Payroll Operations and Tax Analyst

The Office of Finance and Treasury is seeking a Payroll Operations and Tax Analyst in the Payroll Services department.

The Payroll Services department is dedicated to supporting the University’s teaching and research mission by striving to provide excellent customer service to all faculty, staff and students in the payments of their salaries, wages and stipends.  The department is responsible for ensuring all employees are paid timely and accurately and that all payments and withholdings are made in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations.

The Payroll Operations and Tax Analyst supports the processing of payroll data including the audit, quality control, and recording for the bi-weekly, monthly, and supplemental payrolls.  The Analyst works closely with the Payroll Operations Analyst position for cross training to ensure continuity of operations for all payroll processes. This position will also support the Federal, State and Local tax compliance requirements in close collaboration with the Associate Director, Payroll Tax, Audit and Compliance.  

The Payroll Operations and Tax Analyst works closely and collaboratively with the Financial Service Center and the Global Financial Services teams to respond to payroll and taxation issues affecting the University’s and PPPL’s faculty, researchers, staff and student populations.

Audit Bi-Weekly, Monthly, and Supplemental Payrolls

• Audit accuracy of entered Federal and state W-4, non-resident FICA and treaty adjustments.
• Manage escalation of complex payroll issues.
• Approve manual adjustments required to resolve issues.
• Generate ad-hoc queries and reports to research and resolve issues

Process the Biweekly, Monthly and Supplemental Payrolls

• Execute quality assurance of source data  
• Generate payroll

Manage Federal, State and Local Tax Compliance Requirements

• Work in close collaboration with the Associate Director, Payroll Tax, Audit and Compliance to support the Federal, State and Local Tax compliance requirements.

Reconcile Balance Sheet Liability Accounts

• Substantiate monthly balance sheet accounts.
• Assist controller team by researching and clearing Cash Account reconciling issues.
• Identify, research, and clear tax and/or accounting related issues.
• Collaborate with the Associate Director, Payroll Operations and/or Payroll Functional Business analyst. if queries, system interfaces, or payment processes are not working properly.

Provide Customer Service & Support Communication and Training Initiatives 

• Respond to customer inquiries via SNAP tickets, emails and phone calls
• Assist with developing and delivering training content for campus on various payroll topics
• Ensure the Payroll Services website remains relevant and updated; assist with developing communication strategies such as federal and state laws and regulatory statues governing payroll withholding and deductions change

Support business process/system documentation, enhancements, testing and reporting

• Responsible for helping to identify efficiencies and improvement opportunities within the overall payroll services business environment
• Participate in testing and rollout of initiatives and upgrades as needed. 

Other 

• Support special project requests from the Associate Director, Payroll Operations and Payroll Services Director as needed.

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• 3 to 5 years related experience
• Experience using PeopleSoft Human Capital Management (HCM) Payroll application
• Advanced level proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Attention to detail
• Strong analytical, problem solving, time management and interpersonal skills
• Sound judgment, diplomacy and discretion in handling confidential and sensitive information

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in higher education
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Access
• Basic PeopleSoft query experience
• Experience with system enhancement and tax update testing.
• Experience querying data and/or using ad-hoc reporting tools
• Knowledge of nonresident tax compliance as it relates to payroll processing and taxation

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's qualifications, work experience, education/training, key skills, market, collective bargaining agreements as applicable, and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The posted salary range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate for a full-time position; salaries for part-time positions are pro-rated accordingly.

If the salary range on the posted position shows an hourly rate, this is the baseline; the actual hourly rate may be higher, depending on the position and factors listed above.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. Please see this link for more information.