Senior Payroll Analyst

Unitek Learning; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision starting 1<

Vacation time

Paid holidays

401k with company match

Company-paid life insurance

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Unitek Learning in Tempe, AZ is seeking a Senior Payroll Analyst to deliver accurate payroll tax compliance across multiple states, focusing on federal, state, and local requirements and resolving tax discrepancies. You will partner with HR, Finance, Accounting and external vendors to maintain controls and improve processes.

Required CPP designation with 5+ years in payroll tax compliance and 7+ years multi-state processing; experience with Workday/UKG/ADP and strong Excel skills preferred.

Qualifications

• College coursework in accounting, finance, business, economics, or a related field.
• At least 5+ years of payroll tax compliance experience.
• At least 7+ years of multi-state payroll processing experience.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation required.
• Deep expertise in federal, state, and local payroll tax laws.
• Advanced experience with payroll tax filings, reconciliations, and year-end processes.
• Experience partnering with payroll tax vendors and audits.
• Proficiency with major payroll systems and strong Excel skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a subject matter expert on federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements.
• Review and reconcile quarterly and annual payroll tax filings; drive resolution of variances.
• Lead complex payroll tax investigations and determine corrective actions.
• Act as escalation point for significant payroll tax issues with HR, Finance, vendors, and agencies.
• Coordinate responses to payroll tax audits and agency notices; document outcomes.
• Monitor changes in payroll tax legislation and update processes and configurations.
• Strengthen payroll tax procedures, documentation, and internal controls.
• Review complex earnings, deductions, and tax calculations; support payroll processing and year-end.
• Oversee state-specific unclaimed payroll property requirements.
• Provide payroll tax expertise for system upgrades and implementations.
• Identify recurring issues and lead process improvements across payroll tax ops.
• Assist with payroll system upgrades, tax configuration, and testing.
• Respond to employee payroll and tax inquiries professionally.

Skills

Attention to detail

Excel skills

Communication

Analytical ability

Team collaboration

Education

Accounting/Finance coursework

CPP designation

Tools

Workday

UKG

ADP Workforce Now

Job description

• Compensation: USD 75,000 - USD 90,000 - yearly

Company Description

As a leading healthcare education organization, Unitek Learning’s family of schools helps thousands of students launch and accelerate their careers every year. As a rapidly growing and highly successful company, Unitek is also a great place to pursue a rewarding and challenging career. We offer a competitive salary, generous benefits, unlimited growth potential, and a collegiate work environment.

Job Description

The Senior Payroll Analyst works with the payroll team to deliver accurate, timely payroll tax compliance across multiple states, with a strong focus on payroll tax compliance and resolution. Serving as a subject matter expert on state and local tax requirements, this role researches discrepancies, resolves agency notices, and supports required filings and reporting. The Senior Payroll Analyst partners with HR, Finance, Accounting, and external vendors to maintain effective controls and improve payroll processes.

Job Responsibilities:

• Serve as a subject matter expert on federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements, including multi-state withholding, reciprocity, unemployment insurance, and reporting.
• Independently review and reconcile quarterly and annual payroll tax filings, including Forms 941, 940, W-2, and W-3 and state equivalents; drive resolution of material variances.
• Lead complex payroll tax investigations by analyzing payroll data, identifying root causes, determining corrective actions, and confirming resolution.
• Act as the primary escalation point for significant payroll tax issues, partnering with HR, Finance, Accounting, third-party vendors, and tax agencies to resolve them.
• Coordinate responses to payroll tax audits, agency notices, and inquiries; research historical records, substantiate payments, and maintain clear documentation of outcomes.
• Monitor changes in payroll tax legislation, assess operational impact, and recommend updates to payroll processes and tax configuration.
• Strengthen payroll tax procedures, documentation, reconciliations, and internal controls to reduce risk and improve accuracy.
• Review complex earnings, deductions, and tax calculations; provide expert support during payroll processing and year-end activities.
• Oversee state-specific requirements for unclaimed payroll property, including due diligence, reporting, and remittance.
• Provide payroll tax expertise for system upgrades and implementations, including configuration review, testing, reconciliation, and issue resolution.
• Identify recurring issues and lead process improvements across payroll tax operations.
• Assist with payroll system upgrades, tax configuration, implementations, and testing.
• Respond to employee payroll and tax inquiries with professionalism and confidentiality

Qualifications

Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:.

College coursework in accounting, finance, business, economics, or a related field, or equivalent payroll experience.

At least 5+ years of payroll tax compliance experience.

At least 7+ years of multi-state payroll processing experience.

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation required.

Deep expertise in federal, state, and local payroll tax laws, including multi-state compliance, withholding, reciprocity, and unemployment insurance.

Advanced experience with payroll tax filings, reconciliations, and year-end processes, including Forms W-2 and 941 and state equivalents, as well as resolution of complex tax discrepancies.

Experience partnering with payroll tax vendors and supporting internal and external audits as a payroll tax subject matter expert.

Proficiency with payroll systems such as Workday, UKG, or ADP Workforce Now, and strong Excel skills.

Ability to analyze complex payroll data, identify root causes, and document accurate resolutions.

Strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to meet deadlines across payroll cycles.

Clear communication skills and the ability to work effectively with HR, Finance, Accounting, vendors, and tax agencies.

Additional Information

We Offer:

• Medical, Dental and Vision starting the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment
• 2 Weeks’ starting Vacation per year. Increasing based on years of service with company
• 12paid Holidays and 2Floating Holiday
• 401k with company match
• Company Paid Life Insurance at 1x’s your annual salary
• Leadership development and training for career advancement
• Tuition assistance and Forgiveness for you and your family up to 100% depending on the program