Senior Payroll and Systems Analyst

Affinity Search Limited - North Canton, OH

Full-time - Mid Level

North Canton, OH

About the position

The Sr. Payroll & Systems Analyst position is critical to ensuring that payroll is processed accurately and in compliance with all legislative requirements. This role is responsible for establishing and maintaining the systems and controls necessary to ensure that all employees are paid correctly and that all payments owed to employees, government entities, and third-party agencies are made in a timely manner. Failure to meet these obligations can lead to significant penalties, making this position vital to the financial health of the organization. In this role, the analyst will work closely with both internal and external auditors to ensure compliance with payroll regulations. The primary responsibility includes overseeing the payroll processing within the Employee Central Payroll system, focusing on automating and streamlining processes to enhance efficiency. The analyst will also serve as a key resource for plants and employees regarding payroll-related issues, collaborating with payroll processors to resolve any discrepancies. Additionally, the analyst will ensure that payments to associates, government entities for income tax, and third-party agencies such as unions are processed correctly. This includes managing payroll ACH file processing, paper check printing, and distribution. The role also involves acting as the SOX Specialist for payroll systems and processes, ensuring that all hardware and software are functioning properly and compliant with legal and corporate policies. The analyst will lead training initiatives for the payroll processing team and support the payroll manager on continuous improvement initiatives, mergers and acquisitions integrations, and other payroll projects. Furthermore, the analyst will be responsible for preparing quarterly 941s, annual 940s, W2s, 1099s, and other required payroll filings, while also serving as the primary contact for external vendor programs related to payroll.

Responsibilities

• Ensure payroll is accurately processed and compliant with legislative requirements.
• Automate and streamline payroll processes within the Employee Central Payroll system.
• Support plants and employees with payroll-related issues and collaborate with payroll processors to resolve them.
• Ensure timely payments to associates, government entities for income tax, and third-party agencies like unions.
• Provide training and assistance to the payroll processing team for new process changes.
• Act as the SOX Specialist for payroll systems and processes, ensuring compliance with legal and corporate policies.
• Manage payroll ACH file processing, paper check printing, and distribution.
• Lead training initiatives for the payroll processing team as a subject matter expert in EC Cloud payroll.
• Collaborate with the payroll manager on continuous improvement initiatives, M&A integrations, and other payroll projects.
• Prepare quarterly 941s, annual 940s, W2s, 1099s, and other required payroll filings.
• Act as the primary contact for external vendor programs related to payroll.

Requirements

• High School Diploma with a minimum of 10 years of experience in payroll processing.
• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Business with a minimum of 6 years of payroll experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Employee Central Cloud Payroll and SQL database.
• Proficient PC skills, especially in Excel.
• Strong working knowledge of payroll legislative requirements.
• Continuous Improvement mindset.
• Certified Payroll Professional certification is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of US payroll tax and banking.

Nice-to-haves

• Previous experience with Payroll Tax, SOX, Compliance, and Garnishments.