Senior Payroll Analyst

Vaco by Highspring; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring is seeking a Senior Payroll Analyst in Columbus, OH to act as a functional expert for U.S. payroll and to lead a major payroll system implementation. The role collaborates with Payroll, HRIS, IT, and external partners to ensure accurate processing and successful system readiness.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years of hands-on U.S. payroll experience and SAP Payroll/SAP SuccessFactors expertise, with a proven track record in large multi-state environments and transformation

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, Business, or related field.
• 5+ years of payroll experience with strong hands-on U.S. payroll processing knowledge.
• Hands-on experience with SAP Payroll and/or SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll (ECP).
• Previous experience supporting a payroll system implementation, conversion, or migration.
• Strong understanding of U.S. payroll processes, terminology, workflows, controls, and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a lead resource for U.S. payroll operations, providing functional expertise across payroll processes, workflows, and compliance requirements.
• Play a key role in a major payroll system implementation, partnering with Payroll, HRIS, IT, and external implementation partners throughout the project.
• Support implementation activities including requirements gathering, process mapping, system testing, data validation, issue resolution, and implementation readiness.
• Lead or support payroll testing, validation, and parallel payroll runs to ensure accuracy and identify discrepancies prior to implementation.
• Provide hands-on payroll processing support and help ensure accurate and timely execution of payroll activities.
• Investigate and resolve complex payroll issues, identifying root causes and coordinating with HRIS, IT, and other stakeholders as needed.
• Serve as a payroll subject matter expert, providing guidance on payroll processes, system functionality, compliance requirements, and operational best practices.
• Partner closely with HRIS and IT teams on payroll system enhancements, troubleshooting, integrations, and ongoing optimization.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, workflows, and operational efficiency.
• Support the development and maintenance of payroll procedures, documentation, testing materials, and other operational resources.
• Assist with payroll reporting, data validation, reconciliations, and other activities necessary to maintain payroll accuracy and data integrity.
• Provide guidance and knowledge sharing to Payroll Analysts and other stakeholders to strengthen payroll capabilities across the organization.

Skills

Payroll expertise

SAP Payroll

SAP SuccessFactors

System implementation

U.S. payroll knowledge

Education

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

Job description

Candidates must be local to Columbus, OH and available for on‑site work. No C2C or external providers approved for this search.

Our client is seeking a Senior Payroll Analyst to serve as a key resource supporting U.S. payroll operations while playing a lead role in a major payroll system implementation. This position is ideal for someone with strong hands‑on payroll processing experience who has also supported a system implementation, conversion, or major payroll transformation.

The Senior Payroll Analyst will work closely with Payroll, HRIS, IT, and external implementation partners throughout the implementation, with involvement in testing, validation, parallel payroll runs, troubleshooting, and process improvements. Long term, this individual will serve as a lead payroll operations resource and functional subject matter expert, helping ensure accurate payroll processing while supporting continued system and process optimization.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a lead resource for U.S. payroll operations, providing functional expertise across payroll processes, workflows, and compliance requirements.
• Play a key role in a major payroll system implementation, partnering with Payroll, HRIS, IT, and external implementation partners throughout the project.
• Support implementation activities including requirements gathering, process mapping, system testing, data validation, issue resolution, and implementation readiness.
• Lead or support payroll testing, validation, and parallel payroll runs to ensure accuracy and identify discrepancies prior to implementation.
• Provide hands‑on payroll processing support and help ensure accurate and timely execution of payroll activities.
• Investigate and resolve complex payroll issues, identifying root causes and coordinating with HRIS, IT, and other stakeholders as needed.
• Serve as a payroll subject matter expert, providing guidance on payroll processes, system functionality, compliance requirements, and operational best practices.
• Partner closely with HRIS and IT teams on payroll system enhancements, troubleshooting, integrations, and ongoing optimization.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, workflows, and operational efficiency.
• Support the development and maintenance of payroll procedures, documentation, testing materials, and other operational resources.
• Assist with payroll reporting, data validation, reconciliations, and other activities necessary to maintain payroll accuracy and data integrity.
• Provide guidance and knowledge sharing to Payroll Analysts and other stakeholders to strengthen payroll capabilities across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business, or related field preferred.
• 5+ years of payroll experience with strong hands‑on U.S. payroll processing knowledge.
• Hands‑on experience with SAP Payroll and/or SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll (ECP) required.
• Previous experience supporting a payroll system implementation, conversion, or migration required. Implementation experience does not need to be specific to SAP; experience implementing another enterprise payroll system will be considered.
• Strong understanding of U.S. payroll processes, terminology, workflows, controls, and compliance requirements.
• Experience with implementation activities such as requirements gathering, system testing, data validation, parallel payroll runs, troubleshooting, and issue resolution strongly preferred.
• Ability to serve as a functional payroll subject matter expert and partner effectively with Payroll, HRIS, IT, and external implementation teams.
• Experience supporting complex or large‑scale payroll environments, including multi‑state payroll, preferred.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem‑solving abilities with the ability to investigate complex payroll issues and drive resolution.
• Strong communication and organizational skills with the ability to work effectively across both technical and non‑technical teams.

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan.

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations; and
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).