Senior, Employment Tax & Payroll Analyst

The role

The Senior Employment Tax and Payroll Analyst will support payroll and employment tax functions. This person will ensure accurate and compliant payroll tax operations across federal, state, and local jurisdictions.

What you will do

• Process semi-monthly and bi-weekly payroll transactions
• Ensure accurate FICA withholding and compliance for multi-entity payroll arrangements
• Adhere to federal, state, and local wage laws, IRS guidelines, and tax regulations
• Manage and maintain multi-state payroll tax requirements
• Offer guidance on compensation-related taxability and IRS rules regarding fringe benefits
• Oversee quarterly and annual payroll tax filings
• Support year-end payroll activities
• Perform analysis and reconciliation of payroll data
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of payroll updates
• Monitor payroll tax notices and coordinate responses

Required qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in payroll, employment tax, payroll accounting, or a related function
• Significant experience managing payroll tax compliance
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment tax regulations and payroll compliance requirements
• Experience managing payroll tax filings, deposits, reconciliations, notices, and year-end reporting
• Experience with multi-state payroll and employment taxation
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and reconciliation skills
• Advanced proficiency with Excel
• Experience working with payroll systems, HRIS platforms, and/or payroll tax providers
• Excellent organizational and project management skills
• Ability to handle confidential payroll, compensation, and employee tax information with integrity and discretion
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience

Nice to have

• Experience supporting payroll and employment tax operations within the aerospace, technology, manufacturing, or other high-growth environment
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional), FPC (Fundamental Payroll Certification), or other relevant payroll/employment tax certification
• Experience with payroll and HRIS systems such as Rippling, ADP, Workday, Paychex, UKG, or similar platforms
• Experience managing payroll tax obligations across multiple states and local jurisdictions
• Experience working with payroll tax filing providers and resolving federal, state, and local tax agency notices
• Experience with payroll accounting, general ledger reconciliations, journal entries, and month-end close
• Knowledge of expatriate, nonresident, equity compensation, supplemental wage, or other complex payroll tax considerations
• Experience developing payroll controls, audit procedures, dashboards, and process improvements
• Strong understanding of payroll data integrations between HRIS, payroll, timekeeping, accounting, and tax systems

Benefits

• company equity
• medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents
• generous paid time off
• up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff
• up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually
• paid parental leave
• short and long-term disability insurance
• life insurance
• access to a 401(k) retirement plan
• ClassPass credits
• personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health
• snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge

About the company

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, the company has more than 1,000 employees.