Lead Payroll Analyst

Ready to take your payroll career beyond day-to-day operations? This role is designed for professionals who thrive on analysis, problem-solving, compliance, and continuous improvement. If you enjoy leveraging payroll data, identifying trends, solving complex challenges, and improving processes, this role provides a unique opportunity to make a broader impact across payroll operations

The Lead Payroll Analyst is responsible for supporting payroll operations through compliance reporting, auditing, analytics, and process improvement initiatives. This position helps ensure accurate and compliant payroll practices, develops reporting and key performance metrics, and collaborates with Human Resources, Finance, and other stakeholders to strengthen payroll processes, internal controls, and employee support services at St. Jude.

This position may be eligible for remote work. However, St. Jude requires all remote employees to:

• Travel to our Memphis campus for the interview process and/or orientation, if selected

• Travel to Memphis to work on-site for one week per quarter, or as requested based on business needs, if hired.

By applying, you acknowledge and agree to these travel requirements as a condition of employment.

This position is remote within approved U.S. locations. Due to state-specific employment regulations, we are unable to consider applicants currently residing in California for remote work; however, candidates based in California who are willing to relocate to an approved location may be considered.

Job Description

• Oversee coordination of the annual Internal Controls and Financial Statement audits performed by external auditors by preparing audit schedules at varying levels.
• Reconcile and analyze complex accounts in compliance with departmental policy while adhering to established deadlines.
• Prepare and maintain clear and detailed supporting documentation and financial statements.
• Coordinate proactively with cross-functional teams (e.g., principal investigators, research groups, other departments) to prepare monthly, quarterly and annual reports.
• Track key metrics for own area, oversee reporting/ dashboards, and highlight issues or gaps to senior management.
• Participate in development and implementation of policies and procedures to improve efficiency for own area (e.g., payroll, accounts payable, travel processes).
• (People Managers only) Mentor team members to allow for skill/knowledge development through advice, coaching, and training opportunities.
• Ensures payroll compliance by preparing required federal, state, and local filings, managing payroll-related legal requests, evaluating tax implications, and supporting audits, recoveries, and risk mitigation activities.
• Performs payroll auditing and analysis by monitoring payroll variances, researching and resolving discrepancies, coordinating internal and external audits, and supporting key financial reconciliations.
• Drives process improvement and reporting through payroll metrics, dashboards, workflow enhancements, employee self-service initiatives, industry benchmarking, and participation in cross-functional projects to improve efficiency and service delivery.
• Perform other duties as assigned to meet the goals and objectives of the department and institution.
• Maintains regular and predictable attendance.
• Consistently meet job expectations, adhere to policies, and deliver quality work while applying. St. Jude values and principles. Managers evaluate employee performance throughout the year—specifically through the spring and fall Check In milestones and the Annual Performance Review. All employees are encouraged to actively participate in these performance management processes.

Minimum Education and/or Training:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, auditing, finance, or related field of study required.
• Master's degree preferred

Minimum Experience:

• Minimum Requirement: 5+ years of accounting experience working with a general ledger and related financial information systems.
• Experience with accounting standards and regulations (e.g., IRS, US GAAP, Uniform Guidance, hospital regulations) within specific area.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams.
• Proven performance in earlier role.
• Experience supporting payroll operations, compliance reporting, auditing, and payroll-related analysis.
• Strong knowledge of payroll regulations and reporting requirements, with the ability to research issues, identify root causes, and recommend solutions.
• Advanced Excel and payroll reporting skills, including experience with payroll systems, HRIS platforms, dashboards, KPIs, and operational reporting tools.
• Experience working in complex payroll environments; Workday Payroll/Time Tracking experience and the ability to handle confidential information preferred.
• Experience in healthcare, charitable organizations, higher education, or other complex, multi-state payroll environments strongly preferred
• Familiarity with leave administration, employee self-service tools, and payroll-related process improvement initiatives desired.

Licensure, Registration and/or Certification Preferred:

Professional certification (e.g., such as Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)) preferred

Key areas of responsibilities will include the following:

Compliance:

• Prepares required statutory reporting and compliance by preparing required filings, managing legal and documentation requests, ensuring compliance for remote and multi-jurisdiction employees, developing audit controls and reporting, and administering payroll recoveries in accordance with applicable laws and institutional policies.

Auditing and Analysis:

• Develops and analyzes payroll audit reports, researches and resolves variances, supports internal and external audits, and assists accountant with key account reconciliations in Blackline.

Process Improvement and Special Projects

• Participates in cross functional payroll and HR operational improvement initiatives, develops payroll metrics and dashboards, researches industry benchmarks and best practices, reports/ compares key payroll metric against industry, evaluates tools and processes to enhance efficiency, and supports employee self-service and payment solutions to improve the overall employee experience.

Desired Core Competencies:

• Analytical thinking and attention to detail
• Problem solving and sound judgment
• Written and verbal communication skills
• Organization and time management
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Collaboration and cross-functional partnership
• Commitment to confidentiality, accuracy, and service excellence
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Understanding of the impact of payroll processing on financial statements

Compensation

In recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws, St. Jude is including a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This is an estimate offered in good faith and a specific salary offer takes into account factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $78,000 - $139,360 per year for the role of Lead Payroll Analyst.

Explore our exceptional benefits!

St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer

No Search Firms

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. Please do not call or email. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee or other representative at St. Jude via email, the internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place and approved by HR will result in no fee being paid in the event the candidate is hired by St. Jude.