Payroll & Payroll Tax Analyst

Payroll & Payroll Tax Analyst

Schwarz Partners has an exciting opportunity for a Payroll & Payroll Tax Analyst to join our team in Carmel, IN. This role is heavily focused on day-to-day payroll operations and payroll tax compliance. The Payroll & Payroll Tax Analyst will serve as a key resource for field payroll teams across North America, providing hands-on payroll support, resolving payroll and tax issues, managing tax account setup and maintenance, and supporting reporting, audits, and end-user payroll training.

This position supports approximately 4,000 employees across 32 states and plays a critical role in ensuring payroll accuracy, compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations, and a strong service experience for internal partners.

A strong customer-service mindset, attention to detail, and deep understanding of multi-state payroll and payroll tax processes are essential for success in this role.

Schwarz Partners is one of the largest independent manufacturers of corrugated sheets and packaging materials in the U.S. Through our family of companies, we continuously build and strengthen our capabilities. You'll find our products wherever goods are packaged, shipped, and soldfrom innovative retail packaging to colorful in-store displays at pharmacies and grocers. You may also recognize our trucks on the highway.

Schwarz Partners is built on the belief that independence and innovation go hand in hand. Our decentralized structure allows us to adapt quickly, bring new ideas to life, and thrive in a competitive marketplace. Our people are empowered to develop their skills, take ownership of their work, and grow with the organization.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide daily operational payroll support to field payroll teams, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Assist facilities with payroll processing, quarter-end, and year-end activities, including the production of timely and accurate W-2s.
• Investigate, troubleshoot, and resolve payroll discrepancies, payroll tax issues, agency notices, and employee payroll inquiries.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on multi-state payroll tax calculations, withholding, unemployment taxes, and reporting requirements.
• Partner with payroll tax vendors (e.g., Ceridian) and internal stakeholders to resolve quarterly and annual payroll tax issues.
• Assist with the setup of new federal, state, and local payroll tax accounts, including registrations, rate setup, and account maintenance.
• Ensure federal, state, and local payroll tax rates are accurate, up to date, and properly applied in the payroll system.
• Support payroll tax reporting, filings, and reconciliations; assist with audits and compliance requests as needed.
• Perform regular audits to validate payroll data, tax setup, and system configurations.
• Generate payroll and payroll tax reports to support compliance, analysis, and business needs.
• Provide end-user payroll system administration support, including troubleshooting access and configuration issues related to payroll processing.
• Develop and maintain payroll procedures, training materials, and best-practice documentation.
• Deliver payroll-focused training to new users and ongoing refresher training to existing users.
• Support the onboarding of new sites into the payroll system and the ongoing maintenance of existing sites.
• Assist with payroll-related general ledger configuration and maintenance.
• Participate in payroll testing, ad-hoc audits, and special projects as assigned.
• Recommend payroll process improvements to enhance accuracy, compliance, efficiency, and end-user experience.
• Build strong working relationships with payroll, HR, finance, and external partners.
• Provide excellent customer service and communicate clearly with internal stakeholders.
• Work nights and weekends as needed during critical payroll cycles, quarter-end, or year-end activities.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance.

Required Education / Experience:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 13+ years of hands-on multi-state payroll and payroll tax experience required.
• Experience supporting payroll operations in a complex, multi-entity environment.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax laws, regulations, and compliance requirements.

Preferred Education / Experience:

• Experience with Dayforce or similar cloud-based payroll systems.
• Exposure to payroll tax filings, agency registrations, and audit support.

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Strong working knowledge of payroll processing and payroll tax compliance.
• Solid understanding of wage and hour laws and payroll-related regulations.
• High attention to detail with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to investigate issues thoroughly and drive resolution to completion.
• Strong customer service orientation with the ability to communicate complex payroll topics clearly.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Process improvement mindset with a focus on accuracy, efficiency, and scalability.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively as part of a team.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, multi-site, decentralized organization.
• High level of initiative, accountability, and professionalism.

Our organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.