Sr. Analyst, Payroll

Senior Payroll Analyst

Primo Brands is a leading branded beverage company in North America with a focus on healthy hydration. We are proud to offer an extensive and iconic portfolio of highly recognizable, sustainably sourced, and conveniently packaged branded beverages distributed across more than 150,000 retail outlets.

The Senior Payroll Analyst is responsible for overseeing payroll operations and ensuring the accurate, timely, and compliant processing of payroll for employees across multiple locations and jurisdictions. This role serves as a subject matter expert for payroll policies, tax regulations, system administration, and payroll compliance. The Senior Payroll Analyst partners closely with Human Resources, Finance, Benefits, Tax, and external vendors to resolve complex payroll issues, improve processes, and support organizational initiatives. This is a remote position that can be performed in either an EST or CST zone.

Salary: $89,444.00 - $106,643.00 This position is eligible for an annual bonus.

Health Benefits: Medical, prescription, dental, vision, flexible spending account (FSA), dependent care flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA)

Retirement/Investing: 401K with a 5% match, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Insurance: Employee Life Insurance, short and long-term disability, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, spouse/domestic partner/child life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment

Other great benefits: Employee discounts, save on auto, home, and pet insurance, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation and sick time, 9 paid holidays and 3 paid floating holidays, paid leave for when you have a baby, adopt a child, or become a foster parent, legal services, identity theft protection, employee assistance program (EAP), adoption reimbursement benefit, FEDlogic, commuter benefits

Responsibilities

Payroll Operations

• Lead the preparation, validation, and processing of payroll for all employees.
• Review payroll calculations, earnings, deductions, taxes, garnishments, and benefit withholdings for accuracy.
• Analyze payroll transactions and resolve complex payroll discrepancies.
• Ensure payrolls are processed in accordance with established deadlines and service level expectations.
• Serve as the escalation point for payroll inquiries and issue resolution.

Compliance and Audits

• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• Interpret payroll legislation and evaluate impacts to payroll processes and systems.
• Ensure compliance with wage and hour laws, tax regulations, garnishment orders, and leave-related pay requirements.
• Support internal and external audits by providing payroll documentation and explanations.
• Monitor and maintain payroll controls to ensure data integrity and compliance.

Payroll Tax Administration

• Review payroll tax calculations, filings, and reconciliations.
• Research and resolve payroll tax issues and notices from regulatory agencies.
• Support year-end activities, including W-2 processing, tax reconciliation, and year-end system updates.
• Partner with tax vendors to ensure timely and accurate tax reporting.

Reporting and Analysis

• Prepare and analyze payroll reports, metrics, and reconciliations.
• Reconcile payroll-related general ledger accounts and assist with month-end and year-end close processes.
• Analyze payroll trends and identify opportunities for increased efficiency and accuracy.
• Develop and maintain dashboards and reports to support business decision-making.

Systems and Process Improvement

• Support payroll system upgrades, implementations, and enhancements.
• Lead payroll testing activities, including system releases and configuration changes.
• Identify and implement process improvements and automation opportunities.
• Develop and maintain payroll procedures, job aids, and documentation.
• Partner with HRIS and IT teams to support payroll integrations and data integrity.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Serve as a payroll subject matter expert for Payroll, HR, Finance, Benefits, and business leaders.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to Payroll Analysts and Payroll Specialists.
• Assist with training and onboarding of payroll team members.
• Participate in cross-functional projects and strategic initiatives.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field; or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of payroll experience with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Experience processing multi-state payroll.
• Strong knowledge of payroll taxes, wage and hour laws, and payroll compliance requirements.
• Experience with payroll systems such as Workday, ADP, UKG, SAP, Oracle, or similar platforms.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookup functions, and data analysis.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.

Preferred

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.
• Experience with payroll accounting and general ledger reconciliations.
• Experience supporting SOX controls and audits.
• Experience with system implementations and payroll process improvement initiatives.
• Experience working in a large, complex, multi-entity organization.

Primo Brands' established portfolio includes billion-dollar brands Poland Spring and Pure Life, premium brands like Saratoga and Mountain Valley, regional leaders such as Arrowhead, Deer Park, Ice Mountain Ozarka, and Zephyrhills, purified brands, Primo Water and Sparkletts, and flavored and enhanced brands like Splash and AC+ION. Our extensive direct-to-consumer offerings and industry-leading line-up of innovative water dispensers create consumer connectivity through recurring water purchases across Water Direct, Water Exchange, and Water Refill.

At Primo Brands, our more than 11,000 associates are at the heart of what we do and deliver on our mission to provide healthy hydration to consumers wherever, however and whenever they want it. We believe in fostering a respectful culture, which values our associates who are deeply invested in quality hydration, our communities, and the sustainability of our packaging and water sources for generations to come.

Primo Brands is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer, seeking to create a welcoming and diverse environment. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law.

Salary Range Disclaimer: The salary range provided for this position is an approximation based on market research, internal compensation data and the candidate's qualifications and experience. Final salary offers are determined through a comprehensive evaluation of candidate qualifications and may vary depending on factors such as skills, experience, and geographic location of the position. Other components of the compensation package, including benefits and bonuses, will also be considered. We are committed to fair and equitable compensation practices, and we encourage open dialogue about compensation during the interview process. Candidates must possess strong English language skills to effectively communicate with customers and provide exceptional service. Proficiency in English is essential for understanding customer needs, resolving inquiries, and collaborating with team members.