Payroll & Tax Analyst

Summary

Stout is a professional services firm dedicated to exceeding expectations through its Relentless Excellence culture. The Payroll & Tax Analyst supports multi-state payroll processing, payroll tax compliance, reconciliations, reporting, corporate tax activities, employee inquiries, and cross-functional coordination while progressively assuming greater ownership across Payroll and Tax.

Responsibilities

• Perform payroll, payroll tax and 401(k) reconciliations; research discrepancies; and support month-end payroll accruals, reporting and close activities
• Support federal, state and local payroll tax compliance, including registrations, account maintenance, quarterly reporting, jurisdiction onboarding and closures, and year-end W-2 balancing and processing
• Manage physical and electronic tax correspondence by receiving, logging, routing and tracking items; take increasing ownership of research and escalate matters requiring technical review or response
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries and coordinate with payroll vendors and internal stakeholders to resolve issues accurately and timely
• Maintain payroll and tax procedures, checklists, controls and supporting records, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen controls and reduce compliance risk
• Serve as a backup Workday payroll processor for a semi-monthly payroll of more than 1,200 salaried and hourly employees across approximately 35 states, including regular, on-demand and off-cycle payrolls
• Review payroll inputs and employee changes, including hires, terminations, compensation changes, paid time off, leaves, final paychecks, signing bonus repayments, and annual merit and promotion increases
• Review hourly employee and subcontractor time entries, assist with subcontractor payment calculations, and administer 401(k), insurance, garnishments and other payroll deductions
• Perform payroll, payroll tax and 401(k) reconciliations; research discrepancies; and support month-end payroll accruals, reporting and close activities
• Build and maintain recurring and ad hoc Workday reporting for Payroll, Tax, Finance, Human Resources, month-end close, external advisors and other business needs
• Assist with payroll tax and 401(k) audits, examinations and annual nondiscrimination testing by compiling documentation and researching discrepancies
• Support federal, state and local payroll tax compliance, including registrations, account maintenance, quarterly reporting, jurisdiction onboarding and closures, and year-end W-2 balancing and processing
• Research payroll tax requirements and agency notices, work with taxing jurisdictions and vendors to resolve issues, and monitor compliance with applicable payroll and tax requirements
• Manage physical and electronic tax correspondence by receiving, logging, routing and tracking items; take increasing ownership of research and escalate matters requiring technical review or response
• Prepare the monthly use tax accrual and calculation, complete related reconciliations, assist with internally prepared tax returns, and prepare annual business license filings and renewals
• Support external tax preparers and advisors by compiling reports and documentation, responding to requests, assisting with return review and supporting tax research
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries and coordinate with payroll vendors and internal stakeholders to resolve issues accurately and timely
• Maintain payroll and tax procedures, checklists, controls and supporting records, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen controls and reduce compliance risk
• Support system enhancements, acquisitions, training, special projects, ad hoc reporting and overflow work, reprioritizing as needed to meet team deadlines
• Cultivate a positive, team-oriented approach that supports collaboration across Payroll, Tax and the broader organization
• Demonstrate accountability and reliability by consistently completing work accurately and meeting payroll, tax and reporting deadlines
• Exhibit an entrepreneurial mindset and a commitment to excellence, what we call Relentless Excellence®, in all aspects of your work
• Build effective working relationships with employees, internal stakeholders, vendors and external advisors
• Communicate clearly and respond promptly when resolving payroll questions, discrepancies and compliance matters
• Bring intellectual curiosity and strong attention to detail when researching issues and working with financial and employee data
• Manage changing priorities effectively while maintaining accuracy in a deadline-driven environment
• Continue developing payroll and tax knowledge and assume greater ownership as your experience grows

Skills

• Strong analytical, accounting and numerical skills, with the ability to research discrepancies and work with detailed financial and employee data
• Knowledge of, or ability to learn, payroll, payroll tax, state and local tax, and related compliance requirements
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, particularly Excel; experience with large data sets, reconciliations and commonly used formulas and functions is preferred
• Strong listening, verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work effectively with employees, internal stakeholders, vendors and external advisors
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, accuracy and thoroughness
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and recurring deadlines in a time-sensitive environment
• Ability to handle confidential employee, payroll, tax and financial information with discretion and recognize matters requiring escalation
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively and assume greater ownership as knowledge and experience develop
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a related field required
• Prior professional or internship experience in payroll, tax, accounting, finance or a related function is preferred; payroll and/or tax experience in an accounting-type role is beneficial
• Previous Workday experience, particularly Workday Payroll and reporting, is preferred; multi-state payroll, payroll tax, state and local tax, reconciliation or general accounting experience is beneficial
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, particularly Excel; experience with large data sets, reconciliations and commonly used formulas and functions is preferred
• Prior professional or internship experience in payroll, tax, accounting, finance or a related function is preferred; payroll and/or tax experience in an accounting-type role is beneficial
• Previous Workday experience, particularly Workday Payroll and reporting, is preferred; multi-state payroll, payroll tax, state and local tax, reconciliation or general accounting experience is beneficial

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Strong analytical, accounting and numerical skills, with the ability to research discrepancies and work with detailed financial and employee data
• Knowledge of, or ability to learn, payroll, payroll tax, state and local tax, and related compliance requirements
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, particularly Excel; experience with large data sets, reconciliations and commonly used formulas and functions is preferred
• Strong listening, verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work effectively with employees, internal stakeholders, vendors and external advisors
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, accuracy and thoroughness
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and recurring deadlines in a time-sensitive environment
• Ability to handle confidential employee, payroll, tax and financial information with discretion and recognize matters requiring escalation
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively and assume greater ownership as knowledge and experience develop
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a related field required
• Prior professional or internship experience in payroll, tax, accounting, finance or a related function is preferred; payroll and/or tax experience in an accounting-type role is beneficial
• Previous Workday experience, particularly Workday Payroll and reporting, is preferred; multi-state payroll, payroll tax, state and local tax, reconciliation or general accounting experience is beneficial

Nice to Haves

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, particularly Excel; experience with large data sets, reconciliations and commonly used formulas and functions is preferred
• Prior professional or internship experience in payroll, tax, accounting, finance or a related function is preferred; payroll and/or tax experience in an accounting-type role is beneficial
• Previous Workday experience, particularly Workday Payroll and reporting, is preferred; multi-state payroll, payroll tax, state and local tax, reconciliation or general accounting experience is beneficial

Benefits

• Comprehensive Total Rewards program with competitive compensation, benefits, and wellness options tailored to support employees at every stage of life.
• Inclusion and respect, embracing diverse perspectives and experiences to drive innovation and success.
• Ongoing training, mentorship, employee resource groups, and clear performance feedback.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Discretionary time off policy.