Human Resources Payroll Tax Specialist

$55,900 - $85,000/Yr

HSBC - Buffalo, NY

Full-time - Mid Level

Hybrid - Buffalo, NY

Credit Intermediation and Related Activities

About the position

As a Human Resources Payroll Tax Specialist at HSBC, you will play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with payroll tax regulations and policies. Your primary responsibility will be to act as a liaison between HSBC and payroll tax services vendors, ensuring that all payroll tax processes are executed accurately and in a timely manner. You will research tax laws and provide guidance to stakeholders, advising them on best practices and emerging issues related to payroll tax. This position requires a strong understanding of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, as well as the ability to assist with gathering and analyzing data for unemployment tax audits, proposed legislation, and legal entity inquiries. In this role, you will conduct quarterly reviews of Federal, State, Unemployment, and Local Tax returns to ensure their accuracy. You will perform system checks and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to verify the proper setup of BSI tax updates, states, jurisdictions, limits, and other relevant parameters within the SAP system. Additionally, you will assist in IRS and State audits, acting as a liaison between the company and payroll vendor tax services to ensure timely tax payments. Balancing bi-weekly payroll taxes with the payroll tax vendor will also be part of your responsibilities. Maintaining HSBC's internal control standards is essential, including the timely implementation of internal and external audit points and addressing any issues raised by external regulators. You will also assist with special projects and assignments related to payroll taxes, systems, and processes, while providing support to employees and HR with tax-related inquiries. As a subject matter expert in your area, you will identify opportunities for process improvement, increased automation, and efficiency. Your role will involve coordinating, completing, and reviewing a broad range of complex processing, operational, customer service, legal, and accounting-related duties in support of your assigned area. You will be expected to resolve unusual issues by investigating their sources to minimize or eliminate future occurrences.

Responsibilities

• Act as liaison between HSBC and payroll tax services vendor.
• Research tax laws and provide guidance to ensure compliant payroll tax policies.
• Advise stakeholders on best practices and emerging issues related to payroll tax.
• Assist with gathering and analyzing data for unemployment tax audits, proposed legislation, and legal entity inquiries.
• Conduct quarterly review of Federal, State, Unemployment and Local Tax returns for accuracy.
• Perform system checks and UAT testing to ensure proper setup of BSI tax updates, states, jurisdictions, limits, etc. within the SAP system.
• Assist in IRS and State audits.
• Balance bi-weekly payroll taxes with payroll tax vendor.
• Maintain HSBC internal control standards, including timely implementation of internal and external audit points together with any issues raised by external regulators.
• Assist with special projects and/or assignments within the department in relation to payroll taxes, systems, and processes.
• Assist employees, team and HR with tax related inquiries.
• Serve as expert in area of responsibility and identify areas for process improvement, increased automation and/or efficiency.
• Coordinate, complete and review a broad range of complex processing, operational, customer service, legal and/or accounting-related specialized duties in support of assigned area.
• Resolve unusual issues, investigating their source to minimize or eliminate future occurrences.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or related fields, or equivalent experience.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation, or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FCP) is a plus.
• Minimum 3-5 years proven payroll tax, payroll generalist experience or equivalent experience.
• Working knowledge and experience in payroll areas (i.e., US payroll, international payroll, tax, and employee equity).
• Ability to work well independently in a high-volume environment.
• Strong analytical, attention to detail, customer service, problem-solving, organizational, interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Proficient in Excel (i.e., Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs, and other formulas). SAP - Employee Central Payroll experience preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with international payroll processes.
• Knowledge of advanced payroll tax regulations and compliance requirements.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and benefits package including a robust Wellness Hub.
• Tailored professional development opportunities.
• Generous matching gift program.
• Comprehensive program of immersive Sustainability and Climate Change Initiatives.
• Industry-leading volunteerism policy.
• Access to Employee Resource Groups for networking and development.