Payroll Analyst

About the Role

Payroll isn't just numbers on a spreadsheet. It's the promise the company keeps to every employee, every pay cycle, no matter which state or territory they call home. As our Payroll Analyst, you'll be the technical and regulatory authority who makes sure that promise never breaks. You'll own end-to-end payroll settlement execution and tax compliance for a fully remote, all-states-and-territories workforce, and you'll be the connective tissue between Payroll and Accounting, making sure Finance leadership always has clear, trustworthy payroll reporting to work from.

This role is built on a clean separation of duties: you execute with precision after approval, and you guard compliance independently. That combination of executor and compliance guardian is what keeps our financial integrity and audit readiness rock solid.

What You'll Do

Settlement Execution  

• Execute payroll settlement following the Senior Manager, Accounting's approval: bank upload, 401(k)/HSA remittances, post-payroll sign-off  
• Process cancel/correct actions only under documented authorization from the Senior Manager, Accounting  
• Prepare settlement summary reports for Finance leadership  

Tax Compliance  

• Upload tax notifications to the HRIS as received to maintain compliance across state and local tax jurisdictions  
• Analyze payroll tax variances and reconciliation items; escalate anomalies to the Senior Manager, Accounting  

Cross-Functional  

• Serve as Finance's subject-matter expert on payroll tax and settlement questions from CX Partners and external auditors  
• Maintain documentation supporting quarterly/annual compliance and settlement audits  
• Provide technical guidance on payroll tax implications of new-state hiring, benefits changes, or comp structure updates  

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; payroll certification (CPP or similar) strongly preferred  
• 3–5+ years of experience in payroll settlement, payroll tax compliance, or multi-state payroll administration  
• Deep knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax law for a remote, all-states/territories workforce  
• Experience configuring tax and settlement modules within an HRIS platform (Paycom, Workday, ADP, UKG, or similar)  
• Strong analytical and research skills to track and interpret evolving tax regulations  
• Able to translate payroll and compliance details into clear, accessible updates for non-payroll audiences, including Finance leadership 
• High level of integrity and independence — this role executes settlement but does not approve its own work 

Why Join Us

At Nightingale, precision work like this ripples outward. Getting payroll right, on time, every time, is how we take care of the employees who take care of our students. If you love owning the details, protecting the integrity of a process, and being the person people trust to get compliance right, we'd love to talk.