Payroll Tax Accountant

Posting Number:

PG194784EP

Internal Recruitment :

No

Working Title:

Payroll Tax Accountant

Anticipated Hiring Range:

Commensurate with education and experience ($63,000 - $67,000)

Work Schedule:

Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (This position is eligible for a flexible work arrangement to include hybrid remote work).

Job Location:

Raleigh, NC

Department :

University Controller

About the Department:

The University Controller’s Office is a department within the Finance Division. The office has business units covering the following areas: general accounting, cash services, asset management, financial reporting, payroll, accounts payable, debt, and the university’s tax compliance.

The University Controller’s Office works to advance NC State as a leader in fiscal accountability and responsibility through a partnership with our campus community, strong partnerships with our peer groups, improvements in the University’s financial systems and internal controls, and efficient and effective business operations. The office continues its attention toward collaborative efforts and providing fiscal leadership, oversight, accounting, reporting, training, and outreach services that exemplify the highest standards of quality, performance, and service. Having professional staff and managers with imagination, knowledge, and people skills is paramount in the successful implementation of these goals.

The University Controller’s Office is responsible for fiscal accountability, accuracy, and reporting of the university with a net position of approximately $2.0 billion, including timely and accurate payment of monthly and biweekly wages to over 18,000 staff, faculty, student workers, and temporary employees, over 117,000 vendor payments annually, and management of a $550 million external debt portfolio.

The University Payroll section of the University Controller’s Office is responsible for 1) timely and accurate payment of wages to approximately 10,000 monthly and 8,000 biweekly staff, faculty, undergraduate and graduate student workers, postdocs, foreign national, and temporary employees with an annual payroll of over $1.3 billion; 2) proper deduction, monthly plan reconciliation and vendor payment of mandatory, voluntary and statutory (garnishment) deduction plans, including the employer’s matching contributions for retirement and health insurance; and 3) compliance for, payment to, and proper reporting of wages and tax withholdings to the federal government and approximately 35 states and territories.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits:

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.
What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Programs
• Disability Plans
• Life Insurance
• Accident Plan
• Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
• 12 Holidays Each Year
• Tuition and Academic Assistance
• And so much more!
  
  

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Essential Job Duties:

Reporting to the Payroll Tax Manager, the Payroll Tax Accountant plays a key role in ensuring accurate, compliant payroll tax operations for one of the nation’s leading public research universities. This position is responsible for administering multi-state payroll tax compliance, reconciling payroll tax data, researching and resolving complex tax issues, and ensuring the university remains compliant with federal, state, and local tax regulations.
In this role, you’ll apply your payroll tax expertise to solve complex compliance challenges, improve payroll tax processes, and help ensure employees across multiple states are paid accurately and taxed correctly. You’ll collaborate with partners across Payroll, Accounting, Benefits, Finance, and Human Resources while serving as a trusted resource on payroll tax regulations, reporting requirements, and emerging legislative changes. Your work will directly support the integrity, accuracy, and continuous improvement of the university’s payroll operations.

Key Responsibilities fall within the following core functional areas:

Payroll Tax Compliance:

• Manage multi-state payroll tax filings, remittances, reconciliations, and reporting to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations.
• Coordinate quarterly and annual payroll tax reporting, including W-2 reconciliations and unemployment insurance filings.
• Monitor changing tax legislation and implement new payroll tax requirements.

Payroll Tax Analysis & Resolution:

• Research and resolve complex payroll tax discrepancies, withholding issues, and reporting exceptions.
• Partner with Payroll and HR teams to identify root causes, improve processes, and strengthen payroll tax accuracy.

Taxable Compensation Administration:

• Oversee the payroll taxation of taxable fringe benefits and non-salary compensation, including relocation expenses, tuition waivers, awards, and other taxable payments.
• Ensure IRS reporting requirements are accurately applied across payroll cycles.

Process Improvement & Collaboration:

• Test payroll tax system updates and validate compliance with new tax rates and reporting requirements.
• Develop and maintain payroll tax procedures while serving as a trusted resource for internal stakeholders on payroll tax regulations and best practices.

Operational Support:

• Provide backup support for payroll tax operations and contribute to the continued success of the Payroll team.

Bring your expertise to a collaborative team where your contributions will influence payroll operations, enhance efficiencies, and make a lasting impact across a large and complex organization. If you are a payroll tax professional with strong analytical skills, a passion for regulatory compliance, and a commitment to delivering exceptional service, we encourage you to apply.

Other Responsibilities:

In addition to the core responsibilities of this role, there may be occasional opportunities to take on additional duties. This offers an opportunity to build on your skills, explore new areas, and gain a deeper understanding of the department’s operations.

Minimum Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree with 12 credit hours of accounting coursework; or Associate’s degree in Accounting; or Associate’s degree in Business or related discipline with 12 credit hours of accounting coursework; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Other Required Qualifications:

N/A

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Access, Word, and PowerPoint (or comparable software), to analyze data, prepare reports, and communicate complex information effectively.
• Demonstrated success working with an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system such as PeopleSoft, SAP, Oracle, or a similar platform to process and manage payroll or financial transactions.
• Working knowledge of IRS Form 941 reporting and payroll processing within a complex organizational environment.
• Direct responsibility for payroll tax reporting and compliance in an organization with at least 500 employees operating across multiple states.
• Ability to create and use database queries to retrieve, analyze, and validate payroll or financial data.

Required License(s) or Certification(s):

N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required:

No

Commercial Driver's License required:

No

Job Open Date:

07/29/2026

Anticipated Close Date:

08/11/2026; if posting is still active, we are accepting and receiving applications.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Please provide a cover letter, resume and contact information for at least 5 PROFESSIONAL references, 2 of which MUST be current or former direct managers or supervisors.

Position Number:

00106927

Position Type:

EPS/SAAO

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week):

1.0

Appointment:

12 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather:

Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events:

Non Mandatory - Emergency Event

Department ID:

496001 - University Controller

EEO:

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.