Payroll Tax Specialist/ Payroll Specialist/ Payroll Operations Specialist

Role: Associate I Payroll Location: Abbott Park, IL Work Schedule: Monday Friday, 8:00 AM 4:30 PM Work Arrangement: 100% OnsiteJob Summary: We are seeking an experienced Associate I Payroll professional with a strong background in backend payroll operations and payroll tax processing. This role will focus on post-payroll activities, including payroll tax filings, tax notices, multi-state tax requirements, agency communications, and coordination with external tax providers. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, self-motivated, consistent, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. Key Responsibilities:

• Support post-payroll and backend payroll operations, with a primary focus on payroll tax activities.
• Process and support federal, state, and FICA payroll taxes.
• Assist with payroll tax filings and ensure timely and accurate submission of required tax information.
• Review, research, and resolve state and local payroll tax notices.
• Communicate and coordinate with state tax agencies and other government authorities.
• Work closely with third-party payroll tax providers and vendors to resolve tax-related issues.
• Manage and support Power of Attorney (POA) and third-party authorization processes.
• Handle multi-state payroll tax requirements and related compliance activities.
• Respond to internal payroll tickets and coordinate resolution with appropriate internal teams and external tax vendors.
• Participate in payroll system testing, project activities, and process-related initiatives.
• Attend team and project meetings and provide clear updates on assigned activities.
• Maintain accurate payroll tax records and documentation.
• Perform detailed reviews to identify discrepancies and ensure data accuracy.
• Follow established payroll processes, controls, and compliance requirements.
• Manage multiple priorities while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced work environment.

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 2 3 years of payroll experience, with a strong emphasis on payroll tax processing.
• 2 3 years of hands-on experience with payroll tax filings.
• Strong understanding of federal, state, and FICA payroll taxes.
• Experience working with state tax agencies and responding to tax notices.
• Experience with multi-state payroll taxation.
• Experience working with third-party payroll tax providers/vendors.
• Familiarity with Power of Attorney (POA) and third-party authorizations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Microsoft Excel.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Strong self-motivation, consistency, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with payroll tax projects and system/process testing.
• Experience supporting payroll-related projects and implementations.
• Experience working with internal ticketing systems.
• Experience in a large, multi-state organization or corporate payroll environment.