity with the ADP payroll system is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accuracy of monthly, quarterly, and yearly payroll and related tax filings.
• Provide tax filing support to auditors and coordinate tax audits as needed.
• Investigate and respond to tax notices from federal, state, and local agencies in a timely manner.
• Research laws and regulations regarding federal, state, and local taxes, and payroll withholding in a multi‑state environment.
• Assist in processing and reviewing payroll weekly.
• Ensure state and local taxes are set up appropriately for each associate within the payroll system and compliant with laws.
• Establish and maintain controls with auditors, agencies, and vendors.
• Coordinate quarterly and annual adjustments, including W‑2C year‑end processing.
• Handle payroll funding and accounts payable.

Skills

Multi-state tax concepts

Payroll accounting software

ADP payroll system familiarity

Education

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

Tools

ADP payroll system

Job description

Payroll Tax Accountant

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status, including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package.

We are looking for a highly capable Payroll Tax Accountant to join our best‑in‑class team. In this role, you will be responsible for all tax and tax compliance functions within the Corporate Payroll Department. Under the general direction of the Payroll Manager, you will maintain tax tables in the payroll system for all companies at Essential Utilities.

Essential Duties

• Maintain accuracy of monthly, quarterly, and yearly payroll and related tax filings.
• Provide tax filing support to auditors and coordinate tax audits as needed.
• Investigate and respond to all tax notices from federal, state, and local agencies in a timely manner.
• Research laws and regulations regarding federal, state, and local taxes, taxable events, and payroll withholding procedures in a multi‑state environment.
• Assist in processing and reviewing payroll weekly.
• Ensure state and local taxes are set up appropriately for each associate within the payroll system and in compliance with applicable state and local laws.
• Establish and maintain controls, including relationships with auditors, state and federal agencies, and third‑party vendors.
• Coordinate quarterly and annual adjustments with team lead and Manager of Payroll and/or payroll vendor, including W‑2C year‑end processing.
• Handle payroll funding and the payroll department's accounts payable.
• Perform all the department's accounting functions, including reconciliation of all payroll‑related accounts on a monthly and quarterly basis and the preparation of journal entries as required.
• Generate ad hoc payroll accounting reports as needed.
• Develop, maintain, and manage detailed project plans, action item registers, and major milestone timelines for all assigned projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business, Economics, or related field.
• A minimum of five (5) years of working knowledge of federal, state, and local tax concepts in a multi‑state environment.
• A minimum of five (5) years of working knowledge of accounting, spreadsheet, and planning software packages in a payroll environment.
• Familiarity with the ADP payroll system is a plus.

Work Environment

The work environment is generally quiet. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Physical and Mental Requirements

1. Sedentary physical activity requiring reaching, squeezing, lifting, finger dexterity, grasping, feeling, repetitive motions, talking, and hearing.
2. Visual requirements include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
3. Approximately 75% of the time is spent looking directly at a computer.
4. The associate is frequently required to stand, walk, or otherwise be mobile.
5. Ability to deal with stressful situations as they arise.

Equal Opportunity / Accommodation Statement

Essential Utilities, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered‑veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call 1‑877‑271‑9012.

Conflict of Interest Guidelines

• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship.
• Family members cannot work in the same department.