Payroll Tax & Per Diem Analyst

*Must be located in the Cleveland, OH area.

Statement of Purpose: The Payroll Tax & Per Diem Analyst is responsible for supporting payroll tax compliance and per diem administration to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll-related payments, reporting, documentation, and issue resolution. This role analyzes payroll tax and per diem data, supports federal, state, and local compliance requirements, validates taxable and non-taxable payment treatment, maintains audit-ready records, and partners with Payroll, Tax, Finance, Legal, HR, Operations, and field teams to reduce risk and strengthen payroll controls.

Duties / Responsibilities:

• Support payroll tax compliance across federal, state, and local jurisdictions, including payroll tax calculations, reporting, filings, payments, and issue resolution
• Administer and validate per diem payments to ensure compliance with company policy, project requirements, and applicable IRS/DOL guidance
• Review payroll tax and per diem data for accuracy, completeness, proper setup, documentation, and compliance risk
• Validate taxable and non-taxable treatment of payroll-related payments, including per diem, reimbursements, and other special pay items
• Prepare, review, and support payroll tax reports, agency filings, per diem reporting, reconciliations, and audit documentation
• Research and resolve payroll tax and per diem discrepancies, including employee inquiries, field office questions, agency notices, rate issues, missing documentation, and payment corrections
• Maintain accurate records and supporting documentation for payroll tax filings, per diem payments, employee expense substantiation, agency inquiries, and audit requests
• Monitor payroll tax and per diem trends, exceptions, and recurring issues to identify risks, control gaps, and process improvement opportunities
• Partner with Payroll, Tax, Finance, Legal, HR, Operations, and field leadership to ensure accurate payroll setup, reporting, compliance, and issue resolution
• Support internal and external audits, regulatory inquiries, and documentation requests related to payroll tax and per diem payments
• Assist with system setup, testing, reporting, data validation, and process improvements related to payroll tax and per diem administration
• Develop and maintain SOPs, checklists, training materials, and process documentation to support consistent payroll compliance practices
• Stay informed of applicable payroll tax, IRS, DOL, wage and hour, and reimbursement guidance impacting payroll operations
• All other duties as required

• Qualifications / Requirements
• 3-5+ years of payroll, payroll tax, payroll compliance, accounting, or related experience
• Experience with payroll tax compliance, payroll reporting, agency filings, or payroll tax issue resolution
• Experience with per diem, travel reimbursement, expense allowance, or project-based payroll payments preferred
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements
• Familiarity with IRS accountable plan concepts, per diem substantiation, taxable versus non-taxable payments, and reimbursement documentation preferred
• Understanding of DOL wage and hour considerations related to reimbursements, per diem payments, and regular rate calculations preferred
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify discrepancies, trends, exceptions, and compliance risks
• Experience reviewing payroll data, employee setup, work locations, tax setup, rates, approvals, and supporting documentation for accuracy
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including data validation, reconciliations, formulas, filtering, and reporting
• Experience with payroll systems, HRIS platforms, tax software, timekeeping systems, or reporting tools
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain payroll tax and per diem requirements to employees, field offices, and internal stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, recurring deadlines, and compliance-sensitive work in a fast-paced environment
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, accuracy, and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently, follow established controls, escalate complex issues, and recommend process improvements
• Experience supporting multi-state payroll, project-based payroll, staffing, construction, or travel-based workforce environments

Join the team, work hard, and watch your earning potential and career opportunities grow with Tradesmen International!

• Total Rewards package includes competitive pay with annual incentive potential. Benefits include 401k Retirement Savings Plan, paid vacation and holidays, medical, dental, short-term disability, and voluntary supplemental life insurance.
• EO employer - M/F/Veteran/Disability