Payroll Analyst (Scottsdale)

Job Title: Payroll Analyst

Location: Scottsdale, AZ

Employment Type: This is a contract-to-direct-hire position

Industry: semiconductor

Compensation: $38.46-$43.27 ($85,000-$90,000 per year)

Schedule: 40 hours/week

About the Opportunity:

• As a Payroll Analyst, you will help ensure accurate and timely payroll processing while supporting payroll compliance, reconciliations, reporting, audits, and system-related initiatives.
• This role offers the opportunity to leverage analytical skills, AI-enabled tools, and process improvements to help drive operational excellence across the payroll function.
• We are looking for a professional who demonstrates accountability, embraces innovation, and strives for excellence while delivering an exceptional customer experience.
• This position reports to the Payroll Manager.

What You'll Do:

• Support bi-weekly payrolls to ensure timely and accurate payment of wages for approximately 3,500 employees across the US and Canada.
• Research and resolve employee inquiries relating to payroll questions and issues, via email, phone and in person.
• Respond to inquiries to internal groups such as HR Shared Services and HR Benefits.
• Partner with Human Resources to maintain payroll system data integrity and ensure accurate calculation of pay rates, taxes, and other payroll-related transactions.
• Develop, analyze, and maintain complex payroll reconciliation workbooks utilizing intermediate to advanced Excel functionality; prepare audit and reconciliation reports, validate payroll results, and research discrepancies.
• Support payroll-related general ledger reconciliations and ensure alignment between payroll and financial reporting.
• Analyze payroll data, trends, and anomalies to identify discrepancies, control gaps, process inefficiencies, and opportunities to improve payroll accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency.
• Support ongoing federal, state, and local payroll tax compliance and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Support year-end payroll activities, including W-2, T4, tax reconciliation, and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Support internal, external, SOX, financial, and regulatory audit requests and reporting requirements.
• Support workers' compensation, 401(k), state and local tax, and other payroll-related audits, reviews, and inquiries.
• Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for payroll systems, including troubleshooting system issues, testing enhancements, validating payroll system updates, and supporting process improvements.
• Lead and actively participate in payroll-related projects, including payroll system implementations, integrations, upgrades, testing activities, process improvements, and year-end payroll updates.
• Collaborate with Human Resources, Benefits, Compensation, Finance, Accounting, Tax, IT, and external payroll vendors; facilitate cross-functional discussions to resolve payroll issues, accounting discrepancies, and process improvement opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to streamline payroll processes through automation, standardization, AI-enabled solutions, and best practices while maintaining appropriate controls and data security.
• Document payroll procedures and maintain process documentation to support operational excellence and business continuity.
• Maintain confidentiality of payroll and other information.
• Perform other duties, special projects, and cross-functional initiatives in support of departmental and business objectives as assigned.

Why You'll Love Working Here:

• Supportive, team-driven culture that values collaboration, transparency, and accountability.
• Opportunity to grow your career with a global workforce solutions leader serving multiple industries.
• People-first environment that encourages employees to bring their authentic selves to work.
• Strong focus on partnership, innovation, and delivering meaningful results for clients and candidates.

Why This Opportunity is Exciting:

• This role offers the chance to join a company that prioritizes both people and performance-where your contributions directly impact client success while giving you room to grow and develop professionally.