Principal Payroll Analyst

Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow? A position at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for.

Ensure accurate and timely payroll processing and financial reporting in a multi-state and multi-company environment. Provide advanced expertise to research and resolve complex payroll and timekeeping issues. Direct payroll/timekeeping system needs including planning, reporting, auditing and testing. Ensure compliance with multiple bargaining agreements, Federal/State/local tax regulations and company policies. Design payroll processes and internal controls and implement appropriate process improvements. Key resource for tax laws and policies, interpreting organizational impact, and implementing required process and systems changes for compliance and efficiency.

• Research and analyze complex payroll issues including reconciliations, over payments, taxation and adjustments. Provide technical payroll processing, calculation, and consulting expertise on business and technology issues that impact payroll. Communicate research and analysis results to senior executives, timekeepers, employees, and external agencies and vendors. Research and communicate payroll trends, anticipate organizational impact and identify improvement options.
• Ensure accurate and timely payroll processing (regular, off-cycle and annual) in accordance with all federal, state, and local regulations and tax standards, bargaining agreements and company policies. Calculate and process complex and high-visibility transactions including multi-state taxation adjustments, incentive taxation, retroactive adjustments, year-end tax reconciliations and unique bargaining payouts.
• Educate and mentor team members and partners on payroll processes, timekeeping systems and compliance issues. Design and document steps for managing system access, delivering reporting, implementing processes and procedures, researching issues, reconciling data with other systems, and leading special projects.
• Partner with HRIS, Supply Chain, Finance and other internal and external groups to ensure all inbound, outbound, and core HRM systems are configured to be current and compliant with all federal, state, and local regulations as they perform all necessary timekeeping, pay, and taxation calculations and transactions. Integrate process improvements and system enhancements.

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting or related degree/equivalent experience.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Eight years of related experience including 5 years of experience in complex payroll operations/accounting/reporting with a technical emphasis on payroll and employment tax regulations in a multi-jurisdictional environment.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of privacy laws and applicable benefits and payroll regulations.
• Significant experience solving complex technical issues and facilitating teams toward solutions.
• Advanced skills/experience in Microsoft Office applications including Word and Excel.
• Experience should include HR, pay, benefits or other shared service functions, project management, payroll systems, including time and labor administration.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, deliver a high level of accuracy, utilize excellent time management skills, effectively communicate with customers including executives and demonstrate strong relationship building skills.
• Customer focused, produces timely and accurate results. CPP certification a plus.

As a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, Xcel Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy‑related products and services to 3.4 million electricity and 1.9 million natural gas customers across eight Western and Midwestern states. At Xcel Energy, we strive to be the preferred and trusted provider of the energy our customers need. If you’re ready to be a part of something big, we invite you to join our team.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for…