Senior Payroll Analyst

State of Utah; Taylorsville (UT); Hybrid; USD 100,289,000 - 128,943,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

State of Utah is seeking a Senior Payroll Analyst to manage complex payroll tax and benefits-related processing within a large state-wide payroll system.

The role requires strong policy interpretation, cross-functional collaboration, and meticulous attention to detail to ensure accurate gross-to-net calculations for a 24,000+ employee pool. A hybrid work arrangement supports work-life balance while maintaining performance standards.

Qualifications

• 5+ years payroll experience in a large organization (10,000+ employees) with emphasis on benefits within payroll.
• Experience with the payroll lifecycle and benefit-related calculations.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex policies and procedures.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated teamwork in a diverse, collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead benefits impact on gross-to-net payroll calculations.
• Partner with Central HR and Benefits to reflect leaves and enrollment changes in pay.
• Provide guidance to Agency Payroll Coordinators on complex payroll questions.
• Maintain lifecycle integrity with reconciliations and issue resolution.
• Lead retroactive benefit adjustments and final pay calculations.
• Ensure compliance with federal/state regulations and internal policies.

Skills

Payroll processing

Benefits administration

Policy interpretation

Written communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting/Business

CPP or CEBS certification

Tools

Workday

SAP

Oracle

Excel

Job description

About The Role

Do you have experience with payroll tax and knowledge of laws and regulations that affect federal and state taxes and the ability to analyze related statutes. Do you enjoy working in a fast paced, collaborative environment where no two days are the same? Join the Division of Finance as a Senior Payroll Analyst!

Job Details

FT / PT Status – Full-Time

Salary – $35.00 - $45.00 Hourly Wage

Remote Work / In-Office – Hybrid

Application Deadline – 9/1/2026*

Key Responsibilities

• Benefits Subject Matter Expertise: Serve as the lead expert on how benefits, retirement contributions, and voluntary deductions impact the gross-to-net payroll calculation.
• Cross-Divisional Liaison: Act as the primary Finance partner to Central HR, collaborating closely with the Benefits and Employee Resource teams to ensure that leaves of absence (FMLA/STD/LTD) and benefit enrollment changes are accurately reflected in pay.
• Agency Support: Provide guidance to Agency Payroll Coordinators on complicated payroll questions that require deep policy interpretation and technical calculation.
• Lifecycle Integrity & Audit: Understand the end-to-end payroll cycle, performing reconciliations, troubleshooting issues, etc. to maintain the integrity of the State's payroll for 24,000+ employees.
• Advanced Problem Solving: Lead the resolution of the most difficult payroll issues, such as intricate retroactive benefit adjustments, overpayment recoveries, and complex final pay calculations.
• Compliance Oversight: Ensure all benefit-related payroll actions comply with federal and state regulations and internal organizational policies.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years of payroll experience in a large-scale entity (10,000+ employees), with a heavy emphasis on benefits administration within payroll.
• We are looking for a candidate who fits our culture of integrity and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will possess:
  • Aptitude for Learning: The demonstrated ability to read, understand, and apply complex policies and procedures.
  • High Attention to Detail: The ability to spot errors, inconsistencies, or deviations from policy in large sets of data or documents.
  • Strong Communication Skills: Excellent oral and written communication skills are critical. You must be able to articulate complex issues clearly to non-financial audiences.
  • Resilience and Coachability: The ability to accept constructive feedback on your work and use it to grow professionally.
  • Teamwork: A collaborative spirit and the ability to work well with others in a diverse environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business; CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or CEBS (Certified Employee Benefit Specialist).
• Expertise: Deep understanding of the payroll lifecycle, including the impact of pre-tax/post-tax benefits, retirement plan limits, and leave-of-absence pay. Experience with third party audits and 401k administration.
• Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in large-scale ERP systems (e.g., Workday, SAP, Oracle) and Excel skills for data reconciliation or analysis.
• Aptitude for Learning: The demonstrated ability to read, understand, and apply complex policies and procedures.

Why You Should Join Our Team

• Mentorship: You will work directly under experienced professionals who are dedicated to your development.
• Work-Life Balance: The State of Utah offers a culture that respects your time, with predictable schedules and generous leave, allowing you to enjoy all that our beautiful state has to offer