Payroll & Tax Specialist I US Payroll

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced US Payroll & HR Operations Specialist to take full ownership of our full-service US payroll, tax compliance, and basic HR administration. Managing an existing workforce of approximately 20 employees, you will ensure seamless, timely, and accurate payroll processing while maintaining strict compliance with federal, state, and local payroll and employment laws.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Processing & Management: Execute semi-monthly/bi-weekly end-to-end payroll processing for 20 employees, including base pay, bonuses, reimbursements, and deductions.

Tax Handling & Filing: Calculate, withhold, and file all applicable federal, state, and local payroll taxes (FICA, FUTA, SUTA, local income taxes) in full compliance with US regulations.

Workers Compensation & Statutory Benefits: Oversee Workers Compensation administration, policy reporting, and annual audits.

Unemployment Insurance: Manage state unemployment insurance (SUI) setups, rate adjustments, and claims reporting.

Employee Onboarding & Offboarding: Handle payroll and tax setup for new hires (Form W-4, Form I-9, direct deposit, state withholding), as well as offboarding and final pay calculations.

Compliance & Reporting: Maintain up-to-date compliance with FLSA, state pay equity laws, and tax regulations; prepare monthly and year-end payroll reports (W-2s, 941s, 940s).

Non-Negotiable Requirements:

Proven US Payroll Management Experience: Minimum 1+ years of direct experience managing full-cycle US payroll.

In-Depth US Tax Handling Expertise: Strong working knowledge and hands-on experience with US federal, state, and local payroll tax withholdings, deposits, and quarterly/annual filings.

Preferred Qualifications

Prior experience managing payroll for multi-state US workforces via platforms such as Gusto, Rippling, ADP, or Paylocity.

Working knowledge of US labor standards, wage and hour laws, and employee benefits administration.

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) is a plus.

High attention to detail, strong data privacy standards, and excellent communication skills.