Senior, Employment Tax & Payroll Analyst

Responsibilities

• Process semi-monthly and bi-weekly payroll transactions, including salaries, shift differentials, premiums, benefits, garnishments, taxes, deductions, tax position changes, and adjustments
• Ensure accurate FICA withholding and compliance for multi-entity payroll arrangements
• Adhere to federal, state, and local wage laws, IRS guidelines, and tax regulations across all payroll activities
• Manage and maintain multi-state payroll tax requirements, including state registrations, withholding accounts, unemployment taxes, local taxes, and applicable jurisdictional requirements
• Offer guidance on compensation-related taxability and IRS rules regarding fringe benefits and assignments
• Oversee quarterly and annual payroll tax filings, including Forms 941, W-2, W-2C, 940, state unemployment filings, and applicable state and local returns
• Support year-end payroll activities, including W-2 preparation, tax reconciliation, employee tax inquiries, and coordination with external payroll and tax providers
• Perform analysis and reconciliation of payroll data to maintain compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements, including W-2 reconciliations, monthly allowances, imputed income, benefit deductions, and leave of absence compensation
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of payroll updates, such as new hires, terminations, pay classifications, time zones, and rate changes
• Monitor payroll tax notices from federal, state, and local tax agencies and coordinate timely responses, payments, corrections, and resolutions
• Prepare and maintain accurate payroll records and reports while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local payroll, wage, and hour laws
• Facilitate audits by providing payroll records, tax filings, and other documentation to auditors
• Monitor tax law updates, resolve tax filing variances, and correct out-of-balance conditions
• Investigate and resolve payroll tax variances, out-of-balance conditions, and filing discrepancies
• Utilize payroll, HRIS, tax, and timekeeping systems, as well as Excel, to analyze payroll and employment tax data and identify trends or discrepancies
• Support payroll operations as needed to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in payroll, employment tax, payroll accounting, or a related function, with significant experience managing payroll tax compliance
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment tax regulations and payroll compliance requirements
• Experience managing payroll tax filings, deposits, reconciliations, notices, and year-end reporting
• Experience with multi-state payroll and employment taxation
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and reconciliation skills with exceptional attention to detail
• Advanced proficiency with Excel and experience analyzing large payroll and tax datasets
• Experience working with payroll systems, HRIS platforms, and/or payroll tax providers
• Excellent organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities
• Ability to handle confidential payroll, compensation, and employee tax information with integrity and discretion
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across Finance, People Operations, and other departments
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience supporting payroll and employment tax operations within the aerospace, technology, manufacturing, or other high-growth environment
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional), FPC (Fundamental Payroll Certification), or other relevant payroll/employment tax certification
• Experience with payroll and HRIS systems such as Rippling, ADP, Workday, Paychex, UKG, or similar platforms
• Experience managing payroll tax obligations across multiple states and local jurisdictions
• Experience working with payroll tax filing providers and resolving federal, state, and local tax agency notices
• Experience with payroll accounting, general ledger reconciliations, journal entries, and month-end close
• Knowledge of expatriate, nonresident, equity compensation, supplemental wage, or other complex payroll tax considerations
• Experience developing payroll controls, audit procedures, dashboards, and process improvements
• Strong understanding of payroll data integrations between HRIS, payroll, timekeeping, accounting, and tax systems

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time
• Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Specific certifications, as appropriate

Pay Range

California $92,216—$130,902 USD

We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package.

Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks.

We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast's ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

U.s. Export Control Compliance Status

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.