Senior Payroll Tax Analyst

Payroll Senior Tax Analyst

Overview

Barrett Business Services Inc is a large Professional Employer Organization (PEO). Incorporated in 1965, Barrett Business Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: BBSI) is a leading provider of business management solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. Our clients are located in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, through a network of local branches all over the country. For the full year ended December 31, 2024, BBSI reported annual revenues of approximately $1.14 billion and growing annually.

At its corporate headquarters in Vancouver, Washington, the company is now seeking a Payroll Tax Analyst and a Senior Tax Analyst to join the team.

The payroll tax team is responsible for managing the full spectrum of multi-state payroll tax activities, including registration, compliance, reconciliation, reporting, and resolution of complex tax matters for a diverse portfolio of clients.

The ideal candidate has deep knowledge of state and federal payroll tax regulations, a strong analytical mindset, and the ability to navigate multiple systems and jurisdictions. They work closely with internal payroll operations, accounting, and client service teams, as well as external agencies, to ensure accuracy and minimize tax exposure for both the PEO and its clients. At BBSI, we take pride in our strong culture and our people.

Key responsibilities described below are shared among payroll tax team members and will be assigned as needed. Ability to perform a range of these functions will impact title, career progression and compensation.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare, reconcile, and file federal, state, and local payroll tax returns (941, 940, state withholding, SUTA, disability, PFML, etc.) for all 50 states on a weekly, quarterly, and annual basis.
• Ensure compliance with all agency deadlines, tax rate changes, and filing frequency adjustments.
• Maintain compliance with PEO client tax accounts, including employer registration, account setup, and maintenance in each jurisdiction.
• Monitor changes in federal and state payroll tax legislation and ensure timely implementation across systems and processes.

• Review and approve payroll tax funding batches; verify tax liabilities against system reports and agency confirmations.
• Reconcile tax deposits, returns, and general ledger accounts to ensure all payments are accurate and posted to correct periods.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies in agency balances, over payments, or credit carryforwards.

• Serve as the contact for federal, state, and local tax agencies to address client and PEO-level tax notices, audits, and correspondence.
• Research and resolve complex multi-state tax issues, including jurisdictional disputes, duplicate accounts, and wage base adjustments.
• Track, document, and escalate systemic or recurring notice patterns to management for process improvement.

• Support client onboarding with registration setup, state assignment, and tax rate configuration.
• Provide tax guidance to internal teams and clients regarding nexus, SUTA dumping prevention, reciprocity, and local tax requirements.
• Partner with Payroll, Accounting, and Legal to ensure accurate client reporting and compliance alignment.

• Maintain and enhance automated tools for data validation, tax rate imports, and filing confirmations.
• Participate in tax system upgrades, software implementations, and internal audits to ensure system integrity.
• Develop and document standard operating procedures (SOPs) to streamline compliance and training.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years of payroll tax experience with multi-state exposure (preferably in a PEO, large employer, or payroll service provider).
• Strong knowledge of federal and state payroll tax regulations, including SUTA, FUTA, and local taxation.
• Experience with payroll systems (e.g., Prism, Mastertax or similar).
• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills; comfort with reconciliations and large data sets.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or FPC certification.
• Experience with agency e-filing portals (e.g., Oregon FRANCES, California EDD, Washington L&I, Colorado MyUI+, etc.).
• Familiarity with PEO-specific tax concepts such as aggregate/bulk reporting, client-level registration, and state-specific PEO compliance requirements.

Key Competencies

• Analytical accuracy:
  Highly detail-oriented with strong reconciliation and problem-solving skills.
• Compliance focus:
  Deep understanding of payroll tax laws and a proactive approach to changes.
• Communication:
  Strong written and verbal communication with internal teams and tax agencies.
• Ownership:
  Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Collaboration:
  
  Works effectively in a team environment supporting multi-state operations.

SALARY/WAGE AND…