Senior Payroll Accountant

Job Summary:
The Senior Payroll Accountant is responsible for ensuring compliance with payroll regulations, providing expert analysis and guidance on complex payroll matters, and collaborating with various departments. This role requires in-depth knowledge of payroll legislation, payroll processing, tax reporting, and regulatory compliance, as well as strong analytical and leadership skills. The Senior Payroll Accountant will play a key role in managing high-volume and complex general ledger accounts, supporting audit activities, and mentoring and guiding team members on payroll related matters.

Essential Functions:

• Ensure Compliance and Regulatory Adherence: Stay current with payroll legislative changes and reporting regulations to ensure compliance with multiple tax reporting units, multi-state reporting requirements, and complex payroll processing cycles. Oversee quarter-end and year-end tax filings, including reconciliation and preparation for submission to tax agencies and employees (Federal Forms 940, 941, W2, W3, and state and local filings).
• Payroll Subject Matter Expertise: 
  • Provide expert analysis and report on key financial/accounting matters, including:
    • Recurring and ad hoc reports for leaders and areas within the organization
    • Key payroll data for Corporate Tax returns, workers' compensation, and state unemployment audits
  • Interpret and administer HR policies related to payroll processing, ensuring compliance and accuracy
  • Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of:
    • Payroll processing calculations (e.g., paycheck, pay reversals, payroll tax, and deductions)
    • Complex payroll elements (e.g., deferred compensation, imputed income, and gross-ups)
    • Executive payroll (e.g., Non-qualified deferred compensation withholding and distributions, Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) distributions, and relocation)

  • Ability to clearly explain payroll concepts to employees and ensure accurate reporting and compliance, particularly in relation to W2 reporting. 

• Consultation and Collaboration: Collaborate with various departments (Tax, Legal, HR, and 3rd-party vendors) on complex pay practices, expat withholding and reporting impacting W-2 reporting, and provide guidance on projects impacting payroll processing, employee compensation, or regulatory compliance.
• Financial Reporting and Reconciliations: Manage and reconcile high-volume and complex general ledger accounts, including payroll tax accounts, and prepare and maintain complex payroll-related account reconciliations.
• Journal Entries and Close Activities: Prepare and process complicated journal entries, and support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities, including adjusting and accrual journal entries.
• Audit Support and Compliance: Collaborate with internal and external auditors, provide payroll documentation, reconcile and validate data, and support during audits to ensure timely and accurate responses.
• Process Improvement and Optimization: Identify opportunities for process improvement, implement changes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, document tax processes and maintain compliance records.
• Leadership and Mentorship: Mentor and guide team members on payroll-related matters.

Required Qualifications:
5+ years related work experience in a senior payroll accountant role 

Bachelor's degree required Accounting or Finance
Strong knowledge of accounting principles and payroll legislative regulations

Experience with payroll, time and labor, and accounting software and systems  
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills 
Strong communication and interpersonal skills 
Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities 
Strong attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines

Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel 

Preferred Qualifications:
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Experience with Oracle HCM, Oracle Fusion, ADP Smart Compliance, PeopleSoft ERP 

Experience in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

General Physical Demands:
Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally to move objects. Jobs are sedentary if traversing activities are required only occasionally. 

Physical/Environmental Activities:
Must be able to travel for work (i.e. travel to attend meetings, events, conferences). Occasionally 
What We Offer: 
As a Florida Blue employee, you will be at the heart of GuideWell’s vision – to lead the nation in transforming health through compassionate, connected, and technology-enabled care that delivers personalized value and empowered living. 
To support your wellbeing, comprehensive benefits are offered. As an employee, you will have access to: 

• Medical, dental, vision, life and global travel health insurance;
• Income protection benefits: life insurance, short- and long-term disability programs;
• Leave programs to support personal circumstances;
• Retirement Savings Plan including employer match;
• Paid time off, volunteer time off, 10 holidays and 2 well-being days;
• Additional voluntary benefits available; and
• A comprehensive wellness program

Employee benefits are designed to align with federal and state employment laws. Benefits may vary based on the state in which work is performed. Benefits for intern, part-time and seasonal employees may differ.
To support your financial wellbeing, we offer competitive pay as well as opportunities for incentive or commission compensation. We also conduct regular annual reviews with pay for performance considerations for base pay increases. 
Annualized Salary Range: $84,500 - $137,300
Typical Annualized Hiring Range: $84,500 - $105,600
Final pay will be determined with consideration of market competitiveness, internal equity, and the job-related knowledge, skills, training, and experience you bring.
We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to cultivating a work experience where everyone feels like they belong and can perform at their best in pursuit of our mission. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.