Lead Payroll Analyst - Finance

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Collaboration. Autonomy. Opportunity. Words our headquarters associates use when talking about working at Edward Jones. Words that describe what it's like being part of a firm where everyone is aligned toward a singular focus: serving the client. And everyone is working to make the firm better together - as they grow as individuals. If these words resonate with you, we should talk.

Job Overview

Position Schedule: Full-Time

We are looking for a Lead Payroll Analyst to join our Payroll team within the Compensation Operations Department. Our team is responsible for processing US multi-state and Canadian multi-province payrolls and tax remittance while reporting in an accurate, compliant, and timely manner. We partner with HR, Legal, Finance, and others to ensure we're keeping pace with ever changing rules and regulations while providing a high-class user experience. Additionally, we collaborate with our Product Teams to move from strategy to execution, designing and enhancing business processes with simplicity and transparency while creating capacity for our business areas to move the business forward.

This role is responsible for supporting day to day payroll processing, owning complex projects and leading moderate to complex strategies tied to key Payroll processing functions that ultimately finalize net pay for checks in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and other regulatory statues and/or related tax compliance functions to deliver tax forms to our associates. This role will help prioritize day to day work across the team, handle escalations, resolve complex system/process issues that occur while processing payroll and perform leader reviews of key payroll processes as the backup to the department leader. Key responsibilities will include:

• Informal Payroll Leader - In collaboration with the department leader, manage and prioritize associate workloads across the team, be the first line of defense of questions / escalations from associates, lead daily team huddles to assess capacity and plan for the day, and serve as back up when a payroll processor is out of the office
• Payroll Calculations & Reporting - Work through leaders and senior associates, ensuring accurate system calculations and timely reporting of US and Canadian payrolls, respond to questions and special requests from associates and regulatory agencies, research payroll laws and regulations, and create projections, general ledger reconciliations, and special reports for leadership.
• Project Lead - Lead complex projects that further the vision of the Payroll team which use both technical and people leadership skills. Responsible for project management, communications, and influence across teams and across departments/divisions to support Firm's overall goals. This role can identify and lead moderate to complex project opportunities completely independently from team/leader direction, as needed.
• Systems & Controls - Proactively identify system and control gaps throughout the department. Collaborate with Compensation Operations Risk Manager to develop and execute internal controls required for accurate payroll reporting and compliance. Balance operational and system priorities while also removing obstacles for team members to meet critical payroll deadlines and ensure financial integrity of payroll programs. This includes reviewing automated audit controls and payroll journal entries.
• Continuous Improvement - Recommend, document, and support implementation of process improvements for payroll procedures through detailed research and analysis. Support the identification, planning, and/or execution of complex projects while adhering to internal/external deadlines. This includes direct and/or indirect leadership of team resources to accomplish objectives.
• Collaboration - Understand the broad span of influence which comes with handling confidential compensation information for every associate in the US and Canada, and partnering with our department leaders and associates to ensure strategic initiatives tied to payroll are implemented successfully. This role will collaborate independently outside of the department throughout the division and firm, coordinating with Payroll leaders to identify opportunities for the department.

At Edward Jones, we value and respect our associates and their contributions, and we recognize individual efforts through a rewards program that promotes a long-term career, financial security and well-being. Visit our career site to learn more about our total compensation approach, which in addition to base salary, typically includes benefits, bonuses and profit sharing. The salary range for this role is based on national data and actual pay is based on skills, experience, education, and other relevant factors for a potential new associate:

Hiring Minimum: $81750
Hiring Maximum: $139194

Skills/Requirements

In collaboration with our Finance & Human Capital Transformation Office, our Firm is kicking off an effort to replace our payroll system over the next 2 years. This Lead Payroll Analyst role will be vital to the success of implementing the new system across our team including onboarding the team to the new system, ensuring documentation and processes are updated by the team, and ensuring the new payroll platform is performing as expected during the transition.

This position requires a consistent need to work closely with the Payroll team, with other departments within Finance, and with various levels of associates in other divisions of the Firm including senior leaders. While there are no direct people responsibilities, this role will coordinate independently with other associates, leaders, and teams outside of Payroll to accomplish tasks and meet deadlines. This includes the ability to identify and help resolve pain points that may not be within our direct responsibility. In addition, this role will require mentoring and training of other associates on the team as it relates to core processes, with Leader support.

Position Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor's Degree or equivalent work experience
• Experience: 6 Years of payroll or equivalent work experience
• Certifications:
  • Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) - Required to hold or pursue within 18 months of hire date
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) - Preferred

Please note: Candidates that live within a commutable distance from our St. Louis, MO home office locations are expected to work in the office three days per week, with preference for Tuesday through Thursday. This needs for this role are for associates to work out of the St. Louis home office.

Awards & Accolades

At Edward Jones, we are building a place where everyone feels like they belong. We're proud of our associates' contributions to the firm and the recognitions we have received.

Check out our U.S. awards and accolades: Insights & Information Blog Postings about Edward Jones

Check out our Canadian awards and accolades: Insights & Information Blog Postings about Edward Jones

About Us

Join a financial services firm where your contributions are valued. Edward Jones is a Fortune 500¹ company where people come first. With over 8 million clients and 19,000 financial advisors across the U.S. and Canada, we're proud to be privately-owned, placing the focus on our clients rather than shareholder returns.

Behind everything we do is our purpose: We partner for positive impact to improve the lives of our clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society. We are an innovative, flexible, and inclusive organization that attracts, develops, and inspires performance excellence and a sense of belonging.

People are at the center of our partnership. Edward Jones associates are seen, heard, respected, and supported. This is what we believe makes us the best place to start or build your career.

View our Purpose, Inclusion and Citizenship Report.

1Fortune 500, published June 2023, data as of December 2022. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating.

Edward Jones does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

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