Senior Payroll Tax Analyst — Multi-State Compliance Leader

Unitek EMT; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision starting 1月

2 Weeks' starting Vacation per year

12 paid Holidays and 2 FloatingHoliday

401k with company match

Company Paid Life Insurance at 1x your

annual salary

Leadership development and training

Tuition assistance and Forgiveness

Job summary

Unitek EMT is seeking a Senior Payroll Analyst to manage payroll tax compliance across multiple states, partnering with HR, Finance, and external vendors to ensure accurate filings and timely resolutions. The role focuses on complex tax issues, audits, and process improvements while maintaining strict internal controls.

Qualifications include 5+ years of payroll tax experience, CPP preferred, and proficiency with Workday/UKG/ADP and Excel. This position is based in Tempe, AZ with full-time hours.

Qualifications

• 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.
• CPP designation highly preferred.
• 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.

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

Skills

Payroll tax compliance

Multi-state payroll

Form 941/940/W-2/W-3

Excel

Attention to detail

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance/business/economics or related field

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)

Tools

Workday

UKG

ADP Workforce Now

Job description

Unitek EMT is seeking a Senior Payroll Analyst to manage payroll tax compliance across multiple states, partnering with HR, Finance, and external vendors to ensure accurate filings and timely resolutions. The role focuses on complex tax issues, audits, and process improvements while maintaining strict internal controls.

Qualifications include 5+ years of payroll tax experience, CPP preferred, and proficiency with Workday/UKG/ADP and Excel. This position is based in Tempe, AZ with full-time hours.