Senior, Employment Tax & Payroll Analyst

Vast is looking for a Senior Employment Tax and Payroll Analyst, reporting to the Director, Finance, to support the payroll and employment tax functions required for the continued growth of our organization and the development of the systems needed to build artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. The Senior Employment Tax and Payroll Analyst will be a key member of our growing Finance team, responsible for ensuring accurate and compliant payroll tax operations across federal, state, and local jurisdictions. This role will partner closely with People Operations, Finance, and external tax providers to manage payroll tax compliance, resolve complex issues, improve processes, and ensure accurate and timely payroll operations.

This is a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities: 

• Process semi-monthly and bi-weekly payroll transactions, including salaries, shift differentials, premiums, benefits, garnishments, taxes, deductions, tax position changes, and adjustments
• Ensure accurate FICA withholding and compliance for multi-entity payroll arrangements
• Adhere to federal, state, and local wage laws, IRS guidelines, and tax regulations across all payroll activities
• Manage and maintain multi-state payroll tax requirements, including state registrations, withholding accounts, unemployment taxes, local taxes, and applicable jurisdictional requirements
• Offer guidance on compensation-related taxability and IRS rules regarding fringe benefits and assignments
• Oversee quarterly and annual payroll tax filings, including Forms 941, W-2, W-2C, 940, state unemployment filings, and applicable state and local returns
• Support year-end payroll activities, including W-2 preparation, tax reconciliation, employee tax inquiries, and coordination with external payroll and tax providers
• Perform analysis and reconciliation of payroll data to maintain compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements, including W-2 reconciliations, monthly allowances, imputed income, benefit deductions, and leave of absence compensation
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of payroll updates, such as new hires, terminations, pay classifications, time zones, and rate changes
• Monitor payroll tax notices from federal, state, and local tax agencies and coordinate timely responses, payments, corrections, and resolutions
• Prepare and maintain accurate payroll records and reports while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local payroll, wage, and hour laws
• Facilitate audits by providing payroll records, tax filings, and other documentation to auditors
• Monitor tax law updates, resolve tax filing variances, and correct out-of-balance conditions
• Investigate and resolve payroll tax variances, out-of-balance conditions, and filing discrepancies
• Utilize payroll, HRIS, tax, and timekeeping systems, as well as Excel, to analyze payroll and employment tax data and identify trends or discrepancies
• Support payroll operations as needed to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in payroll, employment tax, payroll accounting, or a related function, with significant experience managing payroll tax compliance
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment tax regulations and payroll compliance requirements
• Experience managing payroll tax filings, deposits, reconciliations, notices, and year-end reporting
• Experience with multi-state payroll and employment taxation
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and reconciliation skills with exceptional attention to detail
• Advanced proficiency with Excel and experience analyzing large payroll and tax datasets
• Experience working with payroll systems, HRIS platforms, and/or payroll tax providers
• Excellent organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities
• Ability to handle confidential payroll, compensation, and employee tax information with integrity and discretion
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across Finance, People Operations, and other departments
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience supporting payroll and employment tax operations within the aerospace, technology, manufacturing, or other high-growth environment
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional), FPC (Fundamental Payroll Certification), or other relevant payroll/employment tax certification
• Experience with payroll and HRIS systems such as Rippling, ADP, Workday, Paychex, UKG, or similar platforms
• Experience managing payroll tax obligations across multiple states and local jurisdictions
• Experience working with payroll tax filing providers and resolving federal, state, and local tax agency notices
• Experience with payroll accounting, general ledger reconciliations, journal entries, and month-end close
• Knowledge of expatriate, nonresident, equity compensation, supplemental wage, or other complex payroll tax considerations
• Experience developing payroll controls, audit procedures, dashboards, and process improvements
• Strong understanding of payroll data integrations between HRIS, payroll, timekeeping, accounting, and tax systems

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time
• Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Specific certifications, as appropriate