Sr. Payroll Tax Specialist

adidas; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

adidas is seeking a Senior Payroll Tax Specialist to support U.S. and Canada payroll tax accounting and compliance. You will handle routine filings, year-end reporting, and data validation within established controls, while coordinating with Finance, Legal, HR, and Mobility teams.

You will work in a hybrid Portland, OR environment, supporting international payroll tasks and shadow payroll processes, with a focus on accuracy, timelines, and regulatory adherence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; CPP preferred.
• 2–4+ years of automated multi-corporation payroll processing experience.
• Experience with US tax filings; Canadian payroll experience is a plus.
• SAP HR and ADP GlobalView payroll system experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare routine payroll tax filings and payments.
• Complete period-end payroll tax tasks using standard checklists.
• Prepare year-end tax documents (W‑2, W‑2C, T4, RL-1).
• Maintain payroll tax records and respond to inquiries.
• Support international payroll and shadow payroll activities as needed.
• Assist with payroll processing operations and data validation.

Skills

Payroll tax compliance

Payroll accounting

International payroll

Attention to detail

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

SAP HR

ADP GlobalView

Job description

Purpose & Overall Relevance For The Organization

The Senior Payroll Tax Specialist will provide transactional support for payroll tax, payroll accounting, and related payroll activities across the United States and Canada. This role will complete assigned tasks using established procedures, checklists, and system controls under the direction of experienced team members and management. You will review routine data, prepares standard reconciliations and filings, maintains records, and escalates exceptions or compliance concerns for guidance and resolution.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Tax Compliance & Filing

• Prepare routine payroll tax filings, payments, and statutory information requests for review and submission in accordance with established schedules and procedures.
• Complete assigned biweekly, monthly, quarterly, and year-end payroll tax tasks using standard checklists, reports, and documented controls.
• Compile and validate data used to produce year-end tax documents, including W-2, W-2C, T4, and RL-1 forms, and route exceptions for review.
• Apply documented payroll tax requirements to routine transactions and seek guidance when requirements or circumstances are unclear.
• Identify variances, missing information, and out-of-balance conditions through standard reports; document findings and escalates issues to senior team members or management.
• Maintain payroll tax account records and supporting documentation; assist with preparing responses to routine tax authority notices and inquiries.
• Coordinate with internal teams and vendors to collect information, track open items, and support timely completion of assigned work.

Payroll Accounting & Reconciliation

• Prepare standard payroll journal entry support, accrual schedules, and general ledger reconciliations using established templates for review and approval.
• Research routine payroll and accounting variances by following documented steps and escalated unresolved or unusual items.
• Complete assigned period-end and year-end close tasks and provide supporting documentation to Finance and Accounting.
• Run standard reports and audit files to support reconciliations, controls, management requests, and compliance reviews.
• Prepare routine payroll calculations and special payment inputs for review before processing.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

• Review routine employee payroll changes, including new hires, terminations, leaves, wage changes, and transfers, and escalates discrepancies for correction.
• Maintain organized records and supporting documentation in accordance with retention and control requirements.
• Prepare routine responses to third-party requests using approved templates and route nonstandard or sensitive matters to the appropriate reviewer.

International Payroll & Shadow Payroll

• Support assigned payroll activities for internationally mobile employees by gathering data, completing standard inputs, and maintaining records under guidance.
• Assist with routine hypothetical tax, tax equalization, split payroll, and shadow payroll transactions using instructions provided by Global Mobility, external advisors, or senior payroll team members.
• Maintain shadow payroll data and supporting documentation and escalates missing, inconsistent, or unclear information.
• Compile data and complete assigned reconciliation steps for internationally mobile employee year-end activities.
• Provide transactional support for Canadian payroll and timekeeping activities as assigned.

Payroll Processing Operations

• Complete assigned steps in the biweekly payroll process using established schedules, procedures, and checklists.
• Enter and update routine payroll transactions and prepare manual check requests for review and approval.
• Monitor the Payroll Mailbox, respond to routine employee inquiries using approved guidance, and escalates complex or sensitive questions.
• Assist with payroll release-day activities, standard calculations, and validation of assigned payroll inputs.

Key Relationships

• Finance and accounting
• Legal
• HR (Rewards, HRBP, Global Mobility)
• Tax Authorities

Knowledge Skills And Abilities

• Basic knowledge of payroll processing , payroll tax concepts, and compliance requirements.
• Ability to follow established procedures, internal controls, and deadlines with accuracy and consistency.
• Understanding of payroll accounting, reconciliations, and general ledger concepts.
• Ability to identify discrepancies, research issues, and escalates concerns appropriately
• Familiarity with year-end payroll documents such as W-2, W-2C, T4, and RL-1 forms is helpful.
• Ability to perform percentage calculations and basic math functions related to gross-to-net payroll and payroll taxes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a customer service focus
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively under established deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel and reporting tools
• Knowledge and experience with timekeeping systems (e.g., Dayforce, Kronos, ADP eTime).
• In-depth knowledge of wage and hour laws and multi-state payroll tax requirements.
• Exposure to international/shadow payroll or expatriate payroll programs is an asset.
• Prior experience working in a shared service environment preferred.

Requisite Education And Experience / Minimum Qualifications

• 2-4+ years of automated multi-corporation, multi-state payroll processing experience, with specific focus on payroll tax compliance and accounting.
• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Demonstrated experience with multi-jurisdictional payroll tax filings, year-end processes, and tax authority correspondence in the USA; Canadian payroll experience is a strong plus.
• SAP HR and ADP GlobalView payroll system experience preferred.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation or actively working toward certification preferred.
• At adidas we offer a Hybrid work policy which requires attendance in the office Monday through Thursday, with the flexibility to work remotely on Friday each week. For work requiring a high degree of collaboration or an in-person presentation, in-office attendance is required even on Friday.
• adidas celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness and encourages individual expression in our workplace. We actively encourage individuals with disabilities to apply and will provide reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. We do not tolerate the harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
• adidas offers robust and progressive medical, including HSA (Health Savings Account) with employer funding or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) options, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, adoption, with surrogate and fertility support, short and long-term disability, and basic life and AD&D insurance. Employees are able to enroll in adidas’ 401k plan and Stock Purchase Plan with employer match. Full-time employees are eligible for education assistance and generous Leave policies including 14 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Employees are eligible to earn an annual bonus based on company performance. Employees accrue prorated flexible time off in the amount .4388 hours per day that increases with years of service, twelve paid holidays throughout the calendar year and Service Time Off during milestone years.
• Though our teammates hail from all corners of the world, our working language is English.
• At adidas we offer a Hybrid work policy which requires attendance in the office Monday through Thursday, with the flexibility to work remotely on Friday each week. For work requiring a high degree of collaboration or an in-person presentation, in-office attendance is required even on Friday. The working location of this position is Portland, OR.

adidas celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness and encourages individual expression in our workplace. We do not tolerate the harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees. We are an equal opportunity employer.