Payroll Tax & Compliance Specialist

FirstEnergy at a Glance
We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers’ lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger.
FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability, and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts.
 

We are seeking an experienced payroll professional to join our team as a Payroll Tax & Compliance Specialist. This role serves as a key subject matter expert responsible for payroll tax compliance, multi-state payroll administration, payroll balancing, quarterly and year-end processing, and regulatory reporting.

The successful candidate will bring strong knowledge of payroll operations, payroll tax regulations, reconciliation processes, and payroll systems. This position requires a highly analytical, detail-oriented individual who can investigate issues, identify solutions, and support compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

What You'll Do

Lead Payroll Tax Compliance

• Manage payroll tax activities across multiple states and jurisdictions to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant processing.

• Research, respond to, and resolve payroll tax agency notices, inquiries, and related issues.

• Coordinate unemployment tax reporting and compliance requirements across applicable jurisdictions.

• Maintain jurisdictional tax registrations, account information, and related compliance documentation.

• Process, review, and validate payroll tax amendments, corrections, and adjustments.

• Monitor federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations and ensure payroll practices remain compliant.

Drive Payroll Accuracy

• Perform payroll balancing and reconciliation activities to ensure payroll results are accurate, complete, and properly supported.

• Review, validate, and process payroll balance adjustments in accordance with established procedures.

• Reconcile payroll system data with financial records to identify discrepancies, investigate variances, and support timely resolution.

• Analyze payroll discrepancies, determine root causes, and recommend corrective actions.

• Review payroll costing reports and investigate variances to support accurate payroll accounting.

• Support payroll accounting processes, including clearing account reconciliations and issue resolution.

Support Payroll Operations

• Perform post-payroll processing activities to ensure payroll results are accurate, complete, and properly finalized.

• Review payroll exceptions, investigate issues, and resolve complex payroll discrepancies.

• Manage special tax payments and executive compensation-related payroll requests.

• Support special compensation programs, including short-term and long-term incentive payment processing.

• Assist with payroll administration for new hire and internal transfer relocations, including related tax considerations.

Manage Critical Quarterly and Year-End Processes

• Support quarterly payroll tax filings and compliance reviews to ensure timely and accurate reporting.

• Coordinate year-end payroll activities, including planning, preparation, validation, and issue resolution.

• Ensure accurate processing and reporting of W-2 and 1099 forms in accordance with regulatory requirements.

• Conduct year-end audits and reconciliations to identify discrepancies and support timely corrections.

• Prepare, review, and validate payroll records for regulatory reporting and compliance purposes.

Systems, Testing & Process Improvement

• Conduct payroll system testing for upgrades, enhancements, and new functionality to ensure accuracy and business readiness.

• Support payroll system configuration, validation, and troubleshooting to maintain reliable system performance.

• Serve as a subject matter resource for payroll technology, system processes, and tax engine functionality.

• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to evaluate, improve, and streamline payroll processes.

• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and overall payroll process effectiveness.

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Seven or more years of experience in payroll operations, payroll tax, and payroll compliance, along with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent payroll certification.

• Two or more years of experience with multi-state and local payroll tax requirements, including payroll tax compliance for Pennsylvania and Ohio.

• Minimum of two years of experience creating, auditing, and validating W-2 and 1099 year-end reporting, including W-2 corrections.

• Experience performing payroll balancing, reconciliations, and adjustments to ensure accurate payroll processing and timely resolution of discrepancies.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including the ability to create, analyze, and validate complex spreadsheets and reports.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify issues, evaluate root causes, and recommend effective solutions.

• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Ability to handle confidential data with integrity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Oracle or other enterprise payroll systems.

• Experience with ADP tax services.

• Experience with payroll testing and system implementations.

• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.

Success in This Role

Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to:

• Apply demonstrated expertise in payroll tax compliance and multi-state regulatory requirements.

• Use strong analytical and investigative skills to research issues and determine appropriate resolutions.

• Independently identify, analyze, and resolve payroll exceptions.

• Maintain a strong commitment to accuracy, confidentiality, and regulatory compliance.

• Collaborate effectively across Payroll, HR, Finance, Treasury, IT, and external vendor partners.

• Serve as a trusted subject matter expert on payroll processes, compliance requirements, and system functionality.

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.