Senior Analyst, Payroll

Essex Property Trust; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 94,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Parental leave

401(k) match

Wellness programs

Paid holidays

PTO

Housing discount

Job summary

Essex Property Trust in Irvine, CA, is seeking a Senior Payroll Analyst to optimize Workday payroll and absence management, partner with HR and Accounting, and support bi-weekly payroll processing. The role emphasizes compliance across US states and deep Workday knowledge.

Hybrid work four days in-office; you will lead configuration updates, testing cycles, and documentation while acting as a payroll expert and backup during processing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience and systems administration.
• Knowledge of US payroll regulations across multi-state/local jurisdictions.
• Experience with Workday Payroll, Absence Management, Time Tracking, OSV Atmosphere.
• Strong MS Office skills including Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables).
• Hybrid work schedule: in-office four days a week in Irvine.

Responsibilities

• Configure and maintain Workday Payroll and absence settings.
• Stay compliant with state and federal payroll regulations and audit tax config.
• Generate payroll reports; troubleshoot and resolve complex issues.
• Train end-users and document payroll processes.
• Lead bi-annual Workday Payroll/Absence testing and release docs.
• Serve as payroll expert and backups for processing cycles.

Skills

Payroll systems

Data analysis

Problem solving

Communication

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, HR, Accounting, Finance

Tools

Workday

OSV Atmosphere

Job description

City

Irvine

State

California

Job Location

Irvine Regional Office (Derian)

Position Type

Regular

The Senior Payroll Analyst will provide expert analysis, configure enhancements, troubleshoot complex issues, and ensure optimal system functionality. You will partner with cross-functional HR leaders to develop and maintain our payroll and absence management processes within the Workday platform. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of working with third-party vendors to assist in configuring payroll processes in Workday and possess in-depth knowledge of payroll regulations and compliance across the US. In this role, you will assist our Payroll Specialists with complex processing errors and serve as a backup to the bi-weekly payroll processing.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

• System Configuration and Maintenance: Assists in maintaining Workday Payroll system and absence management settings to align with organizational policies and compliance requirements. Identifies payroll and absence-related updates, and enhancements to align with best practices and recommendations.
• Compliance and Regulation: Stay abreast of state and federal payroll regulations, assisting with compliance matters. Conduct regular audits to identify and rectify discrepancies and ensure data accuracy. Maintain and audit tax configuration for an associate population of 1,700+ specifically in California and Washington.
• Data Analysis and Troubleshooting: Generate and analyze payroll reports to identify trends, discrepancies, and opportunities for process improvement. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to investigate and resolve complex payroll issues.
• Support and Documentation: Partner closely with HR and Accounting teams by offering guidance on payroll-related inquiries. Provide training to end-users on Workday payroll system functionality. Assists in creating and maintaining documentation rollout for payroll-related processes and procedures.
• Lead bi-annual Workday Payroll and Absence feature release testing and documentation on behalf of the Payroll team.
• Continuously increases regulatory knowledge in Payroll serving as an expert in SOX and compliance.
• Serve as a backup to the Payroll team as Payroll processing may sometimes be required.
• Prepare bi-weekly payroll funding and reconciliation between Workday/OSV Atmosphere.
• Assist with tax variances between Workday/OSV Atmosphere to ensure accurate tax returns for both quarterly and annual filings.
• Assist with year-end statement preparation including but not limited to off-cycle payroll runs to true up variances at the close of the year.
• May guide and/or assist with other Payroll projects as assigned.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of associate information.

WHAT THE JOB REQUIRES:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Accounting, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience, including hands-on payroll systems administration and payroll processing.
• In-depth knowledge of payroll regulations, and compliance with multi-state and local payroll processing.
• Experience in Workday components such as Payroll, Absence Management, Time Tracking and OneSource Virtual (OSV Atmosphere).
• Strong working knowledge of MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) mid-level Excel skills; knowledge of VLOOKUP’s, Pivot Tables required.
• Hybrid work arrangement with in-office attendance four days per week (Monday through Thursday) at Essex’s Irvine corporate office. Hybrid policy subject to change at Essex’s sole discretion.
• Requires the ability to sit or stand for extended periods with minimal physical exertion

WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE TABLE:

• Skilled at managing small projects independently, and identifying opportunities for improvement, driving the continuous enhancement of the payroll and absence processes.
• Proven ability to work effectively and build relationships with various teams, departments, and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to handle change and manage multiple tasks effectively by prioritizing requests and meeting tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail
• Ability to prioritize competing demands and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• High degree of discretion and confidentiality when handling employee and payroll information.

All full-time regular associates are offered competitive salaries, experience career growth, and are eligible for benefit packages that include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, 401k employer match, excellence rewards, wellness programs, and much more. With our 12 paid holidays and 15 PTO days, work/life balance is a priority! Additionally, most positions are eligible for a housing discount of 20%.

Essex provides great communities in which to live, work and invest. We are a purpose-driven company, and we pride ourselves on promoting an internal culture of growth and opportunity by engaging, enabling, and empowering our teams. Working at Essex is not a destination. It is a journey where you can confidently build your career.

New hires generally start between $94,000.00 - $117,000.00 per year. The final salary offer will be determined after reviewing relevant factors, including but not limited to skill sets; relevant experience; internal equity; and other business and organizational needs.

This role is also eligible to participate in Essex’s discretionary Annual Bonus program that is commensurate with the level of the position.