Payroll Accountant

Position: Payroll Tech Lead

Location: New York, NY (Remote)

Salary: $120K – $135k Bonus

Successful professional services firm seeks a new Workday experienced Payroll Professional to join their team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Payroll Processing & Operations:

• Execute end-to-end payroll processing using Workday Payroll, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Assist Payroll Manager with payroll cycles including earnings, deductions, taxes, garnishments, and off-cycle payments.
• Ensure payroll data integrity across systems and interfaces.

Reconciliation & Financial Accuracy

• Perform detailed reconciliation of payroll results to GL, Tax filings (federal/state/location/internation) & cash disbursement and bank funding
• Investigate and resolve variances across payroll, tax, and finance systems.
• Partner with Finance to support month-end and year-end close activities.

Tax & Compliance Management

• Utilize ADP SmartCompliance for tax filing, reporting, and compliance activities.
• Ensure accurate and timely submission of payroll taxes and regulatory filings.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes impacting payroll.
• Support audits (internal and external) by providing documentation and analysis.

Systems & Technical Expertise

• Serve as the technical lead for Workday Payroll, including configuration support, testing, and issue resolution.
• Troubleshoot payroll system issues, integrations, and data discrepancies.
• Support Workday releases, enhancements, and payroll-related projects.

Reporting & Analytics

• Develop and deliver payroll reports using Workday and other reporting tools.
• Provide insights on payroll trends, variances, and anomalies.

People Function Partnership

• Collaborate closely with the People Function for employee data changes, benefit comp alignment & employee inquiries for issue resolution.
• Act as a trusted advisor on payroll implications of People policies and programs.

Process Improvement & Controls

• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, and efficiency.
• Document and maintain standard operating procedures.
• Strengthen internal controls to ensure compliance and reduce risk.
• Drive automation and optimization within Workday and ADP SmartCompliance

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or equivalent certification preferred.
• 10 years with hands-on processing (end-to-end) payroll.
• Advanced Workday software Payroll processing and reporting experience required.
• Experience with ADP SmartCompliance (strongly preferred).
• Experience working in a complex, multi-state or global payroll environment a plus.
• Advanced Excel skills (reconciliations, pivot tables, data analysis).