Implementation analyst Jobs in Mesa, AZ

Location: Scottsdale, AZ Employment Type: Contract-to-Direct Hire Industry: Semiconductor Compensation: $38.46-$43.27/hour ($85,000-$90,000 annually) Schedule: 40 hours per week Reports To: Payroll ManagerAbout the OpportunityWe are seeking a Payroll Analyst with strong hands-on payroll experience to support accurate and timely payroll processing for approximately 3,500 employees across the US and , analyze data, resolve discrepancies, support audits and reconciliations, and identify opportunities to improve processes. The ideal candidate has experience working in a large, multi-state payroll environment and is comfortable partnering with HR, Finance, Accounting, Benefits, Tax, IT, and external payroll , automation, and AI-enabled tools to improve payroll accuracy and 'll Do-Support biweekly payroll processing for approximately 3,500 employees across the US and Canada, ensuring accurate and timely payment.-Research and resolve employee payroll inquiries received by email, phone, and in person.-Respond to inquiries from internal teams, including HR Shared Services and Benefits.-Partner with HR to maintain payroll data integrity and ensure accurate pay rates, tax withholding, and other payroll transactions.-Prepare and maintain complex payroll reconciliation workbooks using intermediate-to-advanced Excel, including formulas, PivotTables, lookups, and data analysis.-Reconcile payroll results, investigate discrepancies, identify trends and anomalies, and prepare audit and reconciliation reports.-Support payroll-related general ledger reconciliations and resolve discrepancies between payroll records and financial reporting.-Support federal, state, and local payroll tax compliance and regulatory reporting.-Assist with year-end payroll activities, including W-2s, T4s, tax reconciliations, and required reporting.-Support internal and external audits, including SOX, financial, regulatory, workers' compensation, 401(k), and state and local tax reviews.-Troubleshoot payroll system issues, test system updates and enhancements, validate results, and support system maintenance.-Participate in payroll system implementations, upgrades, integrations, testing, and year-end updates.-Identify opportunities to improve payroll accuracy and efficiency through automation, standardization, technology, AI-enabled tools, and best practices.-Work cross-functionally with HR, Benefits, Compensation, Finance, Accounting, Tax, IT, and payroll vendors to resolve issues and improve processes.-Maintain payroll procedures and process documentation to support consistency and business continuity.-Protect confidential employee, payroll, and financial information.-Perform other payroll-related projects and duties as assigned.- Why You'll Love Working Here:-Supportive, team-driven culture that values collaboration, transparency, and accountability.-Opportunity to grow your career with a global workforce solutions leader serving multiple industries.-People-first environment that encourages employees to bring their authentic selves to work.-Strong focus on partnership, innovation, and delivering meaningful results for clients and candidates. Why This Opportunity is Exciting:-This role offers the chance to join a company that prioritizes both people and performance-where your contributions directly impact client success while giving you room to grow and develop professionally. About Acara Solutions-Acara is a premier recruiting and workforce solutions provider-we help companies compete for talent. With a legacy of experience in various industries worldwide, we partner with clients, listen to their needs, and customize visionary talent solutions that drive desired business outcomes. We leverage decades of experience to deliver contingent staffing, direct placement, executive search, and workforce services worldwide. APPLY TODAY What You'll Bring:-High School Diploma or GED.-4+ years of experience processing payroll in a large, multi-state environment, including pay data entry and data validation. -4+ years of experience with Excel Pivot table -4+ years of experience performing payroll reconciliations, audit support, and payroll data analysis in a complex payroll environment. What Sets You Apart:-Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance. -Intermediate to Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel necessary, including Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, formulas, data validation, filtering, and analysis of large datasets.-Strong Excel skills are essential, as Excel is a primary tool used for payroll reconciliations, audits, reporting, and data analysis. -Strong familiarity with Federal, State and Local withholding and unemployment compliance requirements. -Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC). -Experience with ADP Vantage.-Experience with Workday, UKG/Kronos, Oracle HCM, SAP SuccessFactors, or similar HCM/payroll platforms. -Self-motivated, analytical, and detail-oriented with strong problem-solving, decision-making, prioritization, and multitasking abilities. -Experience supporting payroll system implementations, upgrades, integrations, testing, and process improvement initiatives. -Demonstrated ability to lead meetings, facilitate discussions, present findings, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders. -Ability to apply payroll best practices and a continuous improvement mindset to enhance operational effectiveness and support business objectives. -Demonstrated interest in leveraging automation, emerging technologies, and AI-enabled tools as part of day-to-day work activities to improve business processes, efficiency, reporting, and decision-making. -Excellent written and verbal communication skills. -Strong team orientation including recognition of the importance of respect, communication, compromise, reliability, knowledge-sharing, and engagement within the team and with other groups. -Demonstrated commitment to customer service, continuous improvement, and delivering high-quality work in a fast-paced environment. -Experience with Canadian payroll requirements. Additional Information:-Upon offer of employment, the individual will be subject to a background check. After you apply, you may receive a call or message from our AI Talent Scout about this role or other opportunities that match your skills and preferences. AI agent role is to help speed up your hiring process by answering questions, confirming basic information, and identifying whether there's a mutual fit. The call or chat may be recorded so that our recruiting team can review it - they make all final hiring decisions, while AI agent simply helps move you forward faster. The best part? They are available 24/7, so you can connect whenever it's convenient for you. By applying for this job, you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages, or emails from Acara Solutions and its affiliates, and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You can reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. You can access our privacy policy at Website Privacy Policy | Acara Aleron companies (Acara Solutions, Aleron Shared Resources, Broadleaf Results, Lume Strategies, TalentRise, Viaduct) are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Race/Color/Gender/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Veteran. Applicants for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position does not meet the employment requirements for individuals with F-1 OPT STEM work authorization status.