Job Description Summary
Payroll Operations Analyst owns end-to-end execution for an assigned payroll domain, ensuring 100% accuracy, timeliness, and compliance. The role acts as a domain SME, drives controls and quality trends, leads problem solving for systemic issues, and trains team members while partnering closely with HQ/onshore teams and external partners.
Primary Function
Own and lead end-to-end payroll operations for the assigned sub-team (Tax, Banking, Garnishment, Processing, or Final Pay), ensuring compliance and audit readiness. Drive continuous improvement, communication, and team capability building.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
- Process payroll and/or final pay checks accurately and ensure pay is delivered on time, following documented procedures and checklists.
- Work pay run audit reports; research and resolve errors/issues before checks are printed or files are transmitted; escalate exceptions as required.
- Monitor payroll mailboxes and ticket queues; respond to requests/forms within the 24-hour SLA; document actions clearly and professionally.
- Apply US payroll policies, internal controls, and compliance requirements (confidentiality, approvals, audit trail) during daily execution.
- Support ad-hoc activities and year-end deliverables as assigned; adapt to peak volumes and critical timelines.
- Maintain current understanding of payroll calendar updates and process changes; complete required trainings on time.
Additional responsibilities for this level:
- Own domain governance: policies/controls, audit readiness, documentation set (SOPs, checklists, training materials) and regular reviews.
- Lead root cause analysis for systemic issues; drive corrective and preventive actions with partners (HQ/onshore, Finance, HR, vendors).
- Analyze trends and performance metrics; present insights and risk updates to leadership and stakeholders.
- Lead training plans for peak seasons; audit quality of new/contract resources and provide coaching feedback loops.
- Drive improvements to reduce overpayments and defects through reconciliations, tighter controls, and process redesign.
Tax
- Support employee tax setup changes and validations per workflow; ensure changes align to source documentation.
- Assist with tax-related inquiries and ticket triage; resolve routine items and route complex items to SMEs/partners.
- Support year-end activities such as W-2 validations, corrections workflows, and reprint requests per process.
Banking
- Support direct deposit maintenance and reject/return handling per workflow; ensure corrections are completed within required timelines.
- Assist with payroll funding/file checks and basic reconciliations per checklist; escalate discrepancies promptly.
- Log and track ACH rejects, reversals, and high-risk exceptions to closure.
Garnishment
- Set up and maintain garnishment/levy deductions based on received orders and established decision trees.
- Process routine agency communications and documentation within SLA; maintain required records.
- Support remittance processing and exception handling per controls; escalate complex scenarios.
Processing
- Execute standard payroll processing steps (data entry, validations, adjustments) according to the payroll calendar.
- Run and review assigned audits; correct basic errors and coordinate dependencies with upstream partners.
- Support off-cycle processing requests as directed; ensure documentation and approvals are complete.
Final Pay
- Process final pay checks including PTO/other payouts per state requirements and documented guidance; escalate exceptions promptly.
- Support manual check requests, reissues, and reversals; ensure approvals and audit trail are complete.
- Respond to final pay inquiries from HR/field teams using templates and policy references.
Reporting
Reports to: Manager, Payroll Operations.
Job Requirements
Minimum / Desired Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Business/Human Resources (or equivalent experience).
- FPC/CPP/Payroll certification required.
- 5+ years of payroll experience with excellent knowledge of federal and state laws; end-to-end US payroll & taxation knowledge.
- Advanced Excel and strong analytical skills (trend analysis, reconciliation, root cause).
- Strong communication and stakeholder management; proven coaching and capability building.
- High integrity and confidentiality; flexibility to work extended hours and lead during critical timelines/BCP.
- Workday/MyTime knowledge is preferred.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business, Human Resources, or equivalent experience
- FPC, CPP, or payroll certification
- 5+ years of payroll experience
- Excellent knowledge of federal and state payroll laws
- End-to-end U.S. payroll and taxation knowledge
- Advanced Excel skills
- Strong analytical skills, including trend analysis, reconciliation, and root-cause analysis
- Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills
- Coaching and capability-building experience
- High integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality
- Flexibility to work extended hours and lead during critical timelines or business continuity events
- Workday and MyTime knowledge
Target Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Target and has not been reviewed or approved by Target.
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Healthcare Strength — Health benefits are accessible to hourly team members at relatively low hour thresholds and include no‑cost, 24/7 virtual medical care and expanded mental‑health support. This breadth is positioned as a relative strength compared to typical retail offerings.
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Retirement Support — Retirement programs include a dollar‑for‑dollar 401(k) match with immediate vesting and options like Roth 401(k) and stock purchase. These features strengthen long‑term savings for a wide range of roles.
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Parental & Family Support — Family support includes paid family leave, backup care, and reimbursements for adoption and surrogacy. These resources complement paid time off and holidays for eligible team members.
Target Insights
What We Do
Target is an American retailing company providing access to a wide selection of products such as furniture, electronics, toys, and more. Target is one of the world’s most recognized brands and one of America’s leading retailers. We make Target our guests’ preferred shopping destination by offering outstanding value, inspiration, innovation and an exceptional guest experience that no other retailer can deliver. Target is committed to responsible corporate citizenship, ethical business practices, environmental stewardship and generous community support. Since 1946, we have given 5 percent of our profits back to our communities. Our goal is to work as one team to fulfill our unique brand promise to our guests, wherever and whenever they choose to shop.
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