Payroll Analyst III

Join to apply for the Payroll Analyst III role at Aqua.

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status – including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

We are seeking a detail-oriented and experienced Payroll Analyst to join our highly collaborative Payroll team. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in administering our multi-state payroll system, utilizing the ADP Work Force Now/ Workday Financial Reporting system for both union and non-union payrolls. This position encompasses all aspects of payroll processing, including data entry, time processing, and analyzing data verification. The ideal candidate will be analytical, have a thorough understanding of payroll procedures and compliance and possess advanced Excel skills.

If you are a motivated and skilled payroll professional who is looking to contribute to a successful finance team, we encourage you to apply for the Payroll Analyst position.

Essential Duties

• Payroll Administration: Oversee and manage all aspects of payroll processing using the ADP Financial Reporting system, ensuring accurate and timely payment for both union and non-union employees across multiple states.
• Data Entry and Time Processing: Accurately input employee data and process time entries, ensuring that all hours worked are captured correctly and in a timely manner.
• Verification and Reconciliation: Conduct thorough verification of payroll data and perform regular reconciliations and audits related to payroll discrepancies, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and internal policies.
• Analyzes, audits, validates, and prepares data for the payroll system in accordance with payroll schedules.
• Updates and maintains documentation on all payroll policies and procedures while maintaining compliance with departmental process guidelines and standards during each payroll cycle.
• Supports system elevations and process automation. Expands knowledge of payroll and timekeeping system fields, codes, and processes to problem solve issues such as vendor interface failures.
• Updates and maintains payroll files. Files paperwork, maintains weekly payroll reports, and ensures documentation and records comply with audit control standards, practices, and procedures.
• Reporting: Prepare and generate various payroll reports as required, using advanced Excel functionalities to analyze data and present findings to management and union leaders.
• Compliance: Stay informed about federal, state, and local payroll regulations, ensuring that all payroll processes are compliant with legal standards and alignment with union contracts.
• Collaboration: Work closely with HR and finance teams to provide support on payroll-related inquiries and maintain accurate employee records.
• Assists with other tasks or special projects, e.g., W-2 reconciliations, internal and external audits, and other duties as assigned.
• Problem-Solving: Identify and troubleshoot payroll discrepancies, implementing effective solutions and improvements to streamline payroll operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of payroll experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of working knowledge of federal, state, and local tax concepts in a multi-state environment.
• Proven experience in payroll administration, preferably with a focus on multi-state payroll processing.
• Proficiency with in-house reporting system or similar payroll software (Preferably Workday and/or SAP).
• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and data analysis functions.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, with the ability to handle sensitive information confidentially.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively interact with team members and management to enhance a collaborative and supportive work environment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 401K with company match
• Remote Fridays after 90 days
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
• Opportunities for professional development and growth

Working Conditions/Physical Demands

• Perform deskbound work, exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
• Desk work involves sitting/standing most of the time.
• See, hear, talk, and perform tasks requiring manual dexterity.
• Operate standard office equipment.

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This is not an all-inclusive document. Additional duties, expectations, demands, etc. may be added or changed to this document on an as-needed basis to meet organizational needs.

Essential Utilities, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.

Essential Utilities is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).

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