Payroll Tax & Compliance Specialist

First Energy at a Glance We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers’ lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger.

First Energy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability, and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, First Energy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts.

We are seeking an experienced payroll professional to join our team as a Payroll Tax & Compliance Specialist. This role serves as a key subject matter expert responsible for payroll tax compliance, multi-state payroll administration, payroll balancing, quarterly and year-end processing, and regulatory reporting.

The successful candidate will bring strong knowledge of payroll operations, payroll tax regulations, reconciliation processes, and payroll systems. This position requires a highly analytical, detail-oriented individual who can investigate issues, identify solutions, and support compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

What You'll DoLead Payroll Tax Compliance Manage payroll tax activities across multiple states and jurisdictions to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant processing.

Research, respond to, and resolve payroll tax agency notices, inquiries, and related issues.

Coordinate unemployment tax reporting and compliance requirements across applicable jurisdictions.

Maintain jurisdictional tax registrations, account information, and related compliance documentation.

Process, review, and validate payroll tax amendments, corrections, and adjustments.

Monitor federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations and ensure payroll practices remain compliant.

Drive Payroll Accuracy Perform payroll balancing and reconciliation activities to ensure payroll results are accurate, complete, and properly supported.

Review, validate, and process payroll balance adjustments in accordance with established procedures.

Reconcile payroll system data with financial records to identify discrepancies, investigate variances, and support timely resolution.

Analyze payroll discrepancies, determine root causes, and recommend corrective actions.

Review payroll costing reports and investigate variances to support accurate payroll accounting.

Support payroll accounting processes, including clearing account reconciliations and issue resolution.

Support Payroll Operations Perform post-payroll processing activities to ensure payroll results are accurate, complete, and properly finalized.

Review payroll exceptions, investigate issues, and resolve complex payroll discrepancies.

Manage special tax payments and executive compensation-related payroll requests.

Support special compensation programs, including short-term and long-term incentive payment processing.

Assist with payroll administration for new hire and internal transfer relocations, including related tax considerations.

Manage Critical Quarterly and Year-End Processes Support quarterly payroll tax filings and compliance reviews to ensure timely and accurate reporting.

Coordinate year-end payroll activities, including planning, preparation, validation, and issue resolution.

Ensure accurate processing and reporting of W-2 and 1099 forms in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Conduct year-end audits and reconciliations to identify discrepancies and support timely corrections.

Prepare, review, and validate payroll records for regulatory reporting and compliance purposes.

Systems, Testing & Process Improvement Conduct payroll system testing for upgrades, enhancements, and new…