Payroll Tax Accountant II

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Tax Accountant II – Payroll Tax Specialist Job Description

The Tax Accountant II role focuses on delivering business value by ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant payroll tax remittances and filings. You will serve as a central and technical resource within the organization, working with large volumes of data, driving process improvements, and providing expert guidance on payroll tax matters. This position offers meaningful, cross-functional work, strong local partnerships, and an outstanding work–life balance.

Responsibilities

• Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant payroll tax remittances and filings across multiple jurisdictions.
• Make recommendations based on payroll tax expertise and current industry trends to improve processes and outcomes.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and implement viable solutions to issues within payroll tax processes.
• Recommend and apply policy adjustments to key payroll tax processes to enhance compliance and efficiency.
• Recognize key versus non-key controls within payroll tax operations and ensure tasks align with those controls, driving accountability.
• Drive the implementation of broader payroll tax process improvements in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Assess work collaboratively with team members to prioritize and align on the most important tax activities.
• Proactively track and identify trends using data and metrics to anticipate and address payroll tax issues.
• Provide consultation and develop proposals for updates to existing or new processes in response to business or legislative changes.
• Develop changes or enhancements to current documentation and policies to reflect updated payroll tax requirements.
• Influence stakeholders to ensure ongoing compliance with payroll tax laws and internal policies.
• With support, advise the organization on payroll tax matters and recommend best practices for payroll tax processes.
• With support, execute learning opportunities on payroll tax topics for non-payroll tax partners.
• Work on year-end payroll tasks, including managing and analyzing large volumes of data in Excel.
• Balance daily payments to ensure accuracy and completeness of payroll tax-related transactions.
• Process and reconcile stock-related payroll items accurately and in a timely manner.
• Respond to inquiries and cases related to payroll tax issues as needed, providing clear and accurate information.
• Manage shared inboxes to ensure timely and organized responses to internal and external payroll tax queries.
• Perform audit work by analyzing large amounts of data to identify discrepancies, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
• Update tax authorities’ records as needed to maintain accurate and current information.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 2 years of payroll tax experience, including payment, reconciling, and filing responsibilities.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience using analytical and problem-solving skills in a professional setting.
• Minimum of 2 years of customer service experience, with a focus on supporting internal or external stakeholders.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience with multi-state and provincial tax reporting and filing.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience with federal, state, local, and provincial labor law as it relates to payroll tax.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Strong analytical and technical skills with a high level of attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of tax compliance software and supporting database tools, including SAP, SuccessFactors, and ADP.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel (including pivot tables and VLOOKUP) and Word.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and collaborate on process efficiencies within payroll or tax functions.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Accounting degree or accounting background is preferred but not required.
• Experience working with SAP for payroll tax or financial processes.
• Experience using ADP payroll systems and related reporting tools.
• Experience with SuccessFactors or similar HRIS platforms.
• Advanced Excel skills, including working with large data sets, pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and complex reconciliations.
• Experience developing or updating process documentation and policies.
• Comfort providing guidance and informal training to non-payroll tax partners on tax-related topics.

Work Environment

You will work in a collaborative and kind team environment that includes support from two team leads. The role is central and technical within the organization, offering broad cross-functional exposure and close partnerships with local teams. The position involves extensive use of tax compliance software and database tools such as SAP, SuccessFactors, and ADP, as well as daily use of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word. You will regularly handle large volumes of data, perform reconciliations, and support audit and compliance activities. The work environment emphasizes meaningful work, strong cross-functional collaboration, and a work–life balance that is highly valued and difficult to match.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Seattle, WA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $50.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Seattle,WA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 20, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on us.fitly.work for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.