Payroll Analyst - Remote USA

Summary

Pacific Specialty Insurance Company is a regional insurance carrier that emphasizes employee appreciation, flexibility, and belonging. The Payroll Analyst supports accurate and timely payroll processing, audits payroll data, resolves discrepancies, ensures regulatory compliance, and partners with Human Resources, Finance, and management. The role also supports payroll reporting, tax processing, system maintenance, audits, and employee payroll inquiries.

Responsibilities

• Process bi-weekly and off-cycle payrolls, final paychecks, retroactive adjustments, and special payments as needed
• Process and audit payroll transactions to ensure accuracy and compliance with company policies and applicable laws
• Review employee timekeeping, earnings, deductions, taxes, and benefit deductions for accuracy
• Analyze payroll data and identify discrepancies, trends, and process improvement opportunities
• Prepare and reconcile payroll reports, general ledger entries, and payroll-related account reconciliations
• Research and resolve payroll issues, including tax withholdings, garnishments, benefit deductions, and wage calculations
• Maintain payroll records and ensure compliance with record retention requirements
• Support payroll audits, including internal, external, and regulatory audits
• Manage payroll tax reporting and assist with year-end processing activities, including W-2 preparation and reconciliation
• Respond to unemployment claims, employment verification requests, and payroll inquiries
• Assist with leave administration impacts on payroll, including workers’ compensation, disability, and leave of absence payments
• Support payroll system testing, upgrades, implementations, and process improvements
• Develop and maintain payroll procedures, documentation, and internal controls
• Generate and distribute payroll reports for management and regulatory requirements
• Ensure compliance with wage and hour laws, payroll tax regulations, and company policies

Skills

• Candidates must be able to work Pacific or Mountain Time business hours
• Minimum of 3–5 years of payroll processing and payroll analysis experience
• Experience with CA payroll processing is a must
• Experience with multi-state payroll processing preferred
• Experience with payroll systems such as ADP, UKG, Workday, Ceridian Dayforce, or similar platforms
• Strong understanding of payroll laws, wage and hour regulations, and payroll tax requirements
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and data analysis
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict payroll deadlines
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field preferred
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification
• Experience with payroll system implementations or upgrades
• Experience with payroll reporting

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Candidates must be able to work Pacific or Mountain Time business hours
• Minimum of 3–5 years of payroll processing and payroll analysis experience
• Experience with CA payroll processing is a must
• Experience with multi-state payroll processing preferred
• Experience with payroll systems such as ADP, UKG, Workday, Ceridian Dayforce, or similar platforms
• Strong understanding of payroll laws, wage and hour regulations, and payroll tax requirements
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and data analysis
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict payroll deadlines

Nice to Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field preferred
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification
• Experience with payroll system implementations or upgrades
• Experience with payroll reporting

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and retirement plans
• 401k plan with a company matching contribution equal to 60% of your qualified salary deferral contribution
• Flexibility in their day