Payroll Tax Analyst

Carter’s Inc., the largest North American retailer of apparel for babies and children, is seeking an experienced Payroll Tax Analyst to join our payroll team. This hybrid position, based in Atlanta, GA, reports to the Payroll Director in the Buckhead office.

• Partner with payroll team to ensure accurate tax setup and ongoing maintenance in Workday.
• Manage federal, state, and local payroll tax cases through OSV, including research, resolution, and follow‑up.
• Monitor and maintain payroll tax registrations, working with state agencies and vendors as needed.
• Perform employee tax audits focusing on live‑vs‑work state setup and multi‑state taxation accuracy.
• Prepare, review, and reconcile tax data for payroll runs to ensure accurate withholding and reporting.
• Research and process payroll tax adjustments as needed.
• Respond to employee and internal partner inquiries related to payroll tax issues within established SLAs.
• Support payroll processing through tax audits, validations, and issue resolution.

• Support quarterly and year‑end payroll tax reconciliations and filings, including W‑2s, 941s, 940s, and other IRS/state forms.
• Own preparation of audit documentation for internal controls and external audits.
• Assist with registration and compliance tracking across all applicable jurisdictions.
• Partner with HR, Legal, and Finance to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax laws.
• Support audits related to unemployment insurance and payroll tax compliance.
• Ensure SOX compliance for tax processes and maintain accurate, audit‑ready records.

• Maintain and update tax‑related standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Continuously improve tax processes, partnering with payroll, finance, and vendor teams to drive efficiency.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes that impact payroll tax and ensure compliance.
• Leverage Workday reporting and tools to streamline tax reconciliation and documentation.

Experience with U.S. and Canada payroll processing is required, including knowledge of payroll tax for U.S. territories or Canadian jurisdictions.

Must have:

• 5+ years of payroll experience in a high‑volume environment.
• 3+ years of U.S. payroll tax experience in a multi‑state environment.
• Hands‑on experience with tax agency registrations, SUI rate management, and payroll tax adjustments.
• Strong understanding of employer payroll tax reporting requirements (W‑2, 941, SUI, local taxes).
• Experience working with third‑party tax vendors (OSV, ADP, UKG, etc.).
• Experience with Workday Payroll or similar systems.
• High attention to detail with the ability to work independently.
• Clear verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of accounting related to payroll processing.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business and/or payroll certificates preferred.

Preferred skills and experience:

• Experience with payroll tax vendors (e.g., ADP Smart Compliance, Equifax, Bloomberg).
• Knowledge of payroll tax for U.S. territories or Canadian jurisdictions a plus.
• Experience managing Pennsylvania local taxes and PSD setup.
• Exposure to SUI audits and rate protests.
• Advanced Excel and reporting skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and payroll systems.
• Self‑motivated and capable of balancing multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment while achieving team goals.
• Strong cross‑functional collaboration skills with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Team player who works well in a collaborative environment.

Carters is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.