Payroll Analyst

Location: Scottsdale, AZ

Employment Type: This is a contract-to-direct-hire position Industry: semiconductor

Compensation: $38.46-$43.27 ($85,000-$90,000 per year)

Schedule: 40 hours/week

About the Opportunity: As a Payroll Analyst, you will help ensure accurate and timely payroll processing while supporting payroll compliance, reconciliations, reporting, audits, and system-related initiatives. This role offers the opportunity to leverage analytical skills, AI-enabled tools, and process improvements to help drive operational excellence across the payroll function. We are looking for a professional who demonstrates accountability, embraces innovation, and strives for excellence while delivering an exceptional customer experience. This position reports to the Payroll Manager.

What You'll Do: Support bi-weekly payrolls to ensure timely and accurate payment of wages for approximately 3,500 employees across the US and Canada. Research and resolve employee inquiries relating to payroll questions and issues, via email, phone and in person. Respond to inquiries to internal groups such as HR Shared Services and HR Benefits. Partner with Human Resources to maintain payroll system data integrity and ensure accurate calculation of pay rates, taxes, and other payroll-related transactions. Develop, analyze, and maintain complex payroll reconciliation workbooks utilizing intermediate to advanced Excel functionality; prepare audit and reconciliation reports, validate payroll results, and research discrepancies. Support payroll-related general ledger reconciliations and ensure alignment between payroll and financial reporting. Analyze payroll data, trends, and anomalies to identify discrepancies, control gaps, process inefficiencies, and opportunities to improve payroll accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency. Support ongoing federal, state, and local payroll tax compliance and regulatory reporting requirements. Support year-end payroll activities, including W-2, T4, tax reconciliation, and regulatory reporting requirements. Support internal, external, SOX, financial, and regulatory audit requests and reporting requirements. Support workers' compensation, 401(k), state and local tax, and other payroll-related audits, reviews, and inquiries. Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for payroll systems, including troubleshooting system issues, testing enhancements, validating payroll system updates, and supporting process improvements. Lead and actively participate in payroll-related projects, including payroll system implementations, integrations, upgrades, testing activities, process improvements, and year-end payroll updates. Collaborate with Human Resources, Benefits, Compensation, Finance, Accounting, Tax, IT, and external payroll vendors; facilitate cross-functional discussions to resolve payroll issues, accounting discrepancies, and process improvement opportunities. Identify opportunities to streamline payroll processes through automation, standardization, AI-enabled solutions, and best practices while maintaining appropriate controls and data security. Document payroll procedures and maintain process documentation to support operational excellence and business continuity. Maintain confidentiality of payroll and other information. Perform other duties, special projects, and cross-functional initiatives in support of departmental and business objectives as assigned.