Payroll Tax Analyst

Payroll Tax AnalystContract-to-Hire | Tempe, AZ (100% Onsite at Tempe Town Lake)Pay: $32–$38/hr (flexible based on experience)Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00am–5:00pm (flexible start time)Start: ASAP Company OverviewAt The Intersect Group, we partner with high-growth organizations across technology, accounting, and finance to build teams that drive accuracy, accountability, and long-term value. Our clients operate in complex, multi-state environments and rely on strong payroll and tax professionals to protect compliance and financial integrity. We value precision, ownership, and professionals who thrive in fast-paced, high-responsibility roles. Role SummaryWe are seeking an experienced Payroll Tax Analyst to support a large, multi-state payroll environment with significant financial and compliance responsibility. This role plays a critical part in ensuring accurate payroll tax filings, reconciliations, and equity taxation while partnering closely with payroll leadership and accounting teams.The Payroll Tax Analyst will own payroll tax compliance across federal, state, and local jurisdictions, manage audits and notices, and ensure payroll tax liabilities are accurate and timely. This position requires deep, hands-on payroll tax expertise and a proven background in tax-specific roles. Key Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax withholding and unemployment regulations*
• Perform regular wage and tax reconciliations to validate liabilities, charges, and reported wages*
• Maintain and update payroll tax jurisdiction profiles, including rates, frequencies, registrations, and compliance requirements*
• Research payroll tax refunds and provide accounting direction for proper posting, including historical reconciliation backlogs*
• Review, upload, track, and resolve payroll tax notices through ADP SmartCompliance*
• Reconcile monthly, quarterly, and annual payroll tax filings across all jurisdictions*
• Manage internal payroll tax audits and support equity, bonus, commission, off-cycle, and amended payroll tax activities*
• Process W-2Cs and amended tax returns as needed and assist with payroll-related projects and reporting

Key Requirements

• 5+ years of payroll tax experience, with a strong emphasis on multi-state payroll tax compliance*
• Demonstrated expertise in payroll tax filings, reconciliations, audits, and equity-related taxation*
• Hands-on experience with ADP SmartCompliance (required)*
• Experience working in large, complex payroll environments with significant financial exposure*
• Workday experience highly preferred
• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations*
• High attention to detail, strong ownership mindset, and the ability to manage sensitive financial data*
• Clear communication skills and the ability to partner effectively with payroll leadership and accounting teams