Senior Payroll Compliance Analyst

Edward Jones; St. Louis (MO); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401k plan

Paid time off

Employee support (EAP)

Job summary

Edward Jones is seeking a Senior Payroll Compliance Analyst to lead complex U.S. and Canadian payroll tax regulations and collaborate with Finance, HR, Risk, and leadership. The role focuses on compliance, governance, and process optimization.

Ideal candidate has strong data analytics, experience with automation tools, and can influence executive decisions while navigating regulatory requirements and system implementations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in a related field.
• Minimum 6 years of payroll experience with exposure to payroll tax, compliance, data analysis, and process improvement.
• Strong knowledge of data analytics, reporting tools, and governance frameworks.
• Experience with automation tools and ERP implementations.
• Certifications: FPC/CPP or CPA preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the research, interpretation, and application of complex U.S. and Canadian payroll tax regulations across federal, state/provincial, local, and cross-border matters.
• Drive process optimization and automation initiatives to enhance payroll compliance, reconciliations, and reporting.
• Represent Payroll in executive discussions, transformation initiatives, and cross-functional groups; communicate risks and recommendations to senior leaders.
• Establish and maintain payroll tax controls, identify gaps, and collaborate with internal audit, risk, and finance teams.
• Provide mentorship and coaching within the Payroll organization, leading through influence and collaboration across stakeholders.

Skills

Payroll compliance

Data analytics

Automation tools

HCM/ERP systems

Financial reconciliations

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

HCM/ERP systems

Automation software

Job description

This job posting is anticipated to remain open for 30 days, from 30-Sep-2026. The posting may close early due to the volume of applicants.

Join a financial services firm where your contributions are valued. Edward Jones is a Fortune 500¹ company where people come first. With over 9 million clients and 20,000 financial advisors across the U.S. and Canada, we’re proud to be privately‑owned, placing the focus on our clients rather than shareholder returns.

Behind everything we do is our purpose: We partner for positive impact to improve the lives of our clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society. We are an innovative, flexible, and inclusive organization that attracts, develops, and inspires performance excellence and a sense of belonging.

People are at the center of our partnership. Edward Jones associates are seen, heard, respected, and supported. This is what we believe makes us the best place to start or build your career.

View our Purpose, Inclusion and Citizenship Report.

¹Fortune 500, published June 2024, data as of December 2023. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating.

Overview

We're seeking a strategic payroll compliance professional who combines deep technical expertise, executive‑level communication skills, and the ability to lead through influence in a highly regulated and evolving environment. Our team is responsible for processing US multi‑state and Canadian multi‑province payrolls and tax remittances, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements while maintaining accuracy and timeliness. This role serves as a trusted advisor to Payroll, Finance, Human Resources, Risk Management, and senior business leaders. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong executive presence, the ability to communicate complex payroll and tax matters to diverse audiences, and the confidence to influence decisions across organizational levels. This position requires an individual who can navigate ambiguity, independently research complex compliance matters, and provide strategic recommendations that balance regulatory requirements with business objectives.

In collaboration with our Finance & Human Capital Transformation Office, our firm is implementing a new payroll system over the next two years. This Senior Payroll Compliance Analyst role will play a critical part in ensuring smooth transition, supporting the teams onboarding to the new system, updating documentation and processes, and ensuring the platform is performing as expected during implementation.

What You'll Do

• Payroll Compliance, Tax Research & Advisory – Lead the research, interpretation, and application of complex U.S. and Canadian payroll tax regulations, including federal, state, provincial, local, and cross‑border payroll matters. Evaluate emerging legislative and regulatory changes, develop practical compliance strategies, and provide expert guidance to Payroll, Finance, HR, and leadership teams. Prepare and present recommendations on complex payroll tax scenarios, ensuring decisions are supported by thorough analysis, sound judgment, and risk‑based thinking.
• Automation, Optimization & Payroll Data Strategy – Driving process optimization and automation initiatives to enhance payroll compliance, reconciliations, and reporting. Utilizing technology and automation tools to streamline processes, reduce manual intervention, and approve accuracy. Analyzing payroll data trends while providing insights for process improvements and compliance risk mitigation. Also, supporting system enhancements to align with evolving business and regulatory requirements.
• Governance & Strategic Influence – Represent Payroll in executive‑level discussions, transformation initiatives, and cross‑functional working groups. Effectively communicate payroll compliance risks, operational impacts, and strategic recommendations to senior leaders. Build credibility and influence across departments by translating complex technical issues into clear business implications and actionable solutions.
• Controls & Compliance Risk Management – Establish and maintain payroll tax controls, ensuring accuracy, and preventing discrepancies in payroll reporting. Identify and address compliance control gaps, recommend and implement process improvements, and collaborate with internal audit, risk management, and finance teams to enhance payroll oversight.
• Informal Leadership & Partnership – Serve as a recognized subject matter expert and informal leader within the Payroll organization. Coordinate and influence work across team members, helping prioritize activities, resolve issues, and ensure critical deadlines are met. Provide coaching, mentorship, and technical guidance to associates while fostering knowledge sharing and professional development. Lead through influence rather than authority by building strong relationships, facilitating collaboration, and driving alignment across stakeholders and functional teams. Act as an escalation point for complex payroll tax and compliance matters, helping the team navigate challenging scenarios and identify effective solutions.

In collaboration with our Finance & Human Capital Transformation Office, our firm is implementing a new payroll system over the next two years. This Senior Payroll Compliance Analyst role will play a critical part in ensuring smooth transition, supporting the teams onboarding to the new system, updating documentation and processes, and ensuring the platform is performing as expected during implementation.

What You'll Need

• Education: Bachelor's Degree
• Experience: Minimum of 6 years of payroll experience, with exposure to payroll tax, compliance, data analysis, and process improvement.
• Skills & Technology:
  • Strong knowledge of data analytics, reporting tools, and compliance and governance frameworks.
  • Experience with automation tools, HCM/ERP system implementations, and financial reconciliations.
  • Ability to analyze payroll trends and develop data‑driven strategies for process improvements.
• Certifications:
  • Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) – Preferred, but not required (If not held, must pursue if hired)
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) – Preferred, but not required

Candidates that live within a commutable distance from our Tempe, AZ and St. Louis, MO home office locations are expected to work in the office four days per week.

At Edward Jones, we are building a place where everyone feels like they belong. We're proud of our associates' contributions to the firm and the recognitions we have received.

Check out our U.S. awards and accolades: Insights & Information Blog Postings about Edward Jones

Check out our Canadian awards and accolades: Insights & Information Blog Postings about Edward Jones

Edward Jones does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Edward Jones' compensation and benefits package includes medical and prescription drug, dental, vision, voluntary benefits (such as accident, hospital indemnity, and critical illness), short- and long‑term disability, basic life, and basic AD&D coverage. Short- and long‑term disability, basic life, and basic AD&D coverage are provided at no cost to associates. Edward Jones offers a 401k retirement plan, and tax‑advantaged accounts: health savings account, and flexible spending account. Edward Jones observes ten paid holidays and provides 15 days of vacation for new associates beginning on January 1 of each year, as well as sick time, personal days, and a paid day for volunteerism. Associates may be eligible for bonuses and profit sharing. All associates are eligible for the firm's Employee Assistance Program. For more information on the Benefits available to Edward Jones associates, please visit our benefits page.