Payroll tax manager

About Peoplease

Peoplease is a leading Professional Employer Organization (PEO) providing solutions to small and medium-sized businesses in the blue and gray-collar industries. We enable our clients and partners to achieve their aspirations by offering world-class service and administrative solutions in payroll, human resources, benefits, and risk management. At Peoplease, we foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, driven by our core values: Engagement, Integrity, Tenacity, Curiosity, Happiness, and a Service-obsessed mindset.

Position Summary

Are you a payroll tax expert ready to lead, innovate, and make a meaningful impact at scale? Join our team as Payroll Tax Manager and take ownership of a dynamic, high-visibility function at the heart of our Professional Employer Organization (PEO) operations. The Payroll Tax Manager is responsible for ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll tax processing and reporting across federal, state, and local jurisdictions. This position oversees day-to-day payroll tax operations, tax filings and payments, tax notices, unemployment tax, tax account management, and regulatory compliance for a large and diverse client base. The role requires strong technical knowledge, analytical ability, and the leadership skills necessary to manage a high-volume, multi-state tax environment. An ideal candidate will have the ability to demonstrate the ability to improve operational efficiency through technology; manage and execute the coordination of multiple projects within required timeframes and expectations; interact, coordinate, follow up, and effectively communicate with all stakeholders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Oversee daily payroll tax operations across federal, state, and local tax jurisdictions, ensuring compliance with applicable requirements and established company policies and procedures. Leverage data analytics, technology, and process improvement methodologies to enhance team efficiency, accuracy, scalability, and overall effectiveness. Lead, coach, and develop team members through ongoing education, knowledge sharing, performance management, and opportunities for professional growth. Ensure the timely and accurate preparation, review, filing, and payment of payroll tax returns and deposits, including Forms 941, 940, 943, W-2, state unemployment returns, and applicable state and local tax filings. Establish, maintain, and continuously improve internal processes, procedures, and controls designed to minimize tax exposure, filing errors, penalties, interest, and compliance risk. Identify, investigate, and resolve discrepancies among payroll records, tax systems, accounting records, and federal, state, and local government agency records. Develop and utilize reporting and analytical tools to monitor operational performance, identify trends and risks, and support informed decision-making. Collaborate with Finance, Accounting, Operations, Client Advocacy, and other internal teams to resolve tax-related issues and ensure consistent, accurate, and effective payroll tax processes. Participate in and lead ad hoc reporting, special projects, audits, system implementations, process improvements, and other initiatives as needed to support the organization’s payroll tax function.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required. Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in payroll tax, tax compliance, or a related field, with demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax laws and regulations. Minimum of two (2) years of direct people-management experience, including coaching, performance management, team development, and workload oversight. Prior experience in the Professional Employer Organization (PEO) industry strongly preferred. Working knowledge of payroll tax technology and systems; experience with MasterTax and PrismHR preferred. Working knowledge of AI, Advanced Excel tools, Power Query, PowerBI, and Power Pivot preferred. Demonstrated knowledge of and strong interest in data analytics, with the ability and desire to analyze complex information, identify trends and relationships, and translate data into actionable insights and effective business solutions. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate technical tax information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Why Join Us?

Be part of an innovative and growth-oriented company in the PEO industry. Opportunity to drive meaningful impact and lead a high-performing team. Competitive salary and benefits package.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The role requires regular communication and occasional travel to support the distributed workforce. The role will primarily function indoors but may involve working in varying temperatures or outdoor environments as needed.

Fraud Alert: Peoplease is aware of an active employment scam in which fraudulent parties are sending fake job offer letters impersonating our company. Peoplease will never: Send an unsolicited job offer without you submitting an application and interviewing. Ask you to pay fees, purchase equipment, or provide banking details to secure a position. When in doubt, verify. Contact our HR team directly at MyHR@peoplease.com before responding to any suspicious communication.