Sr Payroll Analyst

Electric Reliability Council of Texas; Taylor (TX); Hybrid; USD 74,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

Electric Reliability Council of Texas seeks an experienced Senior HR Payroll Analyst to ensure accurate semi-monthly payroll processing with Workday, data validation, and reconciliations. You will support tax reporting, benefits deductions, and audit readiness while collaborating with cross-functional teams across the US.

The role requires five years of payroll experience, a Bachelor’s in business administration, and strong Excel/ERP skills.

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of payroll administration and IRS rules.
• Extensive Workday Payroll experience, configuration and reporting.
• Strong audit/compliance experience across payroll processes.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end semi-monthly payroll processing across states.
• Validate hourly timecards and ensure accurate compensation.
• Analyze payroll data, reconcile records, and handle discrepancies.
• Prepare quarterly tax reports and annual IRS limit compliance.
• Collaborate with Benefits and auditors; support year-end tasks.
• Assist with onboarding, inquiries, and payroll-related staff support.

Skills

Advanced payroll

Workday Payroll

Audit & compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration

Tools

Workday

Microsoft Excel

ERP/HRIS systems

Job description

At ERCOT, our diverse and dynamic work environment provides a platform on which employees can work together to build the future of the Texas power grid and wholesale market utilizing the latest technologies and resources. We encourage you to join our talented, dedicated workforce to develop world-class solutions for today and tomorrow’s energy challenges while learning new skills and growing your career. ERCOT is committed to fostering inclusion at all levels of our company. It is the cornerstone of our corporate values of accountability, leadership, innovation, trust, and expertise. We know that individuals with a wide variety of talents, ideas, and experiences propel the innovation that drives our success. An inclusive and diverse workforce strengthens us and allows for a collaborative environment to solve the challenges that face our industry today and in the future.

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior HR Payroll Analyst plays a critical role in ensuring the integrity and accuracy of payroll operations across multiple states. This position is charged with processing, analyzing, and reconciling semi-monthly payrolls for employees, utilizing Workday business processes to streamline workflow and maintain compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Payroll Processing: Oversee the end-to-end processing of semi-monthly payrolls. Ensure that all payroll transactions are completed timely, accurately, and in accordance with established procedures. Process year-end reconciliation and reporting.
• Timecard Validation: Conduct thorough validation of timecards for hourly employees to guarantee accurate compensation. This includes reviewing entries for errors, inconsistencies, or omissions and making necessary corrections.
• Data Analysis and Reconciliation: Analyze payroll data outputs to identify patterns, discrepancies, or potential issues. Reconcile payroll records to ensure all payments, deductions, 401(k)/457(b) contributions, annual IRS limits, and adjustments are accurate and accounted for.
• Issue Resolution: Proactively detect and resolve discrepancies or errors in payroll processing. Collaborate with relevant teams and stakeholders to address issues promptly and prevent recurrence.
• Required Reporting & Annual Limits: Reconcile and submit quarterly tax reports and amendments. Ongoing awareness and comprehension of annual IRS limits pertaining to taxes, benefit plans, and 401(k) accounts.

Additional Job Duties

• Demonstrate meticulous attention to detail and urgency, balancing priorities and requests with accuracy. This includes managing multiple tasks efficiently while ensuring precision in all payroll-related activities.
• Work with the Benefits team to process benefit deduction changes, process short-term disability payments, and assist with open enrollment audits.
• Assist employees with payroll and timecard inquiries, delivering exceptional customer service. This involves resolving issues, answering questions, and providing support to all staff regarding payroll matters.
• Collaborate with internal and external auditors for annual Workers Compensation, General Liability, Finance, and Payroll audits. Support is provided throughout the audit process to ensure all documentation and data are readily available.
• Participate in Workday HCM/Payroll testing for semi-annual releases. Testing ensures system updates and enhancements are implemented correctly and efficiently.
• Review and update Corporate Standards and Operating Procedures relevant to payroll.
• Manage relationships with payroll fulfillment vendors; reconcile payroll cycle invoices and coordinate quarterly and annual payroll tax filings. This includes ensuring invoices are accurate and taxes are filed in a timely manner.
• Support New Hire and Internship onboarding meetings and assist with other HR projects as needed.

Qualifications

• Advanced Payroll Expertise: Demonstrated proficiency in payroll administration, with a strong understanding of IRS rules, regulations and reporting.
• Workday Payroll Experience: Extensive experience working with Workday Payroll, including business process configuration, reporting, and troubleshooting.
• Audit and Compliance: Proven track record in supporting audit and compliance initiatives, ensuring all payroll activities adhere to legal and organizational standards.

Required Experience

Candidates must have a minimum of five years of progressive experience in payroll administration. This background should include analytical responsibilities as well as demonstrated proficiency with ERP and HRIS systems, specifically Workday Payroll.

Technical Skills and Software Proficiency

Applicants are expected to possess extensive experience with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. Additionally, familiarity with accounting workflows is essential.

Education Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in business administration or a closely related field is required. Alternatively, a combination of relevant education and professional experience that equates to a major in these fields may also be considered.

Certification Requirements

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) – Preferred
• Workday Pro Payroll – Preferred

WORK LOCATION – Taylor, TX

Employees will be required to be on-site in Taylor, TX at a minimum of 2 days per week, or more, as needed based on the business needs as determined by management. Remote work is required to be performed from your Texas residence. Employees may opt to work on-site more than required or 100% of the time. The foregoing description reflects the minimum qualifications and the essential functions of the position that must be performed proficiently with or without reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. It is not an exhaustive list of the duties expected to be performed, and management may, at its discretion, revise or require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This job description is not intended to create a contract of employment with ERCOT. Both ERCOT and the employee may exercise their employment-at-will rights at any time. #LI-Hybrid, #LI-MH1

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

ERCOT is firmly committed to equal employment for all qualified persons without regard to race, sex, medical condition, religion, age, creed, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, ancestry, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected category under federal, state or local law.

Expected Salary Range

$74,000 - $102,000

About ERCOT

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to 27 million Texas customers - representing about 90 percent of the state's electric load. As the independent system operator for the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects more than 54,100 miles of transmission lines and 1,250 generating units. ERCOT also performs financial settlement for the competitive wholesale bulk-power market and administers retail switching for 8 million premises in competitive choice areas. ERCOT is a membership-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature. ERCOT's members include consumers, cooperatives, generators, power marketers, retail electric providers, investor-owned electric utilities (transmission and distribution providers,) and municipal-owned electric utilities. ERCOT offers an excellent benefits package, which includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, long/short-term disability insurance, long-term care insurance, Section 125 Flexible Spending Account, and a Retirement Savings Plan. The medical, dental, vision, and quality-of-life benefits offered by ERCOT are second to none. Full-time employees are eligible to enroll in benefits on the first of the month following the date of hire. Additionally, 401(k) plans are available to help employees plan for the future. The ERCOT Internship Program provides college students the opportunity to develop their skills in a professional work environment. Each intern will receive unique projects and assignments that aim to solve real challenges facing the electric industry. ERCOT internships provide professional learning experiences that offer meaningful, practical work related to each student’s desired career path. Eligible candidates should be enrolled in an academic bachelors or post graduate degree program maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The ERCOT Engineer Development Program (EDP) is a 12- to 16-month, self-paced program geared toward entry-level engineers looking to start a career in the power industry. Through the program, an EDP Engineer receives one-on-one mentoring, specialized training, and exposure to the work performed by each of the engineering groups at ERCOT. The program allows engineers to develop the fundamental skills necessary to reach their full potential while gaining an understanding of the types of engineering work ERCOT has to offer. EDP management supports participants each step of the way as they progress through the program. Upon completion, graduates are placed as full-time engineers within one of ERCOT’s engineering groups. The GMS Development Program (GDP) is designed to provide entry-level and early career professionals with the skills necessary to become successful Power System and Computer Engineers. The program, which is based in ERCOT’s Grid and Market Solutions (GMS) Department, will provide experience in day-to-day work and instruction in the fundamentals of electric power systems engineering, grid and market applications, software programming, and IT service and operations management. The GDP offers one-on-one mentoring, training, field trips, and special assignments. These assignments allow GDP engineers to become knowledgeable and familiar with the various business areas at ERCOT. The GMS leadership team prepares GDP engineers for a future career at ERCOT in power systems and computer engineering. The System Operator Development Program (ODP) is intended to combine real-time daily operations in an exciting work setting to prepare participants with the vital skills necessary to be successful in such a critical position — providing 24x7x365 on-demand support to manage the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers. If you are new to the industry, this program introduces you to the Bulk Electric System by combining introductory courses with the NERC Certification Exam Preparation Program in preparation to pass the NERC Certification Exam.