Payroll Tax Accountant II

Job Title: Tax Accountant II – Payroll Tax Specialist

FULLY REMOTE

12 month contract

Pay: $40+

Job Description

The Tax Accountant II role focuses on delivering business value through timely, accurate, and compliant payroll tax remittances and filings. You apply deep payroll tax expertise to improve processes, drive control accountability, and support cross-functional partners with clear guidance on complex tax matters. This position is central and technical within the organization, offering meaningful, visible work, broad cross-functional collaboration, and an excellent work-life balance.

Responsibilities

• Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant payroll tax remittances and filings across federal, state, local, and provincial jurisdictions.
• Make recommendations based on payroll tax expertise and current industry trends to improve processes and outcomes.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and implement viable solutions to issues within payroll tax processes, including notices and reconciliations.
• Recommend and apply policy adjustments to key payroll tax processes to enhance compliance and efficiency.
• Recognize key versus non-key controls within payroll tax workflows and drive accountability for those controls.
• Lead and support the implementation of broader payroll tax process improvements using data, metrics, and trend analysis.
• Assess workload collaboratively with team members to align on the most important tax priorities and deliverables.
• Proactively track and identify trends through payroll tax data and metrics to inform process changes and risk mitigation.
• Provide consultation and propose updates to existing or new processes in response to business or legislative changes.
• Develop changes or enhancements to current documentation and policies related to payroll tax processes.
• Influence stakeholders to ensure ongoing compliance with payroll tax regulations and internal control requirements.
• With support, advise the organization on payroll tax matters and recommend best practices for payroll tax processes.
• With support, help execute tax learning opportunities for non-payroll tax partners to build broader organizational understanding.
• Work on year-end payroll tasks, including handling large volumes of data in Excel and supporting year-end reconciliations.
• Balance daily payments and ensure accurate recording and reconciliation of payroll-related transactions.
• Process and reconcile stock-related payroll items and associated tax implications.
• Respond to inquiries and cases related to payroll tax issues in a timely and professional manner.
• Manage shared inboxes for payroll tax communications and ensure appropriate follow-up and resolution.
• Perform audit work by analyzing large amounts of data to identify discrepancies, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
• Update tax authorities’ records as needed to maintain accurate account information and resolve tax notices.
• Prepare and review payroll tax reports, returns, and filings, including forms such as W-2, 1099, FUTA, SUTA, and 941.
• Support multi-state and provincial payroll tax reporting and filing activities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners in payroll, HR, accounting, and other areas to ensure accurate tax data and compliance.

Essential Skills

• Minimum 2 years of payroll tax experience, including payment, reconciling, and filing activities.
• Minimum 2 years of analytical and problem-solving experience in a tax or payroll-related environment.
• Minimum 2 years of customer service experience, with the ability to respond to inquiries clearly and professionally.
• Minimum 2 years of experience with multi-state and provincial tax reporting and filing.
• Minimum 2 years of experience with federal, state, local, and provincial labor law as it relates to payroll tax.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, with stakeholders at various levels.
• Strong analytical and technical skills with keen attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and collaborate on process efficiencies within payroll tax or related functions.
• Hands-on experience with payroll tax notices, tax filings, tax remittances, and payroll tax accounts.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, including pivot tables and VLOOKUP.
• Experience working with large data sets for reconciliation, audit, and reporting purposes.
• Knowledge and practical use of tax compliance software and supporting database tools.
• Experience with SAP, including SAP EC-Payroll and SAP SuccessFactors, for payroll and tax processing.
• Experience with ADP payroll systems and payroll tax filing processes.
• Familiarity with year-end payroll activities, including W-2 and 1099 processing and reconciliations.
• Ability to work with payroll reports and multistate payroll tax requirements.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Accounting degree or accounting background is preferred but not required.
• Experience with SAP EC-Payroll, including payroll tax filing and reconciliations.
• Experience with SAP SuccessFactors and ADP for payroll and tax compliance.
• Experience preparing, reviewing, or reconciling federal payroll tax forms such as 941.
• Comfort working with complex payroll reports and tax accounts across multiple jurisdictions.
• Demonstrated ability to recommend best practices for payroll tax processes based on industry trends.
• Ability to support and participate in tax learning opportunities for non-payroll tax partners.
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• No specific degree or certifications required for consideration.

Work Environment

You join a collaborative and kind team that includes two leads and values partnership, transparency, and continuous improvement. The role is central and technical within the organization, keeping you closely connected to what is happening across the business and offering meaningful, visible work with local partnerships and broad cross-functional exposure. The work environment emphasizes work-life balance, providing support to manage priorities and deadlines effectively. You use modern payroll and tax technologies, including SAP, SAP EC-Payroll, SAP SuccessFactors, ADP, and tax compliance software, along with Microsoft Office tools such as Excel and Word. The setting is professional and detail-oriented, with a strong focus on data accuracy, compliance, and collaborative problem solving.

This is a Contract position based out of Seattle, WA.

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $50.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully remote position.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 15, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.