Talent Services Senior Associate - Talent Ops, US Payroll Tax Compliance

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EY Job Description
Job Title: EY US Payroll Senior Associate (Tax Compliance)
Function: GDS-CBS    Skill Level: Experienced    Rank: Senior Associate (65)
Sub Function: Talent Services    Reports to: Talent Operations TS GDS Leader (Associate Director – 62) 

Job Summary:

Talent Services (TS) is a core service line within the Global Delivery Services organization, providing multiple HR support services including Recruitment support, Onboarding support, People Data Administration, Learning Administration, Cross Border Travel, Global Mobility and Performance Management support to EY member firms. TS provides services to country, sub-area, area and global people teams and other EY stakeholders involved in HR, L&D and recruiting transactions and associated administration, reporting and people infrastructure. These services are delivered from our centres in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Kerala and Bangalore, India; Wroclaw, Poland; and Manila, Philippines. TS team delivers consistent, high-quality and operationally efficient HR transactional services to EY through a globally efficient and effective network of GDS centres.  

Talent Services provides service offerings in an extended delivery model with high-quality skills and competencies delivered virtually. This is across service lines and regions – delivering non-repetitive project-based work through skilled, agile teams. The team in the Talent Services team is an extension of the regional talent teams and will cover operational/non-transnational scope.
Talent Operations TS supports a specific Area/Region and acts as part of the extended Area/Region team.
It works in a fully integrated way with onshore colleagues participating in meetings, projects and planning activities as part of one team. The Team supports the region in performing operational and administrative tasks to allow the onshore team to focus on consultative and strategic activities based on the priorities of the Area/Region. 

This role will be part of the EY US Payroll team and will be responsible for processing payroll for ~50,000 US EY professionals. The EY US Payroll is an integrated team with streamlined operations which effectively utilizes technology to achieve operational excellence through the implementation of appropriate audits & controls and a continued focus on process improvements. The payroll team highly values a positive customer experience, cross-functional team collaboration, and ensuring compliance with established policies and procedures along with all legislative/regulatory compliance requirements.

Position Summary: Will execute on the payroll tax vision established by leadership guided by the Supervising Associate of Tax and Senior Associate(s) using the available toolset and reports.  Responsible for performing day to day tasks within the tax function and processing payroll accurately in accordance to the standards set by EY Payroll leadership. Team member will follow established EY US Payroll policies, procedures, and service level agreements.

Applications Used: ADP GlobalView, ServiceNow, the Payroll Control Center and other related applications

Shift: Aligned to the shift timings/schedule of the Region

Essential Functions of the Job:

•    Through teamwork and collaboration, helps drive operational excellence and ensures personal and workstream accountability of results
•    Utilizing the available toolset(s) and technologies will ensure that payroll processing is ready to be released for processing    
•    Understands and confirms Segregation of Duties (SoD) in business processes and reports enforcement throughout the payroll teams
•    Follows payroll process and work instruction documents and as needed, maintains and updates documents with assistance from tax supervising associate 
•    Supports the Tax team in ensuring processes are following current documentation 
•    Contributes to development and maintenance of Payroll Procedures per payroll policy and pay practice. Administers and maintains procedures related to taxation (state, local, federal), Year End, Company reporting requirements, and operational procedures
•    Helps identify multi-state issues, employee and employer taxes, and other payroll tax related issues and escalates issues as necessary to leadership 
•    Develops operational excellence and accountability
•    Promotes teamwork and maintains a positive attitude
•    Maintains accountability and confirms that day to day activities are completed on time and meet EY quality standards
•    Assists in resolution of internal/external problems in a high volume, fast paced, and deadline driven payroll environment
•    Challenges existing policies, processes, and approaches (where appropriate) and offers innovative suggestions for process improvement efforts, helps to implement opportunities that improve operational efficiency or effectiveness of the team
•    Produces KPI/metrics reporting of payroll team business processes and functions
•    Performs ad hoc requests or special projects as needed

Analytical/Decision Making Responsibilities: 

•    Participates in high value firm projects or initiatives, where appropriate
•    Responsible for following maintaining/updating with assistance of Tax supervisor work stream procedures that are clearly defined 
•    Understands and leverage dependencies that exist with other HR departments
•    Utilizes available resources, both internal firm tools, and external resources to make sound judgement regarding payroll analysis
•    Resolves confidential and general payroll related matters with minimum supervision and consistent with established policies and procedures
•    Effectively and efficiently prioritizes assignments
•    Utilize technology within workstream to ensure team members are maximizing their utilization of appropriate tools and resources to process payroll

Knowledge and Skills Requirements:

•    Tax experience preferred or similar role in similar-sized organization; else payroll experience in a similar-size organization (preferred, but not required)
•    Has the payroll-specific knowledge and skills needed to act as a subject matter resource (SMR) to execute on the firm’s vision of the Tax process and work as directed by Payroll leadership as well as with other stakeholders, where required 
•    Advanced proficiency with technology products including but not limited to: Microsoft Excel, Word, ADP products GlobalView Payroll System and Smart Compliance, ServiceNow, the Payroll Control Center and other related applications
•    Anticipates clients’ needs based upon trend information and client dialogue
•    Must demonstrate both effective verbal and written communication
Supervision Responsibilities:
(Describe the level of supervision received)
•    Requires supervision while developing a high degree of independence and autonomy will be given
•    Understands the EY business and organization structure while being a subject matter resource (SMR) for the Payroll Tax work stream
•    Uses prior experience and training to provide sound judgement in applying concepts and guidelines; provides guidance in analyzing and resolving complex issues; determines root cause of issues and recommends solutions; follows through on commitments and takes ownership for personal and team results; effectively prioritizes tasks and identifies and overcomes barriers to achieve results
•    Demonstrates a positive attitude
•    Develops and maintains effective working relationships with the US Payroll team and other key operational contacts
•    Creates an environment that promotes effective teamwork and collaboration amongst team members

Other Requirements:
•    Working hours, flexible work arrangements, and time off may be limited during specific times due to business demands
Job Requirements:

Education:
•    A Bachelor’s degree is required, with a preference for candidates who have specialized in Human Resources. Coursework should include topics related to payroll systems and compensation management.

Experience:
•    Minimum of 2 - 4 years of progressive related (Payroll Tax) work experience
•    Demonstrated experience working with different stakeholders with competing needs.
•    Working in international and diverse environments.
Certification Requirements:
•    Payroll certification preferred (i.e. CPP – Certified Payroll Professional, FPC – Fundamental Payroll)
Note: 
This job description is intended as a guide to reflect the principal functions of the job.  However, it is not an all-inclusive listing of the required job functions and functions may vary depending on the particular geographic location of the job and/or the manager.  Further, the job description is subject to change at the discretion of management.

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