Senior Payroll Tax Manager

Associate Staffing LLC; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Associate Staffing LLC seeks a Senior Payroll Tax Manager to oversee payroll tax compliance, controls, and governance across federal, state, and local requirements. You will collaborate with Payroll, HR, Finance, Legal, and IT to ensure accurate tax configuration and audit readiness.

The role requires 8+ years of payroll tax experience, 3+ years of team leadership, and strong knowledge of tax regulations. Proficiency with SAP or MasterTax is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.
• 8+ years of payroll tax experience, including multi state payroll.
• 3+ years of experience managing a team.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations.
• Experience with payroll systems and tax filing platforms (SAP, MasterTax preferred).
• Excellent analytical, problem solving, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Payroll Tax Compliance: Ensure timely and accurate filing of all federal, state, and local payroll tax returns.
• Payroll Tax Compliance: Oversee periodic tax deposits to ensure accuracy and on time remittance.
• Payroll Tax Compliance: Lead quarter end and yearend tax processes, including W 2 and W 2C management.
• Payroll Tax Compliance: Monitor changes in tax laws and implement required updates to systems and processes.
• Payroll Tax Compliance: Manage payroll tax setup and configuration within payroll systems.
• Controls, Governance & Audit Readiness: Own payroll tax controls and ensure documentation is accurate and audit ready.
• Controls, Governance & Audit Readiness: Lead internal and external payroll tax audits, including data gathering and remediation.
• Controls, Governance & Audit Readiness: Perform and oversee pre and post payroll tax audits to ensure data accuracy.
• Controls, Governance & Audit Readiness: Reconcile payroll tax accounts, investigate variances, and resolve discrepancies.
• Systems & Process Optimization: Partner with IT and payroll vendors to ensure accurate tax configuration and regulatory updates.
• Systems & Process Optimization: Support testing and validation of tax related system changes.
• Systems & Process Optimization: Identify and implement opportunities to streamline payroll tax processes and improve efficiency.
• Systems & Process Optimization: Ensure taxability rules, wage types, and system logic are accurate and governed.
• Leadership & Cross Functional Collaboration: Supervise payroll tax accountants, providing coaching, development, and performance management.
• Leadership & Cross Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with HR, Finance, Accounting, Legal, and Benefits on cross functional initiatives.
• Leadership & Cross Functional Collaboration: Participate in M&A due diligence and integration activities to ensure accurate tax setup and reporting

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field

CPP certification

Tools

SAP

MasterTax

ADP MasterTax

Job description

The Senior Payroll Tax Manager oversees the organization's payroll tax compliance, controls, and governance functions. This role ensures accurate calculation, reporting, and remittance of federal, state, and local payroll taxes while overseeing tax configuration, audit readiness, and cross functional data integrity. The Senior Payroll Tax Manager serves as the subject matter expert on payroll tax regulations and partners closely with Payroll, HR, Finance, Legal, and IT to maintain full compliance and drive continuous improvement across the payroll tax lifecycle.

Job Responsibilities

Payroll Tax Compliance

• Ensure timely and accurate filing of all federal, state, and local payroll tax returns.
• Oversee periodic tax deposits to ensure accuracy and on time remittance.
• Lead quarter end and yearend tax processes, including W 2 and W 2C management.
• Monitor changes in tax laws and implement required updates to systems and processes.
• Manage payroll tax setup and configuration within payroll systems.

Controls, Governance & Audit Readiness

• Own payroll tax controls and ensure documentation is accurate and audit ready.
• Lead internal and external payroll tax audits, including data gathering and remediation.
• Perform and oversee pre and post payroll tax audits to ensure data accuracy.
• Reconcile payroll tax accounts, investigate variances, and resolve discrepancies.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation to support compliance and audit requirements.

Systems & Process Optimization

• Partner with IT and payroll vendors to ensure accurate tax configuration and regulatory updates.
• Support testing and validation of tax related system changes.
• Identify and implement opportunities to streamline payroll tax processes and improve efficiency.
• Ensure taxability rules, wage types, and system logic are accurate and governed.

Leadership & Cross Functional Collaboration

• Supervise payroll tax accountants, providing coaching, development, and performance management.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, Accounting, Legal, and Benefits on cross functional initiatives.
• Participate in M&A due diligence and integration activities to ensure accurate tax setup and reporting

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.
• 8+ years of payroll tax experience, including multi state payroll.
• 3+ years of experience managing a team.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations.
• Experience with payroll systems and tax filing platforms (SAP, MasterTax preferred).
• Excellent analytical, problem solving, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPP certification.
• Experience with ADP MasterTax.
• Experience in large, complex, or multi entity organizations.
• Experience with SOX controls, audits, or payroll tax governance.
• Deep understanding of payroll tax laws and regulatory requirements.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Ability to manage deadlines and high volume workloads.
• Process improvement mindset with a focus on efficiency and risk reduction.
• Strong collaboration and leadership skills.