Payroll Accountant / Analyst

Senior Payroll Accountant / Analyst
This is an immediate need for a contract to hire Payroll Accountant. The company is located near the Wiehle Metro in Reston, VA. This is a global organization and would function within a close nit team of payroll professionals.
Pay rate range depending on experience would be $28-$30/hr.
The Senior Analyst, Payroll will join our corporate payroll team based in Reston, VA and report to the Senior Manager, Payroll. The Sr. Analyst, Payroll will apply their accounting skills, payroll processing experience, multi-state employment tax knowledge, and their wage & hour compliance background to help and lead the department in realizing payroll best practices.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
* Prepare weekly payroll expense forecasts and cash forecasts for Group Finance with explanations of previous week's variances.
* Prepare and audit G/L file following payroll runs and assist with G/L account reconciliations.
* Manage the payroll escheatment process and work directly with our outsourced vendor, ensuring all un-cashed checks are investigated and/or resolved with a running 4 month look back window.
* Develop, monitor, and train staff members on performing auditing queries to ensure data integrity and employee setup accuracy.
* Train and develop new and existing staff on payroll processes, projects, and policy or software changes and maintain procedure manuals.
* Perform the role of the main project lead for the payroll team regarding streamlined and enhanced process efficiencies, legislative compliance, new vendor outsourcing, and systems implementations.
* Maintain and monitor all departmental invoices, ensuring approvals and timely payment.
* Quarterly review and reconciliation of payroll tax reporting and maintenance of all state unemployment rates as assigned. Completion of miscellaneous state/local jurisdictional requests.
* Provide system support (subject matter expert) to the department and field locations in regards to time and attendance system and HR/Payroll system.
* Create and manage ad-hoc reports for payroll department and payroll field locations.
* Participate as Payroll Manager and Payroll Specialist backup as needed.
Education:
* Associate's degree preferred.
Work Experience:
* 5 - 7 years progressive payroll experience with a medium to large firm with multi-state tax exposure.
* 4 years experience with an integrated HR/Payroll.
* Experience with a unionized environment preferred.
* Experience with payroll system implementations preferred.
Job Skills:
* Must possess strong payroll, financial; and analytical skills with proven experience implementing process improvements and efficiencies.
* Strong training skills including the ability to determine learning opportunities.
* Must demonstrate sound judgment and reasoning skills.
* Ability to prioritize and successfully manage multiple projects/deadlines simultaneously.
* Strong PC skills including MS Word, Excel, and Power Point.
* UltiPro and Cognos strongly experience preferred.
* Kronos experience strongly preferred.
Communication Skills:
* Must be able to effectively and professionally communicate with all levels of employees.
* Ability to communicate well with internal and external customers verbally and in writing.
Certificates, Licenses and Registrations:
* CPP or FPC preferred