Payroll Specialist

Spring Education Group is a multi-brand education network of superior private school institutions spanning infant care through high school. The network (currently composed of approximately 220 schools) brings together some of the best private school programs in the country, with proven track records educating children through unique and carefully crafted curricula.

Payroll Analyst (HRIS, Multi-State Payroll, Dayforce) – Spring Education Group

What We Offer

• Pay range: $60,000–$70,000
• Employee referral bonus
• Comprehensive benefits package (medical, dental, vision, 401k)
• Same-day pay with Dayforce Wallet, providing flexibility to access your earnings
• Opportunity to work in a collaborative, high-impact shared services environment

About the Role

Spring Education Group is seeking a Payroll Analyst to serve as a technical and process expert supporting payroll operations for more than 7,000 employees across multiple states. This role is responsible for ensuring payroll is processed accurately, on time, and in full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

The ideal candidate is not only experienced in high-volume payroll, but also brings a continuous improvement mindset. You will leverage deep expertise in Dayforce (or a comparable HRIS platform) to analyze data, optimize workflows, and enhance operational efficiency. While this is not a people manager role, you will act as a key resource to the payroll team, providing guidance on complex issues and contributing to elevated performance standards across the function.

**This is a hybrid position requiring three days per week in the office and two days remote**

Key Responsibilities

• Execute bi-weekly payroll for 7,000+ employees across multiple states, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance
• Serve as the primary point of ownership for Dayforce payroll workflows, including system processing and deadline management
• Identify process inefficiencies, recommend improvements, and implement streamlined payroll procedures to enhance accuracy and scalability
• Maintain expert-level knowledge of federal, state, and local wage and hour laws to ensure full compliance across all jurisdictions
• Act as the escalation point for complex payroll and tax inquiries, providing technical guidance and day-to-day support to the payroll team
• Review and manage tax inquiries, complete new state tax registrations, and process employee tax adjustments as needed
• Lead internal payroll audits and support external audit preparation by ensuring accurate documentation and reporting
• Perform advanced data analysis using Excel and HRIS reporting tools to identify trends, discrepancies, and system-level issues
• Complete journal entries and resolve payroll reconciliations and general ledger variances in partnership with Finance
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and internal training materials to support consistency and knowledge sharing
• Collaborate cross-functionally with IT, Finance, and Legal on payroll-related initiatives and system enhancements

What We’re Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years of experience in high-volume, multi-state payroll operations
• Minimum 3 years of hands-on experience with Dayforce or a similar enterprise-level HRIS
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations and wage and hour laws
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including data analysis and reporting

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting multi-location or multi-entity organizations
• Prior involvement in payroll audits, system implementations, or process improvement initiatives

Key Skills & Attributes

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and identify solutions
• Clear and effective communication skills, with the ability to explain complex payroll concepts to diverse audiences
• High level of integrity and discretion when handling sensitive and confidential information
• Team-oriented mindset with a willingness to support colleagues and contribute to shared success
• Strong sense of accountability and reliability in a deadline-driven environment

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. In general, this position requires an individual to frequently walk, stand, sit, squat, stoop, reach, kneel, rise from the floor, twist, listen, read, write, and speak the English language. In addition, this position often requires an individual to carry, lift, use repetitive or fine hand movements, and occasionally push, pull, or bend. This position is regularly required to hear and use clear vision with or without correction. Spring Education Group, including, but not limited to SEG Inc., and their affiliates (collectively “Company”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants for employment and employees are provided equal employment opportunities, including in recruitment, hiring, and assignment, without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion and religious creed, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital or familial status, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, military/veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. The Company expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee or student harassment or discrimination.