Senior Payroll Analyst: Complex U.S. Payroll (Hybrid)

Manulife/John Hancock; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Incentive programs

Job summary

Manulife/John Hancock is seeking a highly skilled Payroll Analyst to support complex U.S. payroll operations across multiple states and entities.

The role emphasizes accuracy, compliance, and process improvement while partnering with Payroll, HR, Finance, Benefits, Tax, Technology, and external vendors. The ideal candidate brings deep payroll knowledge, is data-driven, and excels at preventing errors, solving root causes, and driving measurable improvements in controls and efficiency.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive payroll experience with increasing responsibility.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with payroll audits, reconciliations, quarterly and year-end activities.
• Experience with ADP GlobalView, SAP or similar enterprise payroll systems.
• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate within a team.

Responsibilities

• Process, audit, and validate high-volume payroll accurately across jurisdictions, entities, pay groups, and cycles.
• Handle escalated payroll inquiries requiring research, judgment, and timely resolution.
• Lead complex payroll activities including equity compensation, executive payroll, and special tax items.
• Lead quarterly and year-end activities, including reconciliations and reporting.
• Research and resolve payroll, tax, and benefits issues in line with regulatory requirements.
• Develop test scripts and validation plans for system changes; support testing.

Skills

Payroll analysis

Audits

Reconciliations

Advanced Excel

Tax compliance

Problem solving

Stakeholder communication

Tools

Workday

ADP GlobalView

SAP payroll tools

Job description

Manulife/John Hancock is seeking a highly skilled Payroll Analyst to support complex U.S. payroll operations across multiple states and entities.

The role emphasizes accuracy, compliance, and process improvement while partnering with Payroll, HR, Finance, Benefits, Tax, Technology, and external vendors. The ideal candidate brings deep payroll knowledge, is data-driven, and excels at preventing errors, solving root causes, and driving measurable improvements in controls and efficiency.