AutoNation is one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States, offering innovative products, exceptional services, and comprehensive solutions, empowering our customers to make the best decisions for their needs. With a network of dealerships nationwide strengthened by a recognized brand, we offer a wide variety of new and used vehicles, customer financing, parts, and provide expert maintenance and repair services. Through DRV PNK, we have raised over $40 million for cancer-related causes, demonstrating our commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of our Associates, Customers, and the communities we serve.
So what do you say? Are you ready to be part of something big?
Summary Job Description:
The primary function of the Payroll Tax Analyst is to manage and support AutoNation across multiple divisions and approximately 25,000 employees as the Payroll Tax SME. The role involves overseeing various tax Third Party Administrators, vendors, compliance, GL reconciliation, planning, and reporting while providing strategic tax insights to optimize financial performance. The role will provide tax guidance, analysis, and research to support the Accounting and Payroll Teams.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree (Accounting, Finance, Business, or Human Resource Management) or 9 years work equivalency.
• 5+years of experience/knowledge processing mid to large (20,000+) employer multi-state and multi-EIN payroll tax processing.
• 3-4 years of Workday Payroll experience.
• 5+years advanced payroll tax filing knowledge and understanding of the abatement process for penalty & interest fees.
• 3-4 years’ experience/knowledge of ADP Smart Compliance and W2/W2c Manager for payroll tax.
• 2-3 years’ experience with GL reconciliations, banking reconciliation, and related concepts.
• 2-3 years of mid-level competency using MS Excel processing to perform VLOOKUP and pivot table functions.
• 4+years of expert knowledge with standard payroll tax concepts, best practices, procedures, regulations, and laws.
• 1-2 years’ experience creating SOPs and/or desk top process documentation.

SKILLS

• Ability to analyze, research and resolve compliance requirements at the Federal, State and Local level.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local tax withholding forms.
• Proficient with MS office products.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent problem solving and root cause analysis skills.
• Strong work ethic.
• Enjoys working in a collaborative team environment.

• Collaborates with Payroll Compliance Management on tax legislative changes and updates that impact daily operations and implementation projects.
• Vendor management of various Tax Third Party Administrators and vendors to ensure tax payments, compliance and reporting deadlines are met.
• Manages periodic, quarterly and annual tax returns with applicable Third Party Administrators to ensure business is compliant, and returns are processed timely.
• Acts as SME for federal, state, and local tax regulations to include all States in which AutoNation operates.
• Responsible for reviewing and ensuring that employer tax set up in Workday is compliant with IRS, DOL, and pertinent legislation, following accurate interpretation of federal guidelines and company policies.
• Conducts in-depth tax research and analysis to identify opportunities and risks.
• Maintains all tax rates, tax jurisdictions by work location, and verification of employee work-in/resident state taxes when they differ.
• Ensure accurate reciprocal tax agreements are in place with applicable states and local jurisdictions.
• Manage the closure of inactive SUI, SIT and Local accounts and registration of new accounts when required.
• Responsible for GL, periodic, quarterly, and annual tax reconciliations.
• Responsible for Performance Shares and Restricted Shares stock processing
• Responsible for internal and external research of escalated tax, payroll, and accounting issues.
• Responsible for creating and maintaining process documentation for tasks for the role.
• Responds timely to case management based on agreed SLAs.
• Works with internal financial teams and management to identify cost saving strategies that provide favorable outcomes to the company.
• Create and manage various internal payroll tax audits to include but not limited to taxation based on work locale, jurisdictions, reciprocity, etc. to mitigate impact to employee’s taxes.
• Additional duties as assigned.