Kearney Payroll Tax Specialist

A.T. Kearney - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

Chicago, IL

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Payroll Tax Specialist at Kearney is responsible for supporting payroll processing for the US and Canada, ensuring compliance with payroll tax obligations, and maintaining payroll systems. This role involves auditing, reconciling tax filings, and resolving discrepancies, while actively participating in system upgrades and enhancements. The position is based in Chicago with a hybrid work model.

Responsibilities

• Meet all Payroll processing deadlines for monthly and bi-weekly payrolls.
• Meet all payroll tax obligations utilizing ADP Smart compliance.
• Reconcile quarterly tax filings for 3 entities, resolve exceptions, approve ADP processing files.
• Run audits and reconciliations for annual W2 forms.
• Resolve employee W2 discrepancies.
• Calculate W2 corrections and submit amendments.
• Review ADP Smart Compliance daily for alerts and notifications.
• Work with ADP to register for new state income and unemployment taxes.
• Follow up on tax notices with ADP and state agencies.
• Ensure State Unemployment Rates are accurate in ADP and PeopleSoft.
• Resolve employee paycheck issues which may include calculating over payments and resolving state tax issues.
• Knowledge of state tax regulations and multi-state work tax situations.
• Active participation in system upgrades and tax updates including testing in multiple database environments.
• Update Company State Tax tables for Company unemployment rates, regularly audit UI rates against ADP tax records.
• Proactively work all Tax inquiries and notices. Follow up with ADP and taxing authorities to resolve inquiries.
• Work with HRIS to implement enhancements/changes to the payroll system.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of experience working in Payroll Tax.
• Understanding of employee tax withholding types (federal, state, FICA) and methods (percentage, supplemental, aggregate).
• Organized with high quality standards.
• Excellent verbal & written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and on teams.
• Strong knowledge of MS Office, especially Excel.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent educational experience.
• Fluency in English.
• Knowledge of ADP Smart Compliance - Employment Tax Service.

Benefits

• Generous retirement/pension savings contributions
• Comprehensive medical insurance for employees and their families
• Structured and on-the-job learning and development opportunities
• Personalized opportunities for career development.