[Hiring] Payroll Compliance Specialist @Wipfli

Role Description

The Payroll Compliance Specialist supports payroll compliance reviews, payroll tax amendments, agency notice resolution, and related advisory engagements. This role analyzes payroll records, identifies discrepancies, researches federal, state, and local requirements, prepares corrective calculations and amended filings, and documents findings for review. The successful candidate will bring hands-on payroll tax and compliance experience beyond routine payroll processing.

Responsibilities

• Perform detailed payroll compliance reviews using payroll registers, tax reports, employee-level detail, general ledger information, and supporting documentation.
• Identify payroll and payroll tax discrepancies, trace issues to their source, evaluate the impact, and recommend appropriate corrective action.
• Analyze the taxation and reporting of earnings and deductions, including bonuses, commissions, fringe benefits, reimbursements, pre-tax deductions, and other compensation.
• Review overtime calculations, including regular-rate and blended overtime calculations, and prepare retroactive calculations when corrections are required.
• Prepare or support federal and state payroll tax amendments, including Forms 941-X, W-2c, and W-3c, as well as applicable state withholding and unemployment corrections.
• Reconcile amended payroll tax filings to payroll records, tax liability reports, previously filed returns, and year-end reporting.
• Review federal and state payroll tax notices, determine the cause, research applicable requirements, and recommend a resolution.
• Draft clear, professional correspondence to federal, state, and local tax agencies.
• Research payroll tax and wage-and-hour requirements using authoritative sources, including the IRS, U.S. Department of Labor, Social Security Administration, and state tax and unemployment agencies.
• Analyze multi-state payroll matters, including income tax withholding, unemployment taxation, employee work-location considerations, and employer registration requirements.
• Document findings, supporting analysis, corrective actions, and recommendations in a format appropriate for internal and client review.
• Assist with state tax payments, payroll tax account remediation, registrations, and closures.
• Evaluate payroll earning and deduction code configurations and recommend corrective mapping when compliance issues are identified.
• Review work for accuracy, completeness, and consistency before submitting it for final review.
• Collaborate with team members and stakeholders to communicate findings, resolve questions, and support timely completion of engagements.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of professional experience with payroll taxation and compliance, including experience performing payroll compliance reviews or audits rather than solely processing payroll.
• Strong knowledge of federal payroll taxation, including federal income tax withholding, Social Security, Medicare, FUTA, taxable wages, fringe benefits, and year-end reporting.
• Working knowledge of state income tax withholding and state unemployment insurance requirements, including experience supporting multi-state employers.
• Experience preparing or reviewing Forms 941-X, W-2c, W-3c, and state payroll tax amendments.
• Experience reviewing complex compensation and deductions, including commissions, bonuses, overtime, taxable fringe benefits, and pre-tax deductions.
• Ability to reconcile payroll registers, tax liability reports, quarterly returns, and Forms W-2 and to identify inconsistencies across large payroll datasets.
• Ability to research federal, state, and local payroll requirements using authoritative sources and clearly document conclusions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including experience using spreadsheets to reconcile and analyze payroll data.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and written communication skills, with close attention to accuracy and detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work both independently and collaboratively.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification or equivalent advanced payroll expertise.
• Experience with iSolved, or a comparable enterprise payroll system.
• Experience with payroll tax account registrations, closures, agency correspondence, and account remediation.
• Experience in payroll tax advisory, accounting, consulting, or another professional-services environment.
• Experience presenting technical payroll findings and recommendations to clients, managers, or other business stakeholders.

Core Capabilities

• Recognizes potential compliance issues rather than relying solely on payroll system output.
• Traces discrepancies to their source and determines whether a correction is required.
• Calculates corrections accurately and identifies affected filings and reporting periods.
• Researches the applicable authority and documents the basis for the conclusion.
• Explains findings clearly enough for a reviewer or stakeholder to understand and validate the analysis.

Additional Details

Wipfli is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All candidates will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Wipfli is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, interview, or participate in our recruiting process, please send us an email at [email protected].

The estimated base pay range for this role is $66,000 - $89,000 with offers typically not made at the maximum, allowing for future salary increases. The actual salary at the time of offer depends on business-related factors like location, skills, experience, training/education, licensure, certifications, business needs, current associate pay, and relevant employment laws.

Individuals may be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, subject to participation rules and based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual and Firm performance.

Wipfli cares about our associates and offers a variety of benefits to support their well-being. Highlights include:

• 8 health plan options (both HMO & PPO plans)
• Dental and vision coverage
• Opportunity to enroll in HSA with potential Firm contribution
• Employee Assistance Program
• Firm-sponsored basic life and short and long-term disability coverage
• 401(k) savings plan & profit share as well as Firm matching contribution
• Well-being incentive
• Education & certification assistance
• Flexible time off
• Family care leave
• Parental leave
• Family formation benefits
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Travel rewards

Voluntary benefit offerings include critical illness & accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, legal, long-term care, pet insurance, ID theft protection, and supplemental life/AD&D. Eligibility for all benefits programs is dependent on annual hours expectation, position status/level, and location.