Payroll & Tax Analyst

Stout Risius Ross, LLC; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work schedules

Discretionary time off

Wellness options

Job summary

Stout, Risius & Ross, LLC is seeking a payroll professional to support semi-monthly payroll for 1,200+ employees across 35 states, primarily using Workday. You will reconcile payroll and tax data, manage 401(k) contributions and other deductions, and respond to payroll inquiries with timely resolutions.

Join a team focused on strengthening controls, reducing compliance risk, and delivering accurate, on-time payroll and reporting, while collaborating with HR and external vendors in a dynamic

Qualifications

• Strong analytical, accounting and numerical skills for researching discrepancies.
• Proficiency with Excel; handling large data sets and common formulas.
• Clear communication, both written and verbal with internal stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Discretion handling confidential payroll and financial information.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, expanding ownership over time.

Responsibilities

• Backup Workday payroll processing for 1,200+ employees across ~35 states (semi-monthly).
• Review inputs: hires, terminations, compensation changes, PTO, leaves, final pay, signing bonus repayments and merit increases.
• Manage 401(k), insurance, garnishments and other deductions; perform reconciliations and close activities.
• Build recurring and ad-hoc Workday reports for Payroll, Tax, Finance and HR needs.
• Assist with payroll tax and 401(k) audits and year-end processes.
• Support federal, state and local payroll tax compliance and related registrations.
• Handle payroll inquiries and coordinate with vendors and stakeholders to resolve issues.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen controls and reduce risk.

Skills

Analytical skills

Excel

Communication

Organization

Multitasking

Discretion

Independent & collaborative

Workday knowledge

Tools

Workday

Job description

Impact You'll Make:

Perform payroll, payroll tax and 401(k) reconciliations; research discrepancies; and support month-end payroll accruals, reporting and close activities.

Support federal, state and local payroll tax compliance, including registrations, account maintenance, quarterly reporting, jurisdiction onboarding and closures, and year-end W-2 balancing and processing.

Manage physical and electronic tax correspondence by receiving, logging, routing and tracking items; take increasing ownership of research and elevate matters requiring technical review or response.

Respond to employee payroll inquiries and coordinate with payroll vendors and internal stakeholders to resolve issues accurately and timely.

Maintain payroll and tax procedures, checklists, controls and supporting records, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen controls and reduce compliance risk.

What You’ll Do:

Payroll Processing and Administration

Serve as a backup Workday payroll processor for a semi-monthly payroll of more than 1,200 salaried and hourly employees across approximately 35 states, including regular, on-demand and off-cycle payrolls.

Review payroll inputs and employee changes, including hires, terminations, compensation changes, paid time off, leaves, final paychecks, signing bonus repayments, and annual merit and promotion increases.

Review hourly employee and subcontractor time entries, assist with subcontractor payment calculations, and administer 401(k), insurance, garnishments and other payroll deductions.

Reconciliation, Reporting, and Financial Support

Perform payroll, payroll tax and 401(k) reconciliations; research discrepancies; and support month-end payroll accruals, reporting and close activities.

Build and maintain recurring and ad-hoc Workday reporting for Payroll, Tax, Finance, Human Resources, month-end close, external advisors and other business needs.

Assist with payroll tax and 401(k) audits, examinations and annual nondiscrimination testing by compiling documentation and researching discrepancies.

Payroll Tax and Compliance Support

Support federal, state and local payroll tax compliance, including registrations, account maintenance, quarterly reporting, jurisdiction onboarding and closures, and year-end W-2 balancing and processing.

Research payroll tax requirements and agency notices, work with taxing jurisdictions and vendors to resolve issues, and monitor compliance with applicable payroll and tax requirements.

Corporate Tax Support

Manage physical and electronic tax correspondence by receiving, logging, routing and tracking items; take increasing ownership of research and elevate matters requiring technical review or response.

Prepare the monthly use tax accrual and calculation, complete related reconciliations, assist with internally prepared tax returns, and prepare annual business license filings and renewals.

Support external tax preparers and advisors by compiling reports and documentation, responding to requests, assisting with return review and supporting tax research.

Employee and Cross-Functional Support

Respond to employee payroll inquiries and coordinate with payroll vendors and internal stakeholders to resolve issues accurately and timely.

Controls, Documentation, and Process Improvement

Maintain payroll and tax procedures, checklists, controls and supporting records, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen controls and reduce compliance risk.

Additional Responsibilities

Support system enhancements, acquisitions, training, special projects, ad-hoc reporting and overflow work, reprioritizing as needed to meet team deadlines.

What You Bring:

• Strong analytical, accounting and numerical skills, with the ability to research discrepancies and work with detailed financial and employee data.
• Knowledge of, or ability to learn, payroll, payroll tax, state and local tax, and related compliance requirements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, particularly Excel; experience with large data sets, reconciliations and commonly used formulas and functions is preferred.
• Strong listening, verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work effectively with employees, internal stakeholders, vendors and external advisors.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, accuracy and thoroughness.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and recurring deadlines in a time-sensitive environment.
• Ability to handle confidential employee, payroll, tax and financial information with discretion and recognize matters requiring escalation.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively and assume greater ownership as knowledge and experience develop.

What You Thrive:

Cultivate a positive, team-oriented approach that supports collaboration across Payroll, Tax and the broader organization.

Demonstrate accountability and reliability by consistently completing work accurately and meeting payroll, tax and reporting deadlines.

Exhibit an entrepreneurial mindset and a commitment to excellence, what we call Relentless Excellence®, in all aspects of your work.

Build effective working relationships with employees, internal stakeholders, vendors and external advisors.

Communicate clearly and respond promptly when resolving payroll questions, discrepancies and compliance matters.

Bring intellectual curiosity and strong attention to detail when researching issues and working with financial and employee data.

Manage changing priorities effectively while maintaining accuracy in a deadline-driven environment.

Continue developing payroll and tax knowledge and assume greater ownership as your experience grows.

Why Stout?

At Stout, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards program with competitive compensation, benefits, and wellness options tailored to support employees at every stage of life.

We foster a culture of inclusion and respect, embracing diverse perspectives and experiences to drive innovation and success.

Our leadership is committed to inclusion and belonging across the organization and in the communities we serve.

We invest in professional growth through ongoing training, mentorship, employee resource groups, and clear performance feedback, ensuring our employees are supported in achieving their career goals.

Stout provides flexible work schedules and a discretionary time off policy to promote work-life balance and help employees lead fulfilling lives.

Learn more about our benefits and commitment to your success. https://www.stout.com/en/careers/benefits

Additional Information Benefits Who We Are Firm Culture and History

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job.

Stout is an Equal Employment Opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment on the basis of valid job requirements, qualifications and merit without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.

At Stout, whether you're launching your career or bringing decades of expertise, you'll find the challenges, collaboration, and support that fuel real growth.

We invest in our people because we know that exceptional client service starts with how we take care of our own.

We reward outstanding performance, encourage continuous learning, and foster a culture where different perspectives strengthen our work and our team.

Stout provides flexible work schedules and a discretionary time off policy to promote work-life balance and help employees lead fulfilling lives.

Stout is committed to providing an alternative way to express your interest in our job opportunities if a disability inhibits you from applying online. Please call us at 248-208-8800 to communicate that you are utilizing this accommodation to express interest in a specific open position. Please reference the job code to help us process your request. Please understand that this option is only available to those in need of an accommodation related to a disability. All other requests regarding status of an application or a resume will not be provided by the use of this phone number.